Trade between the western and eastern continents gave us certain attitudes on what is seen to be 'exotic' and 'oriental'.
Influences from these european fantasies can be seen in western art attempting to recreate certain styles, for example in 1881 Van Gogh exhibited his own collection of Japanese prints.
Much like when our industrial revolution tried to control and market itself to the east, this was simply Japanese design for european customers, giving them the aesthetic that appealed to them rather than a genuine style.
Van Gogh, Almond Blossom 1890
Van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear 1889
Europeans were fascinated by eastern religions imposing control over how women were covered in public, women of oriental descent became an obsessive subject to artists especially in France.
As seen in one of Van Gogh's portraits, Japanese and 'oriental' design was seen very much as a rare curiosity, a symbol of decadence and cultural wealth which are still used today to an extent.
Louis Vuitton SS11
Louis Vuitton's SS11collection reflects on what's seen in the western world as generically oriental and exotic garment shapes, with satin-like fabric and embellishments to give an exotic and luxurious but very familiar feel to the pieces.
You can clearly see how they've connected elements with early 1900's european fashion and the chinoiserie style that was very fashionable up until the 1850's.
