Louis Vuitton-Inspired Handbag, Smaller Than a Grain of Salt, Sells for Whopping $63,000
In a world where luxury knows no bounds, a handbag smaller than a grain of salt has just shattered expectations.
Sold for an eye-watering $63,750 at auction, this microscopic marvel is not just a testament to human ingenuity but also a bold statement on art, fashion, and consumerism.
Created by the New York-based art collective MSCHF, the fluorescent yellowish-green bag measures just 657 by 222 by 700 microns—less than 0.03 inches wide.
To put it in perspective, it’s so tiny that it can pass through the eye of a needle and requires a microscope to be seen.
This isn’t just any handbag. It’s a replica of Louis Vuitton’s iconic OnTheGo MM design, complete with the brand’s signature monogram.
But here’s the twist: Louis Vuitton had no part in its creation. MSCHF, known for its provocative and often controversial projects, took matters into their own hands—literally.
Using cutting-edge 3D printing technology, they crafted a bag that’s as much a piece of art as it is a fashion statement. And now, it’s made headlines around the world.
The Art Collective Behind the Miniature Marvel
MSCHF, pronounced “mischief,” is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Founded in 2016, this Brooklyn-based collective has built a reputation for blending art, technology, and satire.
Their projects often critique consumer culture and societal norms, sometimes landing them in hot water.
Notable works include the “Jesus Shoes”—Nike Air Max 97s filled with holy water—and the “Wavy Baby” toy, which sparked a lawsuit.
MSCHF thrives on controversy, and the microscopic handbag is their latest creation.
Described as “the final word in bag miniaturization,” the bag is a bold experiment in shrinking luxury to its absolute limit.
“There are big handbags, normal handbags, and small handbags,” MSCHF wrote on Instagram (MSCHF Instagram), “but this is the final word in bag miniaturization.” The bag isn’t just small—it’s a statement.
As MSCHF’s chief creative officer, Kevin Wiesner, explained to The New York Times, “A practical object is boiled down into jewelry, all of its putative function evaporated; for luxury objects, useability is the angels’ share.”
The bag features Louis Vuitton’s iconic LV logo without permission, making it a high-end knockoff.
Wiesner admitted they didn’t seek approval from Louis Vuitton, adding intrigue to the story.
Louis Vuitton, part of the LVMH group, has yet to comment, leaving open the possibility of legal action or a surprising collaboration.
The Auction and Its Surprising Success
The auction was a spectacle. Hosted by Joopiter (Joopiter Auction), an online auction house founded by musician and producer Pharrell Williams, the bag started with a modest bid of $15,000.
When the hammer fell, it had fetched $63,750—more than quadruple the starting price.
For context, that’s more than the cost of a full-sized Louis Vuitton OnTheGo MM bag, which retails for $3,100 to $4,300.
Pharrell Williams, also Louis Vuitton’s creative director of menswear, played an unexpected role.
According to Wiesner, the bag was created with Williams in mind. “Pharrell loves big hats,” Wiesner told The Guardian (Microscopic Bag Sale), “so we made him an incredibly small bag.”
It’s a playful nod to Williams’ oversized fashion sense, but it also highlights the absurdity of luxury.
Joopiter described the bag as “smaller than a grain of sea salt and narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle.”
They added, “This is a purse so small you’ll need a microscope to see it.” The winning bidder now owns a piece of history—and a microscope to go with it.
| Auction Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Auction House | Joopiter |
| Starting Bid | $15,000 |
| Final Sale Price | $63,750 |
| Date of Sale | June 28, 2023 |
| Auction Organizer | Pharrell Williams |
Controversy Over the Louis Vuitton Knockoff
Not everyone is celebrating. The bag’s unauthorized use of Louis Vuitton’s design has raised eyebrows. Is it art? Is it theft? Or is it both?
MSCHF’s work often walks this fine line, challenging intellectual property and consumer culture.
“As a once-functional object like a handbag becomes smaller and smaller, its object status becomes steadily more abstracted until it is purely a brand signifier,” MSCHF wrote on Instagram.
Louis Vuitton, known for fiercely protecting its brand, has remained silent.
The bag’s design closely resembles the OnTheGo MM handbag, yet this microscopic version sold for over 20 times the original’s price.
It’s a stark reminder of how branding drives value, even when the product is invisible.
The silence from LVMH is deafening, and industry watchers are eager to see if legal action follows.
The Technology Behind the Tiny Bag
Creating something this small is no small feat. MSCHF used two-photon polymerization (2PP), a 3D printing technology that creates objects with features as small as 100 nanometers.
It works by focusing a laser into a photosensitive material, where the laser’s intensity causes a chemical reaction that solidifies the material at the focal point.
By moving the laser in three dimensions, complex structures are built layer by layer.
MSCHF printed the bag in a fluorescent yellowish-green photopolymer. The process required extreme precision, as any deviation could ruin the product.
The result is a bag that’s not only minuscule but also detailed enough to resemble a full-sized luxury handbag.
This technology has applications beyond art, such as in medicine and electronics, highlighting its broader significance.
| Technology Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Technology Used | Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP) |
| Material | Fluorescent Yellowish-Green Photopolymer |
| Dimensions | 657 x 222 x 700 microns |
| Visibility | Requires Microscope |
Public Reaction and Social Media Buzz
The announcement set social media ablaze. On X and Instagram, users couldn’t stop talking about it.
The hashtag #MicroscopicHandbag trended as people shared memes and opinions.
“I can’t even see it, but I guess that’s the point,” one X post read. Another quipped, “This is what happens when you have more money than sense.”
Reactions were mixed. Some praised the bag as brilliant art, while others criticized it as frivolous.
“It’s absurd, but that’s what makes it brilliant,” said a fashion blogger. The sale captured the public’s imagination, sparking conversations about value and luxury.
The Daily Mail noted, “A handbag that is ‘smaller than a grain of salt’ has sold for over $63,000—two weeks after the high-end fashion brand behind the bizarre accessory was mercilessly ridiculed for the creation”.
The Future of Miniature Art and Fashion
The sale raises questions about the future of art and fashion. As technology advances, more artists may explore microfabrication.
Imagine galleries of invisible art or fashion shows with microscopic accessories. It’s surreal but increasingly possible.
This event highlights the intersection of art, technology, and luxury, challenging notions of value and utility.
The legal implications are also significant. The bag’s unauthorized design could set a precedent for disputes over intellectual property in the digital age.
Will Louis Vuitton act? Or will they see this as flattery? Only time will tell.
The microscopic handbag is more than a bag. It’s a symbol of our times—a world where technology shrinks luxury, art critiques consumerism, and a grain of salt is worth $63,750.
As Business Insider reported, “The knockoff, a neon yellowish-green handbag, sold for $63,750, more than quadruple the starting bid of $15,000”.
It’s a story that will linger, much like the bag itself—small but impossible to ignore.
