An auction recently concluded with the sale of a microscopic handbag, incredibly tiny to the point of passing through the eye of a needle, fetching an impressive $63,750.
Brooklyn art and fashion collective MSCHF has made waves with their creation of a microscopic handbag that is so small it can pass through the eye of a needle. The neon yellow bag, featuring the iconic LV monogramming of Louis Vuitton, fetched an impressive $63,750 at auction. With measurements of just 657 by 222 by 700 microns (0.667 x 0.222 x 0.7mm), one can only view the bag through a microscope. To put its size into perspective, the average coarse salt grain is about 2mm, while fine table salt measures around 0.3mm.
Using two-photon polymerisation printing methods, the creators crafted the microscopic bag based on the Louis Vuitton Onthego tote, which typically retails for $3,100 to $4,300. MSCHF utilized photopolymer resin and a gel case in its construction, a technique commonly employed in the biotech industry.
It’s worth noting that MSCHF did not collaborate with Louis Vuitton or seek permission to use their logo or design for the bag. Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, founded Joopiter, the online auction house that hosted the auction.
Described by MSCHF as the ultimate achievement in bag miniaturization, the lot description emphasizes the abstracted nature of the object as it becomes smaller. The microscopic handbag transcends practicality, evolving into a purely symbolic representation of the luxury brand.
The sale of this microscopic Louis Vuitton handbag showcases the intersection of art, fashion, and innovation, leaving admirers wondering what boundary-pushing creations await in the future.
