How did you become friends with Nicolas Ghesquière?
I met young Nicolas a long time ago, before he became the creative director for Louis Vuitton and even then he stood out for me. It was only when I did the Alice in Wonderland-themed shoot with Annie Leibovitz that I worked with him. He made a dress especially for that shoot and since then we have been close friends.
Who do you see as Nicolas's 'Louis Vuitton woman'?
She's a very particular woman; she always looks special. She is elegant and original. And she defines herself, for herself.
How did your collaboration with Nicolas come about?
We'd been talking about doing something together for three years and it was obvious it was going to involve cats. I also wanted to involve Nicolas's dog, Léon. The collaboration between us is that we are personified through our animals.
What about the house of Louis Vuitton inspires you?
Their luggage. I found their travelling exhibition of trunks particularly amazing. It is fascinating to see all the different shapes and sizes in their luggage range. I love that they do collaborations and that they have a sense of humour. Their collab with Wes Anderson for the Darjeeling Limited luggage was very funny. It's essential to have a sense of humour, otherwise the industry can choke you.
Were there any limitations on your creative process?
No. I was worried that people would resent me coming in, but they were so lovely and excited and it made the whole process such a pleasure.
The collection features handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. How did you decide what to include?
I asked myself "What would I want if I were a client?" I would need an umbrella in case it was raining cats and dogs. I even made a soft trunk that you can lift. Since I love drawing, the trunk has bags filled with crayons, pencils and paper. I included all things that are connected with what I'd like to do if I was to go on a picnic. I would need a tablecloth, a few little stools and my comfortable pyjamas...