Islamabad, July 17, 2025: Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has set the internet abuzz with its latest release, a handbag inspired by India’s iconic auto-rickshaw.
Louis Vuitton’s latest handbag designed looks like a traditional auto rickshaw and has caught global attention, people in Pakistan are joining the banters. The bag, which is part of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, features mini wheels, handlebars and a bright yellow canopy. It is inspired by the three wheeled vehicles in cities like Karachi and Lahore and Rawalpindi where rickshaws are a staple of daily transport.
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While the bag has sparked entertainment for its playful design, the real shock comes from its price. Estimated at around Pkr 1.25 to 1.3 crore, the handbag costs more than 15 actual rickshaws. This has led to a wave of jokes and memes online. Pakistani users much like those in India have shared their own humorous and witty takes, questioning whether the bag comes with a meter or if a Saddar edition is on the way.
Some have praised the design as creative and fun, while others have raised concerns about cultural appropriation. The idea of turning an everyday vehicle used by working class people into a luxury fashion statement has led many to question whether such tributes genuinely celebrate South Asian culture or simply profit off it.
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This isn’t the first time a Western brand has ignited a debate in the region. Previous examples include designer versions of Kolhapuri chappals and other traditional items. Louis Vuitton, known for its bold and unconventional designs has a history of launching novelty bags in shapes like boats, planes and animals. The rickshaw bag is just the latest to blur the line between tribute and trend.
Whether people see it as ridiculous, clever or offensive one thing is for sure that rickshaw bag has done what fashion often aims to do and that is to get everyone talking.
