Moynat opens at Le Bon Marché
Pauline Moynat, a visionary and the only woman trunk-maker in history, founded Moynat in 1849, and soon made the house the most Parisian among the French leathergoods and trunk makers of her time. Its maison de vente at 348 rue Saint-Honoré has always been recognized as an emblem of discreet and uncompromising luxury and the haunt of connoisseurs looking for splendid and unusual pieces.
On 19th May 2015, Moynat will open its “gallery” boutique at Le Bon Marché to bring its strong and personal style signature to the very first department store in the world. “This is about the story of two houses, sharing the Parisian spirit, almost the same long history and the pursuit for the refinement, exclusivity and attention to detail.” says Guillaume Davin, the president of Moynat.
Located in one of the most Parisian area of the city, the “gallery” shines the Havana colour of the lacquered walls. The iconic curve from the original Limousine trunks inspired the shape of the space. The curved ceiling welcomes the customers into a warm and surprising environment. The delicate collection of handbags is displayed in single niches as a cabinet of curiosity. The fine wood work and leather finishes complete the refinement of the interior. The boutique is again designed by the architect Gwenael Nicolas, director of Curiosity based in Tokyo.
The boutique includes women’s and men’s leather goods and travel accessories and takes orders for the signature personalization service, from hand painting of initials, to made-to-measure trunks and handbags.
To celebrate the 165th year anniversary of the Parisian house and its arrival at the Rive Gauche, Ramesh Nair, the artistic director of Moynat, has created Cabas Parisian — the lightweight tote rendered in the signature Moynat Initial canvas, trimmed in the refined veau flocon leather and lined with the cotton fabric inkjet-printed with the charming old picture of the first Moynat boutique opened in 1869, at 5 the Place du Théâtre Français facing the Comédie Française.
Moynat has also chosen the moment to exclusively launch the latest creation of the Sac Ballerine, to again celebrate its link with the Parisian cultural scene of the Belle Epoque period. “It is a creation travelling through the past, the present and the future,” says Ramesh. The Ballerine bag blends sleek and modern forms with classic and timeless Art Deco inspirations.
At the core of Ballerine bag is again the design philosophy of simplicity. The minimal appearance requires extremely clear vision and discipline to achieve the clean, uncluttered line that gives the bag its timeless elegance and inspires the name of Ballerine who represents the spirit of both grace and determination. Meanwhile the bag is highly complex to realise, requiring 40 working hours for a skilled artisan to finish in Moynat’s atelier located in the center of Paris. The metal handle of the Ballerine bag is inspired by the “bridge handle” developed by the House in the 1920s to prevent trunks from opening accidentally and to make it more comfortable to hold than the traditional single grip.