Wholesale Blog

Limited-Edition Designer Collaboration Bags Worth the Investment

From Versace x Fendi, to Gucci x Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons, designer collaborations are nothing new, but these limited-edition capsule collections can produce iconic investment pieces that’ll rocket in resale value in the future. Whether the collab features two top designers, a legendary painter and a storied fashion house, or a charity and a mass market retail brand, these joint ventures generate lots of buzz and bucks.

Mary Zubritsky

From Versace x Fendi, to Gucci x Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons, designer collaborations are nothing new, but these limited-edition capsule collections can produce iconic investment pieces that’ll rocket in resale value in the future. Whether the collab features two top designers, a legendary painter and a storied fashion house, or a charity and a mass market retail brand, these joint ventures generate lots of buzz and bucks.

We know scoring a Birkin, a croc Kelly, or a Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag is a big win for your store, but sometimes the items that might double in value over time are the increasingly rare, limited-edition designer pieces. Collaborations such as Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami, and Louis Vuitton x Richard Prince have seen the resale price of these vintage items skyrocket over 200% in the past few years.

So, while you should absolutely continue searching for the Holy Grail of handbags, don’t forget about the lesser-known pieces that just might reward you even more.

GUCCI X BALENCIAGA

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Known as The Hacker Project, Gucci and Balenciaga’s highly anticipated collaboration is an “exploration on ideas of authenticity and appropriation within the fashion industry”. Launched in November 2021, this new capsule collection by two Kering brands features classic Gucci and Balenciaga bags, shoes, clothing, and accessories, and then combined the two brands to create a new line.

LOUIS VUITTON X TAKASHI MURAKAMI

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In 2003, Marc Jacobs joined forces with Takashi Murakami to not only create the Multicolor Monogram we mentioned above, but also introduced us to some of the most in-demand designs on the resale market today. Following the success of the Monogram Multicolor collection, Murakami went on to create other successful collaborations such as the Cherry Blossoms, Panda, Cerises, MOCA Hands, and Monogramouflage. The partnership ended in 2015, making it the longest collaboration that the brand has ever had.

LOUIS VUITTON X STEPHEN SPROUSE

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Marc Jacobs convinced the fashion house to let 80s fashion designer, Stephen Sprouse, create a graffiti version of Louis Vuitton’s monograms and it was Louis Vuitton’s first successful collaboration. The Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse collaboration was the first time Vuitton’s monogram had been updated, and it’s since become a pop culture phenomenon.

Launched in 2001, bags featuring the Louis Vuitton Graffiti pattern were sold out in an instant and they’re in huge demand on the resale market. Stephen Sprouse’s Roses Collection wasn’t launched until after Stephen’s death from lung cancer in 2009 and features a bright and feminine rose print.

LOUIS VUITTON X RICHARD PRINCE

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The Spring/Summer 2008 shows featured a beautiful collaboration with artist and photographer Richard Prince and the result was a stunningly beautiful and equally rare Watercolor collection. Richard Prince created the effect of a watercolor monogram pattern in soft pale hues which looks like someone took a paintbrush and painted directly onto the black or white canvas.

LOUIS VUITTON X SUPREME

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In 2000, Louis Vuitton sued Supreme for plagiarizing its signature Louis Vuitton monogram logo, but then at Paris Fashion Week in 2017, they joined forces to create one of the most iconic collaborations ever that transformed the relationship between high fashion and streetwear, Together, they produced everything from handbags and clothing to skateboard trunks which each piece featuring a unique blend of their logos, signature colors and craftsmanship.

GUCCI X GucciGhost

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Invited by Alessandro Michele to collaborate on the Fall 2016 collection, Trevor Andrew, aka Gucci Ghost, was a Brooklyn graffiti artist turned fashion star. Trevor adopted Gucci’s double G along with eye-catching motifs and painted them graffiti-style over accessories, bags, and ready-to-wear.

PRADA X JAMES JEAN

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In 2007, artist James Jean created a mural for the Prada Epicenter stores in New York and LA and created a backdrop for the Spring/Summer 2008 shows in Milan. Aspects of the mural and wallpaper were turned into clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories which gave birth to the Prada Fairy Collection. In 2018, James Jean collaborated with Prada again which led to the creation of the Prada Bunnies collection.

JOIN LEPRIX WHOLESALE

We’re here to help you source the best margins for your limited-edition designer collaboration pieces. On our wholesale platform, every item comes with a description, condition, and letter grade for top brands. By leveraging deep data analytics and AI, our platform also shows you a suggested minimum resale price and estimated profit margin for top brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, and Dior.

If you’re a business, you may qualify for exclusive access to authentic, pre-owned Louis Vuitton bags and accessories at wholesale prices. Find out more here.

*LePrix is not affiliated with any brands in any manner. All items are LePrix Vetted and Approved: LePrix’s team of specialists inspect every item before it’s listed and sold on LePrix Wholesale.