Moynat: The Best Kept Secret of the Luxury World?

Courtesy of @moynat

If Hermès is the Mount Everest of luxury handbags, Moynat might be Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest underwater mountain. Even though Moynat does not have the cultural impact and brand recognition of other big names, for those in the know, Moynat inspires awe and exaltation.

@fabutopia

History of the Brand

One of the first luxury brands founded by a woman, Moynat was the brainchild of a young French woman by the name of Pauline Moynat. Providing top-of-the-line trunks and travel accessories to high society Parisians in the 19th century, she was highly acclaimed for her craftsmanship and style. With a sensible and simple design and lined with silk and velvet, her trunks crossed the Atlantic and traveled to all corners of the world.

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The Moynat boutique was a well-known institution. The oldest store was located on the Avenue de l’Opéra in Paris. After it closed in 1976, the brand went through a reinvention and was purchased in 2010 by LVMH. Now, in the capable hands of artistic director Ramesh Nair, Moyant is poised to break through and become one of the most desirable brands in the world.

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Exclusivity

We believe that Moynat is poised to succeed because of the admirable air of exclusivity the brand possesses. With the danger of overexposure glaring in the faces of major, well-loved brands, Moynat’s quiet discretion has paid off. With a rich history as one of the oldest, most prestigous leather companies in the world, Moynat could rise as a formidable alternative to Hermès — and even the quiet Goyard.

In fact, Moynat seems to have a similar presence in the collective unconscious as Goyard: the marketing strategies of the two brands very are similar and they count the fashion elite among their small group of important and devoted fans (Read: The Secret Behind Goyard’s Success).

Courtesy of Moynat

Style

The style of Moynat is extremely classic and elegant, yet still distinctive. The shapes of the buckles and the trapezoidal silhouettes adds a unique spin on “the classic handbag.” The lady who wears Moynat wears a badge of honor: this lady is well-versed in the history of Parisian leather craftsmanship and the secrets of the industry.

Perhaps feeling that she needed a rest from mass market brands, she pursued a hidden jewel of the purse industry and wears it proudly, not for glances of recognition on the street, but for personal satisfaction and as an endorsement of quality artisan craftsmanship. This woman perhaps, is like those among us who prefer to sport the “anti-it” bag.

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The Moynat Rejane

To delve deeper into the inner workings of the brand, let’s examine a bag that perhaps best encapsulates what Moynat stands for: the Moynat Rejane.

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@electricpantz

History

Traditionally made of Taurillon leather, a pebbled leather, the Rejane has a structured style that evokes urban fashion and a classic Parisian look. With a handle and a lock unique to Moynat, the Rejane requires about 20 hours of labor (See: The Savoir-Faire of a Réjane bag for a peek into this process)

Ramesh Nair, the current head of Moynat has updated the shape of the Rejane with the use of exotics like snakeskin and uses a highly difficult technique to tint the cracks between the scales. The overall effect is very delicate and beautiful, and gives the snakeskin a unique depth of color and texture.

@lenaperminova

Sizes and Prices

Size	Price	Measurements
Moynat Mini Rejane Bag in Taurillon leather	$4,070	20 x 8 x 15 cm
Moynat Petit Rejane Bag in Taurillon leather	$4,570	26 x 10 x 18.5 cm
Moynat Rejane Bag in Taurillon leather	$4,980	30 x 14 x 20.5 cm

My question to you PurseBoppers: are you at all intrigued by this underground gem? Could you see yourself adding a Moynat to your own collection? Does the look of the brand appeal to you? I’m very interested to know. Join the conversation on BopTalk!

Love, Pursebop
XO