Pauline Moynat was one of the kind ! She was the only female trunk maker of her time…

She had left her provincial life at the age of sixteen, emigrated to Paris in search for a job, worked in a small leather-working atelier … And founded the eponymous house in 1849 (along with Octavie & Francois Coulembier). Perfect timing, this was during the height of rail travel and the creation of France’s railway network…!

Maison Moynat became pioneer in luxury (automobile) luggage and was celebrated for its trunk-making savoir-faire.

The brand registered numerous patents and won prestigious awards for their inventions :

1854 – First to use a sturdy waterproof canvas coated with Gutta Percha (a kind of vegetal gum). It guaranteed complete waterproofing for the trunks.

1873 – Moynat trunk (Or English trunk), a wicker trunk with a lightweight structure , covered with a varnished canvas and leather trimming.

1902 – Creation of the Limousine trunk for automobiles with a concave bottom that closely followed the rounded roof of the car.

1928 –  The side or lateral sliding trunk

The brand ceased operations in 1976. But luckily, the LVMH group bought back the brand in 2010 and successfully relaunched operations in 2011 !

The spirit and craft of Moynat continues to accompany the modern travelers of today. Iconic products are :

• * the wheel form bag
• * the “Rejane” bag, celebrating the Belle Epoque actress Gabrielle Rejane, a true ambassador of Moynat’s art in the past.
• * the “Oh Tote” bag, celebrating the Moynat Medallion, an Art Deco typographic design which became the signature of the House.
• * the “Flori” bag. The “M” marquetry model is the emblematic craft technique of Moynat Paris.

You can buy the Moynat bags and luggage on the e-shop, in the Parisian boutique, in the main department stores corners…. Or in the shops around the world.