Introducing the Louis Vuitton GO-14 Bag

Cast your mind back to October 2014 when, to much fanfare, Nicolas Ghesquière presented his first collection as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton. Now, a decade later – the house has reimagined one of his very first handbag designs in the form of the GO-14, a quilted lambskin bag that has already been seen on the arms of Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone and Chloe Grace Moretz – and is likely to be a contender for your new-season wish-list.

The story behind the bag

LOUIS VUITTON proudly launches the new iconic GO-14 bag model – a unique example of the special importance of leather goods in the history of the Maison. The GO-14 was Nicolas Ghesquière’s first bag – hence its encoded name: Ghesquière October 2014, the date on which it was first seen on the runway on the occasion of the debut show of the artistic director of LOUIS VUITTON’s women’s collections. In 2023, she makes her comeback with a unique feature: the Malletage.

The Malletage – the Maison’s unique quilted pattern – revives the tradition of the historic manufacture of LOUIS VUITTON trunks. The sophisticated, crisscrossed pattern is used to line the insides of the iconic trunks. The Galon trunks were a simple invention that ensured all luggage stayed in place despite movement while traveling.

The reissue of GO-14 is a roomy bag – it’s covered in lambskin leather with decorative stitching that highlights the curves and soft feel of the design. From classic black and white to subtle toasty tones that bring out the subtleties of the texture, the GO-14 is launched in all finishes.

The bag is versatile – depending on your mood, it can be worn in different ways: over the shoulder or with the jewelry chain; on the arm or in the hand. The chain can also be worn double thanks to the new spring system.

The GO-14 is an artistic masterpiece and the epitome of the heritage of the French Maison. The Malletage – constantly evolving since the first trunks – is a real challenge for the artisans. The creative process requires more than 20 different steps, including the utmost care in patination to ensure a satin or “toasted” finish and to perfect the subtle color gradations.

A high-precision technique is also required for the application of the 17-meter trim to obtain the rounded shape of each GO-14. The bag model is characterized by a very complex savoir-faire, far more complex than traditional quilting.

The craftsmanship

"The GO-14 is a feat of skill and the epitome of thriving heritage," explains the house of what goes into the making of the bag. The malletage in particular is a real challenge for artisans. "The process requires more than 20 different steps, including the utmost meticulousness on the leather to ensure a satin or toasted finish, and to perfect the colour’s subtle gradations. A highly precise technique for depositing the 17-metre-long trim is also needed for the rounded malletage of each GO-14." Ultimately, it is far more complex than traditional quilting.

"There are some universal codes that exist solely in Louis Vuitton," Ghesquière said of his decision to use malletage. "It was about reappropriating and transposing them into a new setting."

The colours and size

The designer has turned this iconic trademark of the brand into the signature of the GO-14, which has been created in padded lambskin and has a curved and cushiony feel. The bag comes in a variety of different shades, including classic blacks and browns, as well as a striking monochrome style (which has already been carried by Cate Blanchett). Coming in GM and MM sizes, both of which can be hand-carried. It also comes with a gold chain that can be used as a long strap to transform it into a crossbody or shoulder bag. Additionally, there’s the cute Pico size, perfect for transitioning from a crossbody day bag to a dinner bag.