Leather Animals In A Paper Jungle For Hermès Window Installation.

For its 13th Carte Blanche, the Hermès store at Hong Kong International Airport is exhibiting a piece by the French artists Zim&Zou, 'The Eternal Jungle', which is an invitation into the wild. (Some of you may recall that I previously posted about the paper crafts of Zim&Zou.)



The window installation creates an intriguing contrast between the jungle, a world that is dominated by wild animals, and one of great refinement, the world of Hermès.




The window is influenced by the abundance of vegetation in Hong Kong and showcases Hermès accessories (such as scarves, jewelry, bets and ties) and a Monkey, a Toucan and a Chameleon crafted of leather off-cuts from the workshops of Hermès.

If this sounds a little familiar, it is much like the lovingly crafted animals made with Louis Vuitton leather goods for their window displays by Billie Achilleous.

Monkey and Hermès tie:

Chameleon and Hermès bracelet:

Toucan and Hermès necklace:


The installation displays the finest skills in paper-cut art and leatherwork. Remaining faithful to its original purity, the artists create intricate objects with the paper, a material both beautiful and versatile.



A look at the impressively crafted animals.

The Monkey:


The Monkey in the display:


The Toucan:


The Toucan in the display:


The Chameleon:


The Chameleon in the display:

The window as it appears in the Hong Kong International Airport:


Zim and Zou

Don't miss this post about another artist who has crafted small animals of leather for Louis Vuitton Window displays:

Louis Vuitton's Infinitely Kusama Collection (And All Its Hype) Will Have You Seeing Spots.

If you can connect the dots, you'll have seen this latest collaboration between luxury brand Louis Vuitton and 83 year old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her dots, waves, pumpkins and brightly colored severe haircut, hyped to the hilt.



above: A wax figure of Yayoi Kusama stands in one of the window displays of Louis Vuitton's Flagship New York store

Along with the launch of the new womenswear ready-to-wear collection (the entire collection of which is shown further down in this post), the New York flagship store has been covered in dots with its windows filled with wax figures and miniature versions of the artist surrounded by her work and the collection:





The Whitney Museum has a Kusama Retrospective timed to coincide with the collection's release.



The Tate Museum just featured an exhibit of Kusama's works, and the line is accompanied by artworks that will be showcased in the Louis Vuitton New Bond Street Maison’s dedicated exhibition space.

Yayoi Kusama: Princess Of The Dots:


iPhone App:


As part of the collaboration with Yayoi Kusama, Louis Vuitton has created an iPhone app that turns any picture into a unique visual inspired by the artist’s signature waves or Dots and upload it to their online gallery, Visions of the Kusama World.



Collaborations between artists and fashion houses are nothing new, but this one is being heralded like the Second Coming.

The collection includes four subcategories based on the signature art styles of Yayoi Kusama: Dots, Waves, Pumpkin and Town. The expansive line includes Fashion and Fine Jewellery, Handbags, Small Leather Goods, Luggage, Scarves, Pareos, Pumps, Flats, Sunglasses and Ready-To-Wear fashions.


above: The pumpkin bag is a precious creation of galvanised metal with pure gold and resin

While I'm a fan of Kasuma's work, some of the pieces in the new collection are truly fabulous while others look like they came straight from Minnie Mouse's wardrobe closet. No doubt about it, you gotta like dots to like Louis Vuitton's Infinitely Kusama Collection.

The Infinitely Kusama Accessories:
Infinitely Kusama Pumps:

Infinitely Kusama flats:

Infinitely Kusama Watch, Collar, Snood and Shawl:

Infinitely Kusama Fashion Jewellery:

Infinitely Kusama Handbags and leather goods:

Infinitely Kusama Luggage:

Infinitely Kusama Pareos and Beach Towel:

Infinitely Kusama Pumpkin scarf and charm:

Infinitely Kusama Town Monogram Silk Scarf:

Infinitely Kusama Sunglasses:



The Ready to Wear Infinitely Kusama Womenswear collection:









Most of the collection is available in store only, but you can shop for some of the accessories online here

Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kasuma's Infinitely Kusama Collection