LV goes Tokyo underground

MANILA, Philippines - If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo this year, you might want to experience Louis Vuitton’s one-of-a-kind temporary store in Ikebukuro.

This pop-up store came about following the definitive closure of the Mitsukoshi department store in Ikebukuro, where Louis Vuitton had a store since 1996.

Having decided to move to a new location at the Seibu Ikebukuro department store, the pop-up store will continue to provide luxury goods in the area while waiting for the new Seibu’s completion in 2010.

Products sold here include travel luggage, bags, small leather goods, shoes, sunglasses, and more.

In keeping with the store’s temporary nature, the space appears to be “under construction” surrounded by scaffolding and raw structure to bring an exciting and unique dimension to the building.

Inside, Louis Vuitton products are placed on top of luxuriously padded, elegant fabric, contrasting with the industrial feel and backlit boards of the scaffolding structure.

Crates are piled on top of one another to complete the showcase.

Outside, the store facade builds further on the scaffolding theme, covered with a black strong barricade cut for windows giving an idea of what happens inside. 

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Louis Vuitton /underground/ is located at the basement, North Zone, 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan 171-8569.