PARIS (AP) — This time, the World Cup trophy will be traveling in style.
French fashion and handbags house Louis Vuitton, with help from supermodel Naomi Campbell, has unveiled an elegant leather-bound case that it produced to carry the trophy to South Africa on Tuesday.
From the tournament's beginning in 1930, the World Cup trophy has always been transported in an armored metal case — largely for reasons of security.
But as Louis Vuitton spokesman Antoine Arnault put it: "There was no reason why security couldn't be synonymous with elegance."
The case features gold-colored clasps and the famed LV logo theme. Soccer governing body FIFA ordered it in March.
The fashion house also has a contract to make another one for the 2014 World Cup.