AFRICAN PUNK. French luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton goes down under with a new pop-up store concept and an exciting new collection
Kim Jones in front of the Sydney pop-up store
After a successful string of pop-up store openings all across the world, Louis Vuitton heads to Sydney. The brand’s first ever pop-up store in Sydney takes place at the iconic Westfield Sydney shopping center, from November 18 up to December 18, 2016. “I’m very excited about the pop-up store in Sydney,” says Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton’s artistic director for menswear. “I love the progressive and constantly evolving Australia.”
Jai Courtney and Mecki Dent join artistic director Kim Jones at the pop-up store’s opening
Shown at the uniquely shaped venue is a selection of Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2017 pre-collection, which combines an homage to the wildlife of Africa and the punk aesthetics of The Chapman Brothers. This collection also marks the second collaboration between Jones and the Chapman duo. The African theme, meanwhile, harks back to his first Louis Vuitton show which was heavily influenced by his childhood in Kenya and Botswana. The result is a stunning range of ready-to-wear ensembles, accessories and various leather goods featuring stylized animal illustrations by The Chapman Brothers. These skewed reinterpretations of Africa’s largest fauna add a rebellious London punk feel to the well-known savoir-faire of Louis Vuitton.
Of particular note is the Amazone bag in Damier Ebene, featuring the rhino print, which is an exclusive item at the Sydney pop-up store.
The opening event of the pop-up store, which took place on the evening of November 17 was appropriately fabulous. Among the many celebrities and VIP guests in attendance were actor Jai Courtney who graced the cover of DA MAN‘s April/May 2014 issue and model Jarrod Scott who appeared on the cover of the very first DA MAN Style.
Jarrod Scott
