ANIMAL MAGIC: Tory Burch continues to channel her love of animals with an installation at her Paris boutique featuring German photographer Walter Schels. Giant renderings of Schels’ animal portraits, which are a key feature in Burch’s resort 2024 collection, have taken over the storefront and interior on Rue Saint-Honoré.
“There is a human element to Walter’s photographs, in the way he looks at the animals and they in turn look back,” stated Burch, who is celebrating her brand’s 20th anniversary this year. “He gives animals the same respect as humans, highlighting their unique personalities and emotions.”
The installation is a collaboration with Opening Ceremony co-founder and former Kenzo co-creative director Humberto Leon. It builds on their collaboration for Burch’s pop-up concept store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, which opened in January, and at Shanghai’s Kerry Centre.
The exterior of Tory Burch’s Paris boutique is emblazoned with Walter Schels’ rabbit portrait in repeat / Courtesy of Tory Burch
In Paris, the three floors of the building are emblazoned with giant versions of Schels’ rabbit headshot. Inside, the meowing cat portrait that Burch featured in her resort designs takes pride of place in repeat in black-and-white across the walls of the store’s front room and mezzanine.
Leon, who began his career in visual merchandising, contrasted the portraits with an installation of display ledges and beige shag rug designed to mimic a cat tower. He also commissioned a series of pink ceramic pedestals from Aranza Garcia of Mexican design agency Chuch Estudio to showcase key designs from the spring 2024 collection, including the tiered hoop minidress that went viral when worn by Hailey Bieber.
The mezzanine floor in Tory Burch’s Paris boutique installation featuring photos by Walter Schels / Courtesy of Tory Burch
“The pictures are so arresting. They stop you in your tracks, and you question them,” Leon said. “Tory is a lover of the arts, so I wanted to incorporate that. I wanted it to feel like walking into an exhibition. There are few elements, but they are all strong.”
The capsule collection of ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags and accessories printed with Schels’ cat are offered in the store and on a dedicated e-commerce landing page. The installation runs through September, and will be celebrated Tuesday evening, coinciding with the opening night of the Paris men’s shows. The cocktail event at the store is being co-hosted by Tina Kunakey and Jenna Bey.