Louis Vuitton set to present cruise collection in Park Güell on May 23

Fashion brand is main sponsor of 37th America's Cup sailing race taking place in Barcelona

Park Güell will be used as a catwalk for Louis Vuitton's 2025 Cruise collection showcase
Park Güell will be used as a catwalk for Louis Vuitton's 2025 Cruise collection showcase / Redacció
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

April 9, 2024 12:09 PM

French luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton will be presenting their 2025 Cruise collection in the famous Park Güell on May 23, as reported by the Spanish El País newspaper. 

"We are delighted that they have chosen Barcelona. It is the big event of the year," the daily reported quoting local government sources.

Louis Vuitton has a tradition of showcasing their Cruise collection in unexpected locations with an architectural significance. The previous collection was shown at the Isola Bella island in Lake Maggiore in Italy. 

Park Güell, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona with its modernist art nouveau and natural architectural style. Only in 2023, the park welcomed 4.4 million visitors

"It will be aesthetically and visually powerful," the same source told El País. The city council considers the catwalk "a recognition of the city from the fashion world."  

Details of the event have not been made public yet. 

Long-lasting relationship 

Barcelona and Louis Vuitton have a relationship dating back to the early 20th century, with Georges Vuitton, son of founder Louis Vuitton, participating in the 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition to sell toiletry cases. 

Louis Vuitton also opened its first Spanish store in Barcelona in 1987

/ Miquel Vera

The founders of the French fashion brand have shown interest in Catalan modernist art and the work of Gaudí, on several occasions.  

With the announcement of the cruise show taking place in Barcelona, Louis Vuitton's executive director and president, Pietro Beccari, said that the brand and the Catalan capital shared common values which are ""deeply rooted in a remarkable heritage and creativity." 

37th America cup 

Louis Vuitton is the main sponsor of the 37th America's Cup sailing race, which will be held in Barcelona from August until October of 2024.  

The competition is the oldest sports trophy in the world, the first edition being held in 1851. 

The America's Cup is all about contenders trying to dethrone the current champions. There is only one team that can challenge the champion, if more than one tries to do so, they participate in a preliminary competition, Louis Vuitton Cup, to determine who can try to win the America's Cup. 

The defending champion is the Emirates Team New Zealand from Auckland. They won the America's Cup in 2017 and managed to defend it in 2021.  

It has been calculated that the event will have an impact of €1.2 billion on the local economy, generating 18,000 jobs, according to general director of the Barcelona Capital Nàutica Foundation, Ignasi Armengol. 

The competition will be accompanied by many entertaining and cultural activities. The races will also be free for the public to enjoy.