From Berluti to Dior, why fashion is obsessed with books

Fashion has long drawn inspiration from various creative fields, but literature has recently taken center stage. Italian brand Berluti showcased this trend with a limited-edition collection of leather goods inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless tale, The Little Prince. Published in 1943, the story's enduring themes of love, loss, friendship, and imagination have transcended generations.

For Berluti, these elements translated into the house's unique visual language. Excerpts from the book and Saint-Exupéry's illustrations are subtly integrated into the accessories through patination, leather marquetry, and even tattooing. The Trois Nuit bag, for example, represents the mountain scene from the book without depicting the protagonist, while Berluti's signature patination gives the imagery a weathered quality that speaks to those familiar with the story.

Berluti has also collaborated with publisher Gallimard to create a Bibliotheque de la Pleiade edition dedicated to Saint-Exupéry, featuring its hand-patinated Venezia leather in presentation cases and book covers. Fashion's relationship with literature has a rich history, but it has become increasingly prominent in recent years.

German pen maker Montblanc drew on The Little Prince with its Meisterstück Le Petit Prince collection in 2018, while Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen marked the book's 70th anniversary in 2013 with timepieces featuring the Little Prince on its asteroid. Boss celebrated the story's 80th anniversary with a special collection in China in 2023.

However, Berluti is not the only brand to find inspiration in literature. Handbag label Olympia Le-Tan has reimagined famous tomes as hand-embroidered minaudieres since 2009, featuring works by Tolstoy, Hemingway, Austen, and Sun Tzu. Dior's Book Tote, introduced in 2018, showcased first-edition covers of literary classics such as Dracula, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Ulysses, Les Fleurs du Mal, and In Cold Blood.

Coach incorporated book charms created in collaboration with Penguin Random House into its spring/summer 2026 collection, and Saint Laurent integrated publishing into its identity under creative director Anthony Vaccarello, producing art and photography books through Saint Laurent Editions and hosting a rare books and independent magazines space, Saint Laurent Babylone.

Miu Miu launched its own literary club in 2024, while Chanel hosted its Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon in 2021. Even skincare brand Aesop has created temporary reading rooms in select stores, and literary communities on social media, such as BookTok, have transformed reading into a social activity. The attraction for luxury brands lies in the books' ability to imply culture, curiosity, and discernment, sparking conversations and fostering a sense of community.