Louis Vuitton To "Embrace" Culture Of Africa (Again)
LatestFashion editor Suzy Menkes writes that designer Kim Jones has started his new role as men’s style director at Louis Vuitton “with a mission: to embrace, via the luxury label’s travel history, the craft and culture of Africa.” What does that mean?
In addition to the safari-inspired Vogue photoshoot starring Keira Knightley and an elephant with a LV blanket, we’ve seen some super-stereotypical, offensive “inspiration” on the runway from Louis Vuitton before — those are “tribal mask” LV shoes from 2008 on the top left and bottom right; Dior “fertility goddess” heels on the top right and bottom left. And De Beers — the diamond company which was built on the backs of “poorly-paid, abominably treated native African workers,” and is often accused of human rights violations — made “tribal” amulets a couple of years ago. Which tribe was being “embraced”?