Fashion Eye Silk Road

Passing through a variety of spectacular landscapes and landforms, the Silk Road has attracted adventurous travellers for years. One such traveller is Japanese photographer Kishin Shinoyama. The images adorning the pages of Fashion Eye Silk Road were chosen from eight volumes of his work, published between 1981 and 1982. Depicting markets and places of worship, they show the realities of how people live. Images of treasures like the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, the ancient city of Palmyra and the souks of Aleppo in Syria provide an important record of historical treasures now lost to wars and fanaticism.

Kishin Shinoyama was born in Tokyo and found fame through his celebrated 1968 compendium 28 Girls, which altered perceptions of the female form. He is also well known for his work for large fashion houses and magazines, as well as his portraits, including a collection of photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Shinoyama's joy at capturing a slice of eternity motivates him to add to his varied body of work.

The House's Fashion Eye collection took its inspiration from Louis Vuitton's travel heritage. It shows cities, regions and countries from the point of view of fashion photographers, from burgeoning talents to industry stalwarts. Each publication displays a selection of large-scale photographs, a short biography and an interview with or essay by the photographer. This third collection, following the Louis Vuitton City Guides and Travel Books, presents travel photography seen through the prism of fashion. Images of beautiful cities, distant lands and fantasy destinations are infused with the distinctive style of their photographer.