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The 301sq m store pays tribute to Louis Vuitton’s travel heritage |
UK. Louis Vuitton has opened its first European airport store, and only its second worldwide, at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. As reported, the 301sq m store is part of a new luxury retail environment in expanded space at the terminal.
The striking store houses a selection of the brand’s leather goods, women’s ready-to-wear and shoes, accessories, sunglasses, fine jewellery and watches.
Inside, beige leathers, polished plaster in light gold, smoked teakwood and antique brass metalwork communicate a feeling of warmth. The exterior of the store is flanked by a series of striped glass ‘fins’ finished in bronzed anodized aluminium. A window display of transparent units hung by Louis Vuitton belts recall the brand’s artisan heritage and allow visibility into the store.
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Heathrow Commercial Director Brian Woodhead (left), Louis Vuitton Managing Director Tom Meggle (centre) and Heathrow Retail Director Jonathan Coen outside the new store |
The outside of the store also features an installation by contemporary French painter, photographer and filmmaker Ange Leccia.
A specially commissioned short film entitled ‘Giraglia’ will play on a digital screen set into the 6 m facade of the store. The film carries on the marine them embraced by Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2015 collection, the launch of which coincided with the Heathrow opening.
“The store is dedicated to Louis Vuitton’s travel heritage and welcomes the modern explorer to journey through an entirely new retail concept,” the brand and airport company said in a joint statement.
The companies emphasised the brand’s long established connection with travel, with its first iconic “aero-trunks’ designed for hot air balloons in 1910.
“Since then, Louis Vuitton and the succeeding generations have invented trunks and luggage – from check-in to carry-on – anticipating the needs of the modern traveller,” the companies added.
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