After Basmati rice bags and Kolhapuri chappals, India has found herself as yet another global luxury house’s muse. This time, our beloved local transport staple is in the spotlight. ‘Did this bag just colonise me?’ asks the internet as Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer ’26 menswear collection features handbags fashioned as mini auto rickshaws on the catwalk.
Complete with a three-wheeled structure, handlebars, and a yellow boxy canopy, the bag is wrapped in the signature gold LV monogram against their classic brown leather fabric. What’s interesting, though, is that the middle class’ go-to mode of travel is being sold for a whopping 35 lakh rupees. No wonder the internet is having a blast.
The auto rickshaw wasn’t the only India-inspired piece from the show. The collection featured numerous references—from gem-encrusted details to crêpe-style sandals—but the rickshaw bag certainly stands out, less as an accessory and more as a work of art.
Louis Vuitton’s auto handbag is worth 35 lakh INR (Source: Instagram/@dietparatha)
Comments expressing a wide range of emotions have taken over Instagram posts and reels. From “NEED! But I’ll wait for it to be released in Chandni Chowk🤭” to “Middle class struggle is high class couture”, netizens are equally baffled and excited to see their trusted work commute walking down the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
More about the collection
Pharrell Williams‘ latest collection paid homage to India’s rich culture and heritage by turning the plaza venue into a ginormous Moksha Patam (snake and ladders board), commissioned in collaboration with architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai. Williams’ admiration of West Bengal’s hilly retreat, Darjeeling, is expressed throughout the show —from rich saffron, mustard, earthy russet, and green accents that form the defining colour palette.
Skateboard, in conversation with Williams’ burner account on Instagram, gave us a sneak peek into the vision behind the collection: “Dandyism redefined in soft suiting and colours inspired by India,” the messages read, encapsulating the theme.
At the center of this cultural mash-up was none other than AR Rahman, whose new upbeat Punjabi track ‘Yaara’ set the rhythm for the models strutting down the runway. “It was fun working with Pharrell on the track ‘Yaara’,” Rahman shared on Instagram, sharing a clip of the show.
Representing the home front, Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter was spotted at the show, along with Nora Fatehi and Maharaja Padmanabh Singh, also known as Pacho, joining an international guest list that included the likes of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Bradley Cooper, and Jackson Wang.
