Art is Freedom Yellow- Vintage Louis Vuitton Upcycled & Hand-Painted Philip Karto

I’m Philip Karto, a French-born designer known for transforming pre-owned luxury bags into one-of-a-kind, hand-painted pieces with a sustainability-first mindset.After moving to Miami in 2013, I launched my namesake label in 2017 to upcycle Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Goyard icons using recycled parts and pop-art motifs. Celebrities including Miley Cyrus and Bella Hadid have carried my work, helping spotlight the message that luxury can be both personal and responsible. In 2022, I opened my first standalone boutique in Saint-Tropez, expanding into physical retail while continuing bespoke commissions through my Studio Lab. Earlier, I built a rock-’n’-roll jewelry label called CAPTION and collaborated with fashion houses—experience that shaped my craft and entrepreneurial approach. My mission is simple: give iconic materials a second life and prove that circular design belongs at the heart of modern luxury—a stance Forbes profiled when discussing my recycling-driven approach.