LV’s rickshaw bag is bold, bizarre, and deeply Indian

Louis Vuitton has sparked a frenzy by dropping a handbag that looks like the Indian auto-rickshaws. With the price tag of Rs 35 lakh, the handbag under Pharrell’s Spring/Summer ‘26 menswear collection has mini wheels and camel-toned leather handlebars along with their signature LV monogram. The bag reflects the intersection of street culture and designer obsession.

Although the bag never made it to the main runway, it was showcased during the collection’s “re-see.” The collection did not stop there; Pharrell Williams, the principal designer, seemed to send a visual love letter to India, from unraveling a Darjeeling-inspired palette to designing a floor like a Moksha Patam board.

This execution saw a variety of netizens’ reactions, from “Middle-class struggles are high fashion” to “Waiting for this to drop in Chandni Chowk.” Amongst thousands of reactions, what gained the most attraction was when a user asked, “Did this bag just colonize me?”

Furthermore, this is not the first time that luxury has "borrowed" India. The rebranding of Prada's "Kolhapuri chappals" as luxury sandals, the upcycling of Indian ration bags by Japan's Puebco, and the incorporation of Indian embroidery, shapes, and materials into couture by Dior, Chanel, and Hermès are just a few examples of how international brands have been progressively referencing Indian design.

While few see it as a tribute to India’s cultural wealth, others are viewing it as an appropriation wrapped in luxury branding. Either way, the latest auto rickshaw-inspired bag is more than an accessory—it reflects how everyday Indian life is becoming the latest muse for global high fashion. One thing’s clear: India’s design language isn’t just being noticed. It’s being reinterpreted through a luxury lens.