Tory Burch has unveiled a unique concept in its boutique on Rue Saint-Honore in Paris. The Boutique’s façade and interior feature the work of German photographer Walter Schels, whose animal portraits appeared in Tory’s Resort 2024 collection and in a dedicated capsule collection launching this summer.

The store’s interior brings a hint of Los Angeles and Shanghai to Paris, drawing inspiration from the brand’s recent concept store on Melrose Avenue in L.A. and at the Kerry Centre in Shanghai, both created in collaboration with Humberto Leon.

Tory came across Schels’ artwork many years ago and was instantly captivated by his animal portraits. “There’s a human element to Walter’s photographs, in the way he looks at the animals and they in turn look back,” she says. “He gives animals the same respect as humans, highlighting their unique personalities and emotions.”

As a young boy, Schels started photographing animals. He explained, « Animals were my companions during my childhood, and I felt a strong connection to them. » he added, « Animals don’t pretend to be something they’re not. They don’t question their beauty or feel shame. They just exist as they are. »

The front room features a recurring cat image on the walls while the floors and a display ledge are covered in a shag carpet, designed to resemble a cat tower. Humberto enlisted artist Aranza Garcia from Chuch Estudio in Merida, Mexico to craft a series of pink ceramic pedestals, arranged in a cluster of nine. Within the space, key items from the Spring/Summer 2024 collection are showcased on the pedestals, nestled into the shag-covered ledge, and displayed on hanging shelves.

This summer, a capsule collection printed with Schels’s cat will be available in the Tory Burch boutique in Paris and on a dedicated “Animal House” landing page at www.toryburch.com