Chic Electrique

Annie Leibovitz photographed Bono and his wife Ali Hewson in Africa for the new Louis Vuitton Core Values ad campaign.

The couple posed in clothes from their own ethical fashion line, Edun (of which LVMH owns nearly 50 percent). Ali Hewson is holding the Keepall 45 bag in brown leather, co-designed by Edun and Vuitton. It is entirely hand-produced by Made, which promotes fair trade in Kenya.

All profits from the bag will go to TechnoServe in Africa. Bono and Ali are also donating their fees to TechnoServe as well as to Chernobyl Children International.

The ads will run in October. Louis Vuitton and Edun are also organizing an exhibition called Africa Rising from October 5 to 17 in Paris (Louis Vuitton, 1, rue du Pont Neuf) which will showcase the continent’s creative prowess.

www.louisvuittonjourneys.com

Louis Vuitton is following the current fashion of make-upless faces by showcasing 51 of its models devoid of any trace of make-up. Some are barely recognizable (Noémie Lenoir and Natalia Vodianova), most look unhappy (because of a lack of proper nutrition?), all are interchangeable. Take a look.