History
1849-1876
The House of Moynat was the result of a meeting between Pauline Moynat (the only women trunk-maker at the time), who sold travel goods in the Opera district of Paris, and the Coulembier family, manufacturers from the faubourgs – the inner suburbs to the north of the city.[3]
In 1849, the trunk makers opened their first atelier. They joined forces with Pauline Moynat to open the Moynat boutique in 1869 on what was then the Place du Théâtre Français (now the Place André Malraux) opposite the famous Comédie-Française.[3]
Innovation
Moynat patented its first inventions for packaging materials in 1854.[4] The label was the first to use hardened gutta-percha waterproofing to produce its trunks and packing boxes. In 1870, Moynat brought out the wicker trunk, known as the "English trunk" or "Moynat trunk",[5] a lightweight structure consisting of a wicker frame, covered with a varnished canvas and leather trimming. The product weighed a mere two kilos and was highly sought after by travellers wishing to avoid excess baggage fees.[citation needed]
The boutique was situated at the heart of Haussmann’s redesigned Paris, and following the construction of the Avenue de l'Opéra in 1876, it took pride of place at nº.1, later to become the oldest shop on the avenue.[6]
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A Moynat horse cart, 1880
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The first Moynat Boutique Avenue de l'Opéra in 1869
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Interior of the Moynat Boutique, 1907
1905-1910
Collaboration with Henri Rapin
In 1905, the Moynat began a long-lasting collaboration with Henri Rapin, creative director. Rapin designed the logos of the House, the Moynat monogram, illustrated the product catalogues and conceived the models presented at universal and international exhibitions.[citation needed]
In 1907 the Coulembier family began construction on a model-factory at 15, rue Coysevox up at Montmartre. With some 1500m² of space situated in a four-story building, the factory employed more than 250 workers. Most employees at the factory were specialist artisans who built all the Moynat trunks. For the first time ever in Paris all the specialist skills associated with trunk-making were gathered together in one place.[citation needed]
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The Coulembier brothers, Moynat directors, 1906
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The Moynat factory, rue Coysevox in 1907
In 1889 Jules Coulembier perfected a whole new system of lightweight trunks, followed in 1910 by the invention of an extra-light, unbreakable model.[4]
The House of Moynat also produced a series of security mechanisms for its trunks.[4]
1910-1925
Moynat was a regular participant in World's Fairs since the second edition in Paris in 1867.
The house also took part in the Exposition universelle in Paris in 1900, Brussels in 1910[7] and was appointed jury member at the Turin exhibition in 1911, and was awarded two gold medals and two special prizes at Ghent in 1913.[8]
However, it was in 1925 that Moynat broke the record at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels,[9] where its automobile trunks were a great success, awarded a Diplôme d’Honneur by its peers together with a number of gold, silver and bronze medals,[10] a record of achievement that distinguished Moynat as the leading French malletier (trunk maker) of the time.[10]
1925-1976
The destiny of the House of Moynat and three generations of Coulembier
The collaboration between Pauline Moynat and the family of manufacturers began with François Coulembier, continuing with his sons Jules Ferdinand, Edmond, Louis and Maurice. The house reached the height of its commercial powers under the direction of the founder's grandsons, profiting from the rise of the automobile to become a design reference in the context of this new mode of transport.[citation needed]
The business remained in the hands of the Coulembier family until 1976.[citation needed]
The Moynat boutique became an institution, staying open continuously for well over a hundred years until 1976.[citation needed]
After the Coulembier
Moynat closed its boutique at the Place du Théâtre Français in 1976. Its trunks however, continued to travel around the world. The Scholl family bought the rights to the house in the early 1980s for use by its company Malles et Voyages.
1989-1999
Orcofi, the Vuitton family's holding company, bought Malles et Voyages in 1989, following the disposal of the bulk of its shares in LVMH. Orcofi's CEO, Vuitton's former President Henry Racamier (1912-2003), had planned to relaunch Moynat as a competitor to Louis Vuitton. However, Orcofi was eventually sold to AXA in 1996 and its assets were stripped, thus the ambitious plans to relaunch Moynat never saw the light of day.[citation needed]
2000-Present
Luxury goods holding company, Luvanis SA, bought the rights into Moynat in the late 2000s, and developed a revival plan and assigned the brand to Groupe Arnault. LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault's holding company bought Moynat in 2010.[11]
LVMH hired designer Ramesh Nair to be artistic director for Moynat.[citation needed]
In December 2011, Moynat reopened with a flagship store at 348 Rue Saint-Honoré,[12][13] followed by shops in London in 2014,[14] Hong Kong,[15] Beijing in 2015, Tokyo,[16] New York,[17] Seoul,[18] Taipei in 2016, Singapore in 2017,[19] and Dubai in 2018.[20]
New creative director, Nicholas Knightly was hired in November of 2022. Knightly aims to build on the brands recognition, craftsmanship, and working with connoisseurs to attract a younger crowd to the brand.[21]
December 2022, musician, Pharrell Williams partnered on the launch of a bag in collaboration with Moynat.[22]
In 2023, Moynat scheduled a world tour, the Moynat World Tour.[1][23][24] It consists of a roving pop-up based on personalization of their handbags and luggage.[1] The tour launched in Paris at Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche on February 18.[25] The tour also celebrated and coincided with the 103rd anniversary of Moynats Toile 1920 M, their canvas that is used for their made-to-order luggage.[1][25][26]
