LOUIS VUITTON, Chapman Brothers' Autumn/Winter Men Collection

"Jake" Chapman (born 1966) and "Dinos" Chapman (born 1962) are English visual artists, often known as the Chapman Brothers, who work together as a collaborative sibling duo.

They studied at The Royal College of Art (1988–90), when they also worked as assistants to the artists Gilbert and George.

Their subject matter is often deliberately shocking, including, in 2008, a series of works that appropriated original watercolours by Adolf Hitler (in Hitler’s early life, he attempted to begin a career as an artist and created many watercolour studies which the Chapmans bought and used as a basis for a work and exhibition «If Hitler Had Been a Hippy How Happy Would We Be »). See below.

Known for their highly provocative art, the two brothers - also referred to the « dark brothers of British art » and known for their characteristic dark sense of humour - worked with Kim Jones (men’s style director of Louis Vuitton) and Louis Vuitton on a capsule collection for Fall/Winter 2013.

 This collection is the first Vuitton menswear collaboration with contemporary art.

“I sat down with Jake Chapman and we talked through the idea of a ‘garden in hell'” said Kim Jones.

Keeping in mind « travel » has always been at the heart of Louis Vuitton’s DNA, Jones asked the Chapmans to offer twisted visions of mountain monsters from the Himalayas.

Old Nepal/Tibet Wrathful Deities:

The anthropomorphic animals and creatures of Louis Vuitton’s collection appear almost like the Chapman’s own spin on the Buddhist idea of ‘wrathful deities’, fearsome talismanic protectors from evil and a bridge between the natural and supernatural world.

The creatures decorate bags, footwear and « eye-inspired » jewellery (necklaces, key rings, cufflinks in the shape of eyeballs, with Louis Vuitton insignia in the iris).

 

The global menswear market is growing at the rate of 14 % per year – almost double womenswear growth. Men account for 55 % of China's ‪luxury goods market, well above the world average of 40 %.