The Balancing Act

Danish art student Nadia Plesner designed this T-shirt depicting a Darfurian child holding a Louis Vuitton bag and a Chihuahua. Her point being that we are more interested in celebrity culture than the genocide in Darfur. In February Louis Vuitton hit Plesner with a copyright lawsuit demanding she pay $20,000 a day for each day she continued to use this image and reimbursement for legal fees. Plesner continues to fight and has refused to stop using the image.

“My illustration Simple Living is an idea inspired by the media’s constant cover of completely meaningless things [ie. Paris Hilton], ” Plesner said. “My thought was: Since doing nothing but wearing designer bags and carrying small ugly dogs apparently is enough to get you on a magazine cover, maybe it’s worth a try for people who actually deserves and needs attention.”

I admire Plesner’s guts and I think her intensions were 100% sincere. After all, the LV bag could be swapped with a Prada, Gucci, or Dior handbag, the Chihuahua could be swapped with a Miniature Pincher or a Bijan Frise—I get it. Part of me is like, “who cares if LV’s mad, Plesner’s point is solid, besides they have enough money and loyal customers, this won’t even ding their public image, ” however; since I love to play devil’s advocate, the other part of me has to ask, “is it fair to use a high-profile company to promote your cause?” hmmm…

More than likely, this will blow over by the time I post this blog. And, if Plesner’s observations about our inability to watch and/or care about current events are correct, no one will ever be aware that this situation exists—unless E! News decides to cover the story.

Instead of LV turning this into an attack against their brand and suing, LV needs to TAKE ACTION and immediately do something to set a good example. If I was their PR rep, this would be my plan:

Step 1. Amend this situation. Louis Vuitton should drop the suit, which will end up costing millions and instead donate that money to the Dafur Awareness Movement.

Step 2. Redirect the negative press. Instead of immediately getting defensive, I’d make them step back and find out what the public is thinking. Get discussions going via YouTube, respectable blogs, and other neutral, third-party media outlets. Then use their high profile status to raise money and awareness for the cause. ie: Design a bag specifically for the cause and donate all proceeds to the Darfur Awareness Movement.

Step 3. Inadvertently, with dignity, elegance, and style, continue to be part of the solution. Isn’t that what makes the Louis Vuitton brand iconic in the first place—being a brand us regular folk adore as the epitome of dignified, elegant style?

Final Thought: Not every American is out-of-touch, celebrity obsessed, and superficial. We’re not a complete lost cause—Sheesh!

 I listen to NPR in the morning, but I also watch Showbiz Tonight.

 I read the Washington Post during my lunch break, but I read Lucky Magazine before bed.

 I care about the upcoming election, but I also care the Jen Aniston is dating John Mayer.

 I take part in the “ultimate form of recycling” and buy practically everything second-hand, but I also take part in good ol’ fashioned Shopping Sprees at Banana Republic or Ikea.

 I confidently believe that you can be “pop-culturally” conscious and still be socially conscious. I think that that’s the direction we're headed. (slowly but surly—and God Bless any celebrities who are leading the way…(think Brangelina, Ryan Gosling, Sheryl Crow, and Leonardo DiCaprio)

 I love both ends of the spectrum equally---and I’m pretty sure there are plenty of other people who do, too.