Louis Vuitton’s Capucine bag heads into its second decade, showcased for Spring/Summer 2023 by maison ambassador Lea Seydoux.

First introduced in Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection, the Capucine is now a coveted, thoroughbred bag for the world’s most valuable luxury brand.

A vibrant, oversized, multi-colored chain that Diana Vreeland would adore is added to the Capucine, which can be worn on the arm or crossbody.

In this moment of so many challenges central to our lives, the Spring 2023 Capucine bag with a handle made using the ancient Japanese Kintsugi technique may be the most special.

Seriously, can the handle of a Louis Vuitton Capucine bag teach us a life lesson?

The Japanese art form of ‘kintsugi’, defined as joining with gold, has become not only a centuries-old art of creating beauty out of a process of repair — think a chipped vessel — for example.

Kintsugi is now a philosophy about life explored especially by young people in their 20s and 30s.

Kintsugi Repair

The original process of kintsugi repair and gilded restoration can take as long as three months. Broken shards or chips of ceramics or pottery are meticulously glued together with the sap of an indigenous Japanese 'urushi' tree. Note that the sap can cause allergies when touched.

After being blended with additional elements including wheat flour and fine sawdust, the repaired object is left to dry for a few weeks before being adorned with gold running along its cracks.

Kintsugi Life Philosophy

In an throwaway, one and done, age of mass production and reckless disposal, learning to accept failure and celebrate scars is a powerful lesson in humanity and sustainability.

Anne of Carversville has long had a policy of refusing to use the word ‘flawless’. Life is not flawless and neither are people. The word ‘flawless’ is prevalent in the beauty industry, and we are proud that it is forbidden as a keyword our text.

Now we learn that ‘kintsugi’ is also a way of crafting — even mending — our lives. It’s very Zen and challenges humans to consider the contemplation of imperfection, as well as the constant flux and impermanence of all things.

‘Kintsugi’ is linked to ‘wabi-sabi’, which is both an appreciation of natural objects and the reality that nothing stays the same forever. This is the nature of our shared humanity.

So you thought this was just a quick look at Lea Seydoux and the spring 2023 Cappucine collection.

Not on Anne of Carversville. Nope. We go deep, often walking where angels dare not tread.

It’s no secret that AOC loves LVMH brands. Read our new analysis of Pharrell Williams’ arrival at Louis Vuitton Men’s and you will see just how fearless we can be.

We DO understand the concept of ‘kintsugi’ but never had a word for it. This is a fascinating, deep dive we are eager to take because it not only challenges us to accept our flaws and failures but to create beauty from our mistakes. I love it! ~ Anne