Moynat
Trunks and bags in full-grain leather, trunk-making heritage
Moynat has been owned by LVMH since 2010. The revival is real, the leathers are beautiful, the craftsmanship careful. But it's a luxury conglomerate running the show, with industrial logic and margins. Don't confuse artisanal storytelling with independence - there is none.
Philosophy
Founded in 1849, closed in the 20th century, bought by Bernard Arnault in 2010. France's oldest trunk maker uses full-grain leather, not coated canvas. Industrial production, but quality a cut above LVMH average. The discretion is welcome - while it lasts.
History
Pauline Moynat opened her house in 1849. Four years before Goyard, five before Louis Vuitton. The oldest French trunk maker, a fact the brand readily reminds you of.
In 1873, she invented the English trunk in gutta-percha, a natural waterproof resin - revolutionary for travel luggage. During the Belle Époque, Moynat specialized in automobile trunks, bespoke luggage designed to fit early car boots.
Then the 20th century brought wars, fashion shifts, consolidation. Moynat closed. The brand disappeared for decades. No spectacular failure - just silence.
In 2010, Bernard Arnault bought the brand personally. The relaunch was discreet, confidential, counter to the mass marketing driving the rest of LVMH. Moynat reopened on rue Saint-Honoré with classic, understated leather bags.
On specialist forums, feedback is solid. "Incredibly hard wearing, still looks great after years." Compared to Goyard, Moynat often wins on robustness and leather quality. Full-grain leather, not coated canvas.
Production remains industrial - mechanized workshops, series, standardized processes. But the leather is good, finishes are careful, and the brand's discretion contrasts welcomely with the rest of the group's giant logos. It's LVMH though. If profitability demands change, discretion and quality aren't guaranteed.