Trunk Al Noor. Courtesy of Moynat
Originally printed in the December 2017 issue of Vogue Arabia.
Gearing up for its debut Middle East boutique opening, Moynat’s lofty 120m space in the extension of The Dubai Mall will house, among its trunks, a made-to-measure case for the Holy Koran. Entitled “Trunk Al Noor”, the bespoke trunk was created to house and display your Koran.
On the cusp of this new expansion, Moynat creative director Ramesh Nair reflects on its founder’s visionary thinking, “When Pauline Moynat founded the French luxury travel brand House of Moynat in 1849, she didn’t necessarily fit into the expectations of her time with regards to the role of women.” Under her direction, Moynat crafted trunks for travel across the Atlantic and made-to-measure pieces that fit like a glove inside automobiles’ sleek interiors. But while Moynat remains mindful of its historic past, Nair underlines that since its rebirth in 2011, it always looks to how it can shape the future. A savoir faire built on artisanal craftsmanship and slower production, and a rejection of the seasonal collection cycle make Moynat something of a model of sustainability in the world of fast fashion.
Moynat’s new Dubai address will not be its first foray into the Middle East. Nair recalls surprising discoveries in his quest to reconstruct archives, including a collection of sculpted leather cases for perfume bottles in Alexandria. Today, Moynat counts many prominent Arabs as clients and friends – from members of royal families to those who shop in its European and US stores on holiday, or who live overseas. “At an estimate, Arab clients probably come in as our fourth largest group,” says Nair, creative director of the house since 2011. Travel remains central to the brand’s DNA and while clients no longer voyage with wooden trunks like in the 19th century – luggage that required at least 200 working hours to make – these same techniques are transferred to modern bags and accessories. “The Limousine case works as a lap desk and the Mini Vanity bag (above) features the angle stitching technique previously used in leather trunks,” notes Nair.
Yet, for all of modernity’s comforts, he still indulges in the desire for customization and creating one-off trunks with materials like titanium, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These trunks are crafted with the person or her activity in mind. “The breakfast trunk, made for chef Yannick Alléno in 2012, features gas burners and kitchen supplies, while the picnic trunk is designed to fit onto a bicycle and contains all you need for a lunch for two.”
