Monumental assemblies of constructed steel are almost a trademark for Louis Vuitton shops worldwide. Case in point is the latest construction from UNStudio for Louis Vuitton’s Japan Flagshop store. As Dezeen describes, "The design for the 10 storey (54 meter tall) flagship Louis Vuitton store in Japan aims to establish an architectural equivalent of the identity of Louis Vuitton in which classical and modern qualities are blended, reinforcing each other. The design inspires the visitor with a feeling of being in the House of Louis Vuitton by celebrating the qualities that make up the essence of the company, its products, its history and its future." (photos via dezeen)

More photos of the (proposed) Louis Vuitton Flagship Japan store after the jump.

WWD reports in with word of a soon to come collection of footwear by Kanye West for Louis Vuitton. "Kanye West is very much on first-name terms with Louis Vuitton. ‘I’m here for Louis,’ drawled the rapper at Paris’ Jardins de Bagatelle Friday, disclosing that he’s collaborating on a men’s shoes line for the brand."

Time will only tell what output comes of this collection. We’re certainly hoping for grandness.

Two outstanding brands that we report about on a regular have decided to join forces later this year – Comme des Garcons and Louis Vuitton. After the announcement of the Comme des Garcons x H&M partnership, this is the second unexpected partnership by the Japanese brand this year.

"In an extraordinary collaboration, Louis Vuitton, the ultimate French luxury brand, and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, the ultimate fashion rebel, will open a joint Tokyo store in September — an ephemeral three-month space where six one-off bags, designed by Kawakubo in LV monogram pattern, can be ordered by shoppers.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, sitting front row at Kawakubos’ show on Friday, said that he was approached by Comme and considers the project a fine way to celebrate 30 years since Vuitton first opened in Tokyo.

For Comme acolytes, this move will be considered either as sleeping with the enemy — or a brilliant and imaginative partnership.

Kawakubo has re-designed the entire Comme des Garçons store on Kottodori, Omotesando for the Vuitton project. Carcelle says that LV is investing in the store, and that any financial profits will be divided.

Kawakubo described her designs as ‘party’ bags, promising multi-handles or two handles morphing into one. All will use the Monogram toile, with the LV initials, and the offerings will hark back to the styles of 30 years when Vuitton made only bags and leather goods." Via The Moment.

Museum product rarely gets fancier than this. Launched June 1 at the Brooklyn Museum, the new Takashi Murakami Louis Vuitton collaborative combines the monogram and camoflage. The Monogramouflage collection features a variety of bags, including the Keepall 55 above. Select LV stores will be carrying them beginning this weekend and stretching into the second week of July. (Via Nitrolicious). 

We caught on a little late onto this, but nevertheless we wanted to show it to you. Louis Vuitton made a special collection of luggage for “The Darjeeling Limited” movie by Wes Anderson.

The collection consists of many Louis Vuitton long time classics, featuring a safari design on premium brown leather. Unfortunately the collection never went on sale, and was auctioned off after the movie came out.

If you are lucky you come across some pieces on eBay, but we doubt it. After the jump more images.

Tonight’s the big night in Brooklyn, NY. The Takashi Murakami exhibit opens its doors  at the Brooklyn Museum. Special guests can expect the usual festivities – big ole bash with Kayne West performing, the 550-square-foot Louis Vuitton boutique that accompanies Murakami’s show wherever it goes, and 300 Monogramouflage canvases up for purchase (6000-10000$US depending on if you’re one of the first 50 in line).

But what is most interesting for this show is that those Monogramouflage canvases and Vuitton handbags will also be sold on the streets right outside the museum – and they’re authentic! Giving a slap in the face to the usual street vendors of NYC, Vuitton is boldly taking their war against counterfeiters right onto their turf.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton told WWD, “We think that by highlighting it in a happening way and not in a boring way, it will make everybody more aware.” (photo via NYT)

The Takashi Murakami exhibition is right now making its way from Los Angeles to New York and will as of April be exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum.

April 5–July 13, 2008

4th and 5th Floors

The most comprehensive retrospective to date of the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami includes more than ninety works in various media that span the artist’s entire career, installed in more than 18,500 square feet of gallery space.

Apparently there will once again be a Louis Vuitton pop-up store also at the Brooklyn Museum, selling limited edition collaborative items of the French luxury brand and the Japanese artist.

IHT has a great video interview with Pharrell William on his latest work with Louis Vuitton: Blason. Blason jewelry line for L.V. was co-designed with Camile Miceli and in this video interview, we discover just how not so easy this was to pull off.

Long announced, the Louis Vuitton jewelry collection designed by Pharrell Williams finally seems to be hitting store this Spring season. Named “Blason”, the collection consists of edgy, avant-garde pieces inspired by the music universe and featuring combinations that include, but are not limited to, white gold with diamonds and yellow gold with diamonds.

The pieces range in price from 1,400 to 420,000 Euros, or approximately $2,070 to $621,000. Louis Vuitton will officially unveil the Blason collection to press on January 21. A party hosted by Williams and Miceli celebrating the pieces will take place that evening at a private mansion on Avenue Foch. More here at FWD.

Here a recent cartoon by Louis Vuitton with a lot of imagery done by Takashi Murakami, the Japanese artist, that has already designed lots of pieces for the French luxury brand.