The GO-14 bag: a unique model in the history of Louis Vuitton

A nexus of intertwined passions: the inspiration of a designer, the secrets of a boot maker, the ingenuity of a craftsman… The GO-14 is both a beginning and a culmination.

The GO-14 is an initiatory bag, one of Nicolas Ghesquière’s first designs, hence its codename: Ghesquière October 2014, the date on which it first appeared on the catwalk for the debut of the Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Women’s Collections. In 2023, it resurfaces in full spirit and with a unique feature: the malletage, evoking the spirit of Louis Vuitton’s historic trunk-making.

The chevron piping was a simple idea that ensured the documents stayed in place, no matter the twists and turns of the journey. Nicolas Ghesquière took this Louis Vuitton innovation and included it in his first collection, presented in 2014: “There are certain universal codes unique to Louis Vuitton. It was a question of reintegrating them and transforming them into a new environment,” said Nicolas Ghesquière, who made malletage an unmistakable signature.

Today, the GO-14 is an iconic quilted leather bag. It is covered in soft, stretchy leather, with stitching that highlights the curves and quilted feel of the design. It comes in all shades, from stark black and white to diluted, nuanced tans that bring out the subtleties of its texture. The GO-14 is a versatile bag that can be worn in a multitude of ways.

The creative process requires more than 20 different steps, including the utmost meticulousness to ensure a satin or tan finish and to perfect the subtle gradations of colour. It also requires a highly precise technique to apply the 17-metre long border, as well as a high level of mastery in the treatment of the leather, which is more demanding than in traditional quilting forms.