Luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton is more than just a clothing line. It is a social manifestation whose tendrils twist and turn into our mind-grapes. Louis Vuitton is an oddity whose effects on the world are uncontrollable mark-mutants: guns, tattoos, paintings, wild things! The LV brand is not just a bag, not just a brand, nay! It is a very real metaphor for the desire of the western world to become a class it is not, a class lost, classless.

On the other hand, the products made in the process are priceless. Behold the World Famous Design Junkies Louis Vuitton Obsession Collection.

The LV Bullet by 21-19 is part of a campaign kit for director Bita Hairdarian’s autobiographical documentary Finding Bibi; which explores her unique identity as an American born Iranian. This bullet is one of probably less than 5 prototypes made specifically for the photo shoot for the press release material for the film. P.s. can’t wait!

Designer Gas Masks by Diddo Velema (only the LV mask is shown, it is part of a set of three designer masks). This project is known especially for its high rate of misconception. AKA lots and lots of people believed these were “real.”

LV Electric Chair and Chainsaw, part of an exhibition of such objects by the name of “The Revolution Will Be Fabulous: A Weapons of Mass Designer Show.” This show was made entirely by artist Peter Gronquist – this exhibition was photographed by Jean Aw of Notcot fame for, what else, Notcot.

The Louis Vuitton skateboard case and skateboard. Seems pretty amazing, and hot, right? That’s because it’s real. It cost $8250 and was sold at the SOHO, New York location official LV store early 2009. The difference between most art pieces working with the LV and the real deal LV is the quality. A lot of the ideas on both the real and unreal side are good and terrible, but almost all the time, the quality is exclusively real.

LOUIS VUITTON graffiti in big orange letters on a real Louis Vuitton store. Like writing a name on a nametag that was already labeled, right? Real. 116 Greene St. (between Prince St & Spring St) New York, NY 10012 An actual official LV facade early September, 2009, photographed by Sang Bleu. The painting was part of preparations for a Stephen Sprouse Collection released early 2009. Stephen Sprouse “was a fashion designer and artist credited with pioneering the 1980s mix of “uptown sophistication in clothing with a downtown punk and pop sensibility.”

Then there’s this painting by graffiti artist SKAM for Louis Vuitton Toronto. This one’s photographed by Think Contra.

Then there’s this extremely unofficial painting on the other hand. Spanish fashion site Hazme el Chingado Favor stole the pics from a Facebook profile they aren’t giving up the name of. But the house is somewhere in Mexico. It’s the real deal, as in it exists, painted by the owners in a show of brand power.

Whoa shei if I didn’t know the location of both I’d think this car belonged to the custom-LV house owner. This is a car sitting in Echo Park, Los Angeles, photographed by Victoria Bernal, who at the time was basically just rollin on a stroll.

In a slightly more “LV Acceptable” manner, tricked out car shop Detroit Customs was contracted to do this 1962 Cadillac Louis Vuitton’ Custom Convertible. It sold for 5k less than the starting price at a recent auction, going for 35k instead. Find out more at ICollector.

“Recently constructed by Detroit Customs, this 1962 Cadillac convertible is unlike any other. The most outstanding feature is the liberal use of Louis Vuitton fabric design throughout the car; including the folding top, upholstery, soft boot and dash insert.”

One of Prince Marcus von Anhalt‘s 26 luxury cars und autos. He is rich on account of he was adopted by Zsa Zsa Gabor and her ninth husband Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, who is, incidentally, the owner of 20+ brothels and nightclubs in Germany. This car is driven to promote von Anhalt’s “Royal Race.” It’s a fact: you don’t have to be poor to want to make yourself look like a fool for want of an LV mark.

A simply super acrylic painting by photographer designer painter Danny Schissler. This guy usually does photography, primarily. He takes pics of all the lovely wonderful things in the world and suddenly he makes these guns in a painting. Fun!

This terrifying amalgamation is called “LV Child.” It’s a screenprint (one of several different versions, plus a couple sculptures, all pictured below) designed by graffiti artist Beejoir. He explains on his now-defunct blog that he was inspired by real beggars sitting in front of the LV store just down the street from where he lives.

This is what inspired the LV, its just up the road from where we live, I’d just got back from the UK and was walking home from the supermarket with bags of shopping, when I passed these two beggars, guilt stuck I gave them a few coins and carried on, that night I remembered seeing Mantas’s iNeed stencil in Shorditch, and being struck by the same feeling of utter guilt.

The next day the stencil was cut, and sprayed across the city.

This print was sold (out) at Souled Out Studios.

Oh the dirtiness of the culture! These are piggies. These little piggies (and one more, pictured below) are tattooed with the LV, the whole flower pattern, and a few embellishments by Belgian tattoo artist Wim Delvoye (if you click that link, find the tattoo shop sort of in the middle if you’d like to see more of his tattoo art.) These pigs were supposed to be shown at the 2009 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, but were not allowed because they were considered “outside the categories of display.” BONUS check that link for more info on a tattoo Delvoye sold right off a man’s back!

Another gun for those in the luxury death business. “LOUIS VUITTON AK-47 7.62x39mm” from the entirely lovely armory of the “ARM•ME” project.

Justin Melnicks “ARM•ME” Project “Justin Melnick is an avid photographer, digital artist, and has spent time oversees in the Middle East. All of these influences have come together in his latest project, titled ARM•ME Melnick imagines — quite vividly — what Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Pucci, and Chanel would add to standard ammunition. The exhibition starts September 2nd at Gallery 385 in New York City. The outcome is a compelling statement that questions how we — individually and as a nation — spend our money, contrasting the abundance of weaponry with the scarcity of high-end luxury goods and some pretty amazing imagery.”

Made by Justin Melnick. In the gallery you’ll find several weapons from this project, including the TIFFANY & CO. M-67 HAND GRENADE, the LOUIS VUITTON RPD 7.62x39mm, the YVES SAINT LAURENT .380ACP, and of course, the MARC by MARC JACOBS MORTAR (all these are sitting there below.)

From the wild piggy heart and hands of artist Meryl Smith, who specializes in paper mache animal creations. More pics below.

Materials: metal screen, paper mache, leather, gold paint, zipper I made “excessory baggage” for a group exhibition at The Honey Space, where 5 curators asked artists to create sculptures that fit the measurement requirements for international carry-on luggage. – Meryl Smith

Supreme is a skateboard / streetwear brand that’s got a history of big time hype. This particular “collaboration” is a parody of the LV pattern used on several “box” t-shirts and the stickers you see above.

Tasty! Artist photographer Massimo Gammucurta makes “Sweet Fashion – lick your way to success” set of candy pops, lollypops, luxurypops I’d call em. Gammucurta‘s got amazing eyeballs and a good clicking finger, too.

Artist Michael Levy takes a total left turn bringing the history of luxury brands into the light with this LV menorah. Concept for the sake of eye opening.

The worlds of haute couture and religion have a long history that too often gets ignored. The papal rings, sacramental wine chalices, torah yads, and a whole assortment of robes, sashes and head dressings have littered the landscape of western religion for as long as it has existed. This Louis Vuitton menorah brings that intersection to the forefront. Let’s not give a wink and a nod anymore, let’s put it all out in the open. We already have torah yads (the pointers used to touch the torah so as not to damage it) made of silver, why can’t they be Tiffany’s?

Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction had been rockin and rollin using a faux Louis Vuitton guitar strap up until June 18, 2008 when he received a cease-and-desist notification from the brand’s lawyer squad.

In probably the cutest and best-made counterfeit of them all, doggy-toy makers Huate Diggity Dog made this combo bag set for puppies… and was also thustly sued by LV. They were inside the law though, and are still producing!

Another LV Piggie! This one’s sprayed by OZI! Ozi is a Brazil-based street artist spraying a campaign called “Glamour for All”. – thanks Ozi!! I love this concept indeed!

This post is, of course, from the World Famous Design Junkies Bad Taste category.