The Australian Open has announced a landmark partnership with one of the most recognised luxury brands in the world, Louis Vuitton.
For the Australian Open, which gets underway in Melbourne on January 14, Louis Vuitton has designed two stylish and eye-catching official trophy trunks.
The custom trunks, one for each of the exquisite AO trophies, the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for women and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for men, will be on display at the trophy presentation events and the women’s and men’s finals on January 27 and 28.
In the traditional factory in Asnières, near Paris, professional Louis Vuitton craftsmen customised the specifically designed trunks. The timeless canvas Louis Vuitton Monogram covers the timber frame, which is completed with a traditional lozine leather trim and the same brass corner guards, lock, and clasps that have been an element of Louis Vuitton trunks since the 1860s.
The two front panels of the trunks are decorated with a bold white V that stands for “Victory” and “Vuitton,” and they fold back to show off the trophies within. The Australian Open emblem, i.e., the white AO, is located on the bottom of the lid of each case, and both are lined with blue microfiber that complements the colour scheme of the competition’s renowned blue courts.
The company has also created custom trophy cases for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Rugby World Cup 2023, NBA Championship Trophy, Formula 1 Monaco GP, League of Legends, and America’s Cup.
Tennis Australia, CEO, Craig Tiley, commented, “Louis Vuitton is renowned for creating iconic trunks and we are delighted with the stunning hand-crafted custom trunks created for our historic Australian Open trophies. The Australian Open and Louis Vuitton both share a commitment to unparalleled excellence and innovation, while retaining great respect for history, tradition and the celebration of legendary achievement and skill.”
Pietro Beccari, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, said, “After the Trophy Trunks created for the Rugby World Cup and the Ballon d’Or in 2023, we are proud to announce this new partnership with the first Grand Slam tournament of 2024, which once again shows that Victory travels in Louis Vuitton. For more than 170 years, the Maison has been creating trunks that embody excellence, creativity and audacity, all values we share with the world’s greatest sporting events.”