Brandalism. Fashion Branded Spray Paint Cans by Antonio Brasko.

Designer Antonio Brasko's project, Brandalism, is a study on the influence of street art and graffiti in the fashion world. Through the use of brand marks (logos and logotypes), iconic colors, and spray cans, Brandalism seeks to reintroduce the ideology of vandalism, branding and fashion from an experimental design perspective.

What The Top Luxury Brands Did (Or Didn't Do) To Wish Customers A Happy Holiday.

What did the top Luxury brands do this year to connect with their fans, engage their consumers and wish them a happy holiday season?  Well, I'm going to show you.

Besides e-mail blasts to those on their mailing lists and in their databases, some of the world's most well-known luxury brands created special short holiday films or flash videos (Burberry, Cartier, CHANEL and Dior) they shared on their own websites, YouTube and Facebook.  Some built interactive apps (Moet & Chandon, Hennessey and Mercedes -Benz), some reinforced their brand by posting holiday branded images on Facebook's timeline cover and on their pages and Twitter channels (Tiffany & Co., Hermes, Gucci, Louis Vuitton) or engaged in some geurilla tactics (Tiffany & Co. in London) and some, sadly,  did nothing except push their own products (BMW, Rolex and Prada).



I compiled the following examples from the top luxury brands according to Millward Brown and Interbrand (as well as a few additional brands such as Dior, Porsche and Mercedes Benz). I checked their websites (some global, some US), Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to share with you what they created and shared via social media for the Holiday Season*.

BURBERRY



As always, Burberry knows how to take advantage of digital media. In addition posting the above imagery on Facebook with heartfelt greetings, they created a "Magical Burberry Festive Card" a flash greeting card you can view and share.




TIFFANY & CO



Kudos to Tiffany & Co. for not only posting Christmas wishes and imagery on Facebook but for wrapping 100 taxicabs in London and offering free Christmas music downloads at their website from She and Him (no longer available):




CHANEL


In addition to some lovely CHANEL imagery posted on their Facebook page like that shown above, they created this special holiday video:


Although not listed as one of the top luxury brands, Dior also created a Holiday Wishes video worth sharing:


CARTIER


Cartier has a 'Wintertale" section on their Facebook page which allows you to watch this short film or create and share a wishlist:


MOET & CHANDON


In addition to many festive holiday images featuring their products on their facebook page, Moet & Chandon has an interactive app on Facebook and their own site that let's you pop the cork for the holidays. And see how many have before you.




HENNESSEY


While it's not holiday music (and I wish it were), as a gift to their Facebook fans and Twitter followers, Hennessey compiled a spotify playlist with the following message: "The Hennessy #WildRabbit Spotify playlist is our gift to your ears. Listen now, listen for free. Happy listening, and Happy Holidays!" (For this you do need to add the spotify app to your Facebook page).

MERCEDES BENZ


Mercedes Benz featured a holiday image and greeting on facebook and created the custom Naughty or Nice card, a facebook app that let's you you customize a card to send to the friend of your choice.




HERMES


Hermes had this nice banner, shown above, on their Facebook page. And posted some of their illustrated greetings by Alice Charbin on Facebook, but that's all. More holiday illustrations by Charbin, who creates all the illustrations for Hermes' emails and website, can be found here on Pinterest:


GUCCI


Sadly, Gucci simply posted this lame greeting card on Facebook. But at least the theme of gold ribbons is echoed on their website for some branding consistency.

LOUIS VUITTON
LV posted this season's greetings image to their facebook fans:


I was disappointed that Louis Vuitton is pushing their Luck Collection under the guise of Holiday Inspirations. While their site allows you to 'share your luck' while exploring the collection by turning a wheel with Christmas music playing in the background and adding items to your wish list, it's merely a way to sell more product.

PORSCHE
At least Porsche had this cute holiday image posted on their Facebook page, but that was about it.



BMW, ROLEX & PRADA
The most disappointing were BMW, Rolex and Prada. None of these brands posted or shared festive holiday greetings or imagery on their respective Facebook pages, websites or pinterest boards. Wouldn't have taken much to do. FAIL.

*While some of these brands have Pinterest boards and some do not, I did not include images from these in this post.

Drowning In Brands. Underwater Rosae Still Life Logo Series by Alexander James.

A series of identifiable and popular brand logos comprised of red roses and photographed underwater using the subtle light distortions of the water's own energy. From Louis Vuitton to Nike, the rose logos were captured 'in camera' without the use of post production, either traditional or digital.

Apple:


By taking the red roses, a symbol of unrelenting love, and juxtaposing against a deep dark void, London based photographer Alexander James is making a social commentary on how we ourselves are drowning in a society dominated by a reverence towards branding and celebrity.

Chanel:

McDonalds:

Louis Vuitton:

Mercedes Benz:

Gucci:

Nike:

Volkswagon:

Yves Saint-Laurent:

Fendi:

Givenchy:

images courtesy of the artist and Distil Ennui Studio

About Alexander's work practice in his own words:
"My photographs are always presented ‘as-shot’ without post production either traditional or digital. It is this dedication to ‘in camera’ purity that establishes a predominant focal point for my practice.

The quality of the work and the purity of the process is paramount, distilling elements out with the use of deep blacks; hoping to convey rich layers of meaning in what at first appear deceptively simple images.

Distil Ennui; def... to extract the essence and beauty of life to appease world weariness."

Alexander James is represented by Pertwee Anderson & Gold

Lego Wars: Pop Culture Meets Luxury Brands In Chromogenic Prints by Dale May.

above: V3PO Louis Vuitton by Dale May

Photographer Dale May's LEGO WARS at the Samuel Owen Gallery are a collection of photo that combine popular culture with commercial imagery and luxury brands. LEGO Star Wars minifigs juxtaposed against Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch logos - even set against the famous Tiffany Robin's Egg Blue, are produced as chromogenic prints and face mounted to archival acrylic backed with aluminum. The pieces are large (with the square images available as 24" x 24" and 48" x 48" and the rectangular images measuring 24" x 48") and prices start at $2400 for the limited edition prints.

Coco Vader:

Chewy Burch:


Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Dale's people, fashion and advertising photography because I find them too digitally composed, somewhat cliché and a little forced, but in the case of these, that style works. These also illustrate an eye for composition I don't as readily see in his other work.

Tiffany Trout and Tiffany Trooper:

Baby Boba:

Stormtroopers:

Chrome Trooper and X-Ray Trooper:

X-Ray Trooper LightBox:

Rebel Pilot:

Obi Wan Saber and Darth Vader Saber:


The Samuel Owen Gallery describes the series as follows:
The LEGO WARS series is a photographic study of popular culture, commercial advertising and nostalgia. As an adult, Dale May revisits these tiny plastic Lego toys and photographs them in a way that returns them to the epic importance they once had as a child, reminding us why we needed to collect every single piece.

Trooper Mob:

Biker Scouts:

Royal Guard:

Yoda (front):

Yoda (back):

Helmet pile:

Rainbow Coalition:


Iconic, nostalgic, yet timeless, the artist brings a new look to a subject that’s common place. Dale leaves nothing to chance, not only is the work impeccably crafted and well thought out but the material he has chosen to produce the Lego Wars series was no accident. Dale felt that the entire piece of art should resemble the high polished glossiness of the subject itself. Crafted in archival acrylic and backed with aluminum dibond, the work is given a look not unlike the plastic Star Wars Lego or something in Darth Vader’s home, the Death Star itself!

Once made from molded plastic, standing just over an inch, and in danger of being stepped on, these characters now stand tall, speak to us and demand attention!

You can purchase the prints here.