The 2nd Delhi Couture Week kicks of tomorrow at the Taj Palace Hotel. The faux fashionistas of the city are all talking about couture so I need not bore you with the same stuff.
Have you heard of Couture Condoms, Couture Drugs, Couture Donuts or Couture Coke (the drinking one, not the snorting one)??? Well they do exist.
COUTURE DRUGS: These drug-chic Achraf Amiri ‘Fashion Victim’ images depict several different narcotics adorned with high-end couture logos and motifs. Who knew that a Burberry syringe could look so classy? The pictures themselves in this Achraf Amiri ‘Fashion Victim’ series are perfectly executed to seamlessly integrate iconic fashion prints, but I think the most stunning thing about these thought-provoking images is their powerful message. Is the user addicted to fashion like a drug, or is she a slave to consumerism and materialism?
COUTURE CONDOMS: A condom just isn’t the same without a little bit of Louis Vuitton or Gucci inscribed onto the smooth latex surface. Granted, it’s a lot more expensive than traditional Trojans, but this is the ultimate way to gain attention in the bedroom. These couture condoms demonstrate how fashion moguls are pushing their way into all facets of their consumers’ lives. The Louis Vuitton condom is covered with the brand’s traditional logo and for $68 you can buy these prophylactics and impress your lover. Just imagine taking your hot date out to dinner in that Marc Jacobs suit only to follow it up by a side dish of couture condoms at the end of the night. This may make loving slightly pricey, but at least you’ll look good while doing it.
COUTURE COKE BOTTLES: Manolo Blahnik used to design Coke Bottles before embarking on designing shoes, thanks to Diana Vreeland’s suggestion. This is the second time that Manolo Blahnik has been asked to outfit the most popular bottle on earth, that of a Coke. Back in 2005, the charismatic Spanish designer produced a white and red leafy design for Coca-Cola Light, reportedly inspired by thinking of what makes him smile. The new Blahnik design is equally joyful and bright as the last one, with its white background and patterned with numerous stylish Manolos, catering nicely to the shoe fetish. Following his daring footsteps, Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld and Nattalie Rykiel produced their own striking versions of the fizzy bottle, raising the stakes on designer bottles.
Four years after choosing Puducherry, erstwhile Pondicherry for its first manufacturing plant in Asia, French luxury goods giant Louis Vuitton has decided to sell its Indian unit to a Chennai-based firm – Leather Crafts India. The management made a formal announcement about exiting India on June 13. And guess what’s the reason behind LV saying bye-bye to India? It’s Labour Problem. Louis Vuitton’s decision to sell the unit comes as a major blow to India’s image as a competitive cost destination.
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) Group set up its Indian back office subsidiary as Les Ateliers De Pondicherry (LADP). LADP was set up jointly by Louis Vuitton and the Puducherry-based leather fashion brand Dilip Kapoor’s HiDesign. HiDesign did not take a stake in LADP but Louis Vuitton took a 5% stake in HiDesign.
The prospect of a change of management sparked labour unrest with the 200-plus Indian employees on LADP’s rolls going on strike since June 13 demanding that the firm regularize their services before winding up its operations and handing over the unit to the new owners. LADP has two plants—one in Kurumbapet here and the other in Perambai in Tamil Nadu—to manufacture leather components for Louis Vuitton products. The management’s announcement about exiting India on June 13 triggered the labour problem. LADP, which had regularized the services of its administrative staff, had not confirmed the 240 workers on its rolls in the last four years.
Seems like Cannes Film Festival is more about Fashion & Luxury than Films. Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli are among the international luxury brands to have recently opened dedicated stores during the upcoming CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2011. Chanel is the latest brand to announce the set up of a pop up store in Cannes, during the festival, at Majestic Hotel.
Other major luxury brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Elie Saab, Gucci and Van Cleef Arpels are setting up showrooms at Martinez Hotel, mostly to provide assistance as well as last minute ”touches” for the hundreds of celebrities who will be wearing luxury branded clothing, accessories and jewellery.
Chanel is setting up its pop-up store or say, a temporary showroom at the luxury Eden Roc Hotel, in a large suite. Karl Lagerfeld, himself, will be present for several trunk shows and fittings with his ”muse” celebrities as well as top haute couture clients who will be in Cannes for the duration of the Film Festival.
Christian Dior will set up its beauty and fragrances displays at Martinez Hotel and will organize its traditional Cannes event together with ELLE magazine at Eden Roc Hotel on May 20th.
Swiss jeweller CHOPARD, which is also a main sponsor of the CANNES Film Festival, will organize on May 14th, its traditional Trophée Chopard event, which this year will celebrate 10 years under the patronage of Robert de Niro, who is also the President of the Jury of this year’s edition. The Chopard Trophee rewards the talent of two young actors, each year, counting among its previous winners: Marion Cotillard, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Diane Kruger and Gael Garcia-Bernal.
Folks I am not so well versed on this – if it is a legit business to sell Exotic Leather goods in India. Informed readers of this blog are requested to throw light on this.
Sonam Kapoor bought a Salvatore Ferragamo Stingray Razza Long Clutch from the Ferragamo Store in DLF Emporio in New Delhi and for, which she was scrupulously overcharged by Rs.15,000 by the Store management. I mentioned about Sonam getting fleeced by Ferragamo, India in this Blog but Soam didn’t care to bother. Agree she’s making enough money to ignore a paltry 15 grand but on the hindsight, possible that she kept mum because she bought an Exotic Stingray clutch, which may not be a legal thing to do.
I think dealing in Exotic Leather Goods is not Legal or else why would Louis Vuitton store in Delhi be raided few years back???
It’s not just Salvatore Ferragamo that may be selling Exotic Leather Goods. I myself saw premium De Grisogono watches in Stingray Leather Straps.
If this is all illegal, we must bring it to the notice of the authorities.
I am not joking. There will be special edition Louis Vuitton Saris designed by Marc Jacobs available as LV celebrates Diwali across the world. This is LVs way to thank India for being a great market for its luxury goods.
LV has commissioned art curator Rajeev Sethi to do the LV window based on Diwali. From Buenos Aires to Beijing and Delhi to Dubai, all LV Store Windows will be decked up in Diwali theme designed by Sethi. It’s for the first time ever LV is doing a festival themed window apart from Christmas and new Year. And mind you, this Diwali Window isn’t just for LV stores in India. All LV Stores in the world will have the Diwali Window. Wonder how Beijing gonna take this ‘Indianisation’.
Any yes Marc Jacob designed LV Saris are also in the offering.