Moynat, one of the first luxury luggage brands, has been revived by LVHM
Rao Ramesh (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Older than trunk makers like Louis Vuitton and Goyard, Moynat, started by Pualine Moynat in 1849, is credited for starting the luxury trunk and baggage market.
The brand was renowned for its wicker-lined trunks, which apart from being waterproof, were also lightweight. Clients could also order bespoke luggage in the same colour as their cars. But the feature that had made Moynat trunks stand out from LVs and Goyards was that the cases were mostly curved so that they sat perfectly on the roof of automobiles of the early days.
Though a favourite of rich travellers, the brand unfortunately shut shop in 1976. Luckily, Bernard Arnault, the man behind LVMH, decided to snap up the brand and give it a second innings in 2010. Arnault then hired Delhi NIFT graduate Ramesh Nair to be the head designer.
Nair may not be a famous name here in India, but he is a well-established one in Europe. He has worked with fashion houses like Christian Lacroix, Yohji Yamamoto and Hermes, where he worked under Martin Margiela and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Currently there are only two Moynat boutiques in the world, in London and in Paris. And Arnault seems to want to keep it this way as the brand is being marketed as something classy, discreet and truly exclusive, not for the moneyed brand-obsessed types who have made the exclusive Birkin a common handbag.
As a policy, Moynat does not advertise. In an interview to a magazine, Nair explained, “Moynat is not a fashion brand in the sense that we have no seasons or collections timed to coordinate with the fashion calendar.”
It’s all about timeless elegance. And the fact that you know about Moynat means you have an eye for quality.
The luggage and bags are simple and uncluttered by logos. What makes them stand out are sometimes the bright colours they come in. These are not the kind of goods that will grab eyeballs immediately, but the ones who notice them will be people who truly understand fashion. As Nair explained in an interview with an international publication, “This simplicity is deceptive because our bags are highly complex and it requires extremely clear vision and discipline to achieve a clean, uncluttered line.”
Some of Moynat’s specialties are four handles for their tote bag known as “Quattro”, with two short and two long handles. The totes are also reversible, so you get two colour bags for the price of one.
Another speciality is hidden exterior pockets on travel bags to hold your tickets. Another cool buy is the “Limousine” briefcase that is curved at the bottom.
The only drawback about the label is that there is nothing simple about the price tags. Tote bags start from $1,135, handbags start from $3,340, and if you are into skins, expect to shell out at least $30,000.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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