Opposite the Royal Courts of Justice on the historical Strand sits a new immersive exhibition brought to London by the House of Louis Vuitton. Series 3 – Past, Present, Future is a stunning insight into the conceptual and practical creative processes involved in fashion design. Its principal focus is Vuitton’s Autumn/Winter 2015 show staged back in March and the complexities of organizing a twelve-minute slot at Paris Fashion Week. We are taken through every stage of planning, from creative director Nicolas Ghesquière’s initial inspiration from the Eden Project to the finished collection that features a metallic, futuristic aesthetic.

Along the way, Series 3 establishes the perfect balance between the past and the modern, blending a reflection upon the brand’s nineteenth century origins with its role in the current fashion industry. In this manner, the exhibition forms a narrative, inviting us to witness Louis Vuitton’s expansion as a story of progress, noting along the way changes in technology and production. The exhibition’s skillful appreciation of the past also allows us to appreciate the sanctity and luxury of Louis Vuitton’s products in 2015.

A particular highlight sees a Parisian artisan working on a small trunk, one of the brand’s most popular pieces, featuring its distinctive brown iconography. We learn that her work involves the same details as the artisans of nineteenth century Louis Vuitton working on the same trunk. Each item takes around thirty hours to create and each stage of production requires specialist knowledge, whether it is attaching one of the gold locks or gluing each piece of leather. In our familiar world of mass production, this relic of the past is testament to the sheer refinement of Louis Vuitton as a fashion house today. Three screens above the artisan illuminate a closer view of the different angles of her desk, demonstrating her work as a performance for us all to gaze upon.

After all, these pieces are works of art and it is this ‘savoir-faire’ craftsmanship, not simply the look of the finished products that imbue them with such value. A walk-in wardrobe greets us towards the end of the exhibition, stating that the garments inside tell the woman ‘tales of who she would like to become’. This articulates why what we wear demands this kind of close exploration; clothes have an intimate relationship with our bodies, self-expression and identity. Perhaps this is the most important reason to visit Series 3 this month. It reminds us that the world of fashion is a world of fine art and that a seemingly transient event like a fashion show encompasses its own unique story.

180 Strand until 18th October. Book online for free at uk.louisvuitton.com