Cross Dressing
Tsunamis, earthquakes, a couple of world wars and Katrina—for 150 years the Red Cross has been providing relief from both manmade disasters and acts of god. To commemorate the impressive anniversary, Louis Vuitton is adding a touch of luxury to the business of saving lives with their Red Cross Kit, a monogrammed case inspired by the Red Cross’ original first aid kit from 1914. But instead of unsightly Ace bandages or defibrillator paddles, the limited-edition Boîte Spéciale Croix-Rouge houses red and gray medical cases artfully arranged to form a red cross and packed with such essentials as Louis Vuitton bandaids.
Along with the case, five other Louis Vuitton pieces are to be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London on November 17, benefitting the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Each piece, specially commissioned from the likes of Annie Leibovitz (camera bags) and LV’s own Marc Jacobs (dog carrier), blurs the line between form and function as only the best accessories do. Furthermore, when you order any of four classic Louis Vuitton bags—Speedy, Keepall, Noe, Alma—through the website, 10% of your purchase will be donated to the American Red Cross.