Pitchfork   The Dissolve   Festivals: Chicago | Paris
:

French fashion house Louis Vuitton is known for its iconic accessories: coveted speedy bags, monogrammed leather suitcases, and custom trunks made by hand since the 19th century. Now the lux brand has created a collection of travel books that highlight various cultures from the viewpoint of artists who aren’t familiar with them. For the series’ first installment, Congolese painter Chéri Samba explores Paris with pigment-soaked brush strokes, French illustrator Jean-Philippe Delhomme (of Unknown Hipster fame) examines the sleepless streets of NYC, while Japanese artist Natsko Seki interprets London via her sanguine world of mixed media. Each year, new locations and titles will be added. Next up for 2014? Manga artist Jiro Taniguchi scouts Venice, and Italian comic book author Lorenzo Mattotti adventures in Vietnam.

Photo by: Chameleon Visual Limited

A creative window display is something we love. Too many stores simply prop up creepy mannequins (the equivalent of a fashion editorial with a model in front of a gray backdrop) and call it a day. And then there's the current visual merchandising trend where shops hastily imitate American Apparel, filling windows with 30 items in a rainbow of colors. It gets so boring to see over and over again on our daily commute. 

That's why we are deeply grateful to Louis Vuitton for having beautiful and intriguing windows. In the past year, our local windows have featured displays ranging from hot air balloons to a moving carousel. Australia's Louis Vuitton windows even had a kangaroo crafted out of Vuitton bags (with a baby roo in her pouch!). 

Who is behind this magic? After digging a bit, we discovered it's all thanks to Chameleon Visual, out of London. They've worked for Chloe, LOVE Magazine, and of course Louis Vuitton, among many more. You can find out the behind-the-scenes tricks on their blog, and keep an eye out for their work in a window near you.