Louis Vuitton, French luxury brand to the stars, has unveiled a new accessory that’s got the web abuzz, a handbag inspired by an Indian autorickshaw.
As part of its Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which celebrated Indian cultural motifs and married local craftsmanship with a new interpretation of streetwear, the brand unveiled the new accessory.
Handled by Pharrell Williams, the highlight of the show was definitely the cheeky autorickshaw bag, combining India’s energetic street culture with Louis Vuitton‘s iconic craftsmanship.
Constructed using the brand’s iconic monogram canvas material, the bag featured tiny functional-style wheels and tan leather straps.
The quirky creation was first posted online by Instagram page ‘Diet Paratha’, which shared a video of the bag along with the caption: “Did this bag just colonise me? Jokingggggg… NRI’s bout to go crazy for this one tho.”
Even though it wasn’t showcased in the primary runway presentation, the handbag swiftly became the subject of lively discussions for its daring cultural crossover.
Netizens React
Social media commentators were divided in their reaction, with some taking light-hearted digs and others engaging in reflective criticism. “Middle-class struggle is high-class couture,” one one remarked, while another asked, “Why the West’s Asia fascination now? Yesterday Prada’s Kolhapuri chappals, today LV’s autorickshaw bag.”
Most observers joined the fun. “I left my rickshaw behind at home,” joked a commenter.
Another person quipped, “So are they going to charge it by the meter?” Others hailed it as a fashion-forward move, with one commenting, “This would be such a flex in my wardrobe.
Louis Vuitton has frequently challenged the norms with unconventional designs, having already put out bags in the form of airplanes, dolphins, and lobsters in previous collections.
But the autorickshaw article was different because it had a blatant cultural reference, and people engaged in discussions about whether it represented authentic cultural admiration or just another instance of high fashion’s tendency to appropriate motifs from the East.