Moscow removes giant Louis Vuitton suitcase
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The reading
Russia's government will remove a large building in the centre of Moscow. The building looks exactly like a brown Louis Vuitton suitcase. It is nine metres high and 30 metres long and is covered in Louis Vuitton's famous logo. It also has two giant Russian flags running down one side. The luxury goods maker built it for a 6-week exhibition of Louis Vuitton luggage. The exhibition was going to open on December the 2nd to mark the 150-year anniversary of the company. A spokesperson from Louis Vuitton said everyone at the company was disappointed. The company had planning permission to make the building and Moscow building inspectors visited it many times before the builders finished it.
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The giant suitcase became very unpopular with ordinary Muscovites. Many people could not understand why the city agreed to build it in Moscow's famous Red Square. A member of Russia's Communist Party said Red Square was "a sacred place for the Russian state". The suitcase was built next to the tomb of Lenin. A Moscow pensioner said: "This is an embarrassment for our country. All we think about is business, business, business." He said it was shocking because most Russians could never afford to buy a Louis Vuitton product. The building may be moved to another part of Moscow. The money collected from the exhibition will go to a Russian children's charity.
Sources:
- http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/shameful-louis-vuitton-trunk-to-be-removed-from-red-square/490409.html
- http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131127/185059988/French-Fashion-House-Asked-to-Remove-Giant-Trunk-from-Red-Square.html
