kissbyebye

The Asnières workshop near Paris is unquestionably the nerve centre of Louis Vuitton. For more than a century, from 1859 until 1977, it was the company’s sole production facility, before growing demand meant that additional workshops had to be brought on stream. Asnières remains very much the living symbol of Louis Vuitton’s unique savoir-faire. It is here that all hard-frame luggage continues to be made, as well as special orders, exotic leather bags and limited-edition bags for the fashion shows.

The Asnières workshop was itself a response to burgeoning demand when, just four years after he founded his business, the spectacular success of his innovative flat trunk forced Louis Vuitton to look beyond his original workshop in central Paris. With considerable foresight, he decided to move produc- tion out of the city to Asnières. The quiet rural town was yet to be made famous by the Impressionists, but was strategically situated both on the banks of the Seine – the poplar wood for the trunks arrived by barge from the nearby Oise valley – and on the railway line to Paris Saint-Lazare.

Reflecting Louis Vuitton’s personal interest in all aspects of technological progress, the architecture of the workshop was inspired by the ground-breaking use of glass and metal then being pioneered by Victor Baltard and Gustave Eiffel. It maximized the supply of natural light to provide the best possible conditions for precision craftsmanship.

Though their working environment has since evolved beyond recognition, most of the tools and techniques used by the craftsmen at Asnières have changed little in the course of 150 years. Another aspect of continu- ity is the time-honoured practice by which the workshop’s master craftsmen train their apprentices in the skills they need, ensuring that Asnières’ proud tradition of savoir-faire is passed on from one genera- tion to the next.

Asnières: The Family Home

It was in 1878 that Louis Vuitton and his family settled permanently in Asnières, moving into a house they had built in the grounds of the workshop. Two years later, Louis Vuitton’s son Georges married and assumed greater responsibilities within the company. Following the death of his father in 1892, he moved into the family home which – sharing a keen interest in developments in transport, technology, art and architecture – he deco- rated, inspiring from the emerging Art Nouveau style.

The house was lovingly maintained by subsequent generations of Vuittons, and the reception rooms are still much as the last residents left them. In the living room, the eye is drawn by the brilliant blue ceramic fireplace, while around the walls, in delicate shades of cream, pink and green, Art Nouveau stuccowork creates an atmosphere that is at once joyful and serene. Light floods in through a bow window deco- rated with graceful stained glass floral motifs signed by artist Paul-Louis Janin and dated 1900. The garden thus seems to spill over into the house, preserv- ing a little haven of tranquillity alongside the busy activity of the workshop next door.

Asnières: The Travel Museum

The Travel Museum brings the history of Louis Vuitton vibrantly to life through some of its most celebrated and outstanding creations.

A private tour of the museum begins with sections devoted to travel by sea, air, rail and road, reflecting the fact that many of Louis Vuitton’s landmark designs – including the iconic Wardrobe trunk, Steamer bag and Keepall, all exhibited here – kept pace with the transportation revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

To encompass the scope of Louis Vuitton’s savoir faire, another section is devoted to exploration, world exhi- bitions and exceptional special orders. The legend- ary trunk-bed and the bags created by leading fash- ion designers for the centenary of the Monogram canvas are among the pieces displayed here.

A separate part of the museum houses the private collection of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the grandson of the founder, which encompasses around 200 travel articles dating as far back as the late 14th century.

Images via Louis Vuitton

Many stars who attended the Los Angeles New Moon premiere chose to accessorize with Fashion Jewelry made from black and white diamonds set into platinum. Others wore pieces fashioned from onyx and other black materials. Medium to large cocktail rings were popular, too, and several women either stacked multiple bracelets on their wrists or wore wide Fashion Cuffs.

Source: about.com

Louis Vuitton has covered the entire façade of the Fifth Avenue Maison with Ruben Toledo’s artwork for the Louis Vuitton City Guides. In addition the special seasonal display windows, “Home for the Holidays” have been installed evoking the spirit of travel signature to Louis Vuitton, the excitement of exploration and the joy of spending the holiday season with family.

“We are thrilled to have renowned artist, Ruben Toledo working with us again,” said Daniel Lalonde, President and CEO of Louis Vuitton North America. “Toledo’s sketches and illustrations have been an integral part of our city guides for years and we are delighted that his artwork is the center of our Fifth Avenue Maison display for this holiday season.”

Last year Louis Vuitton covered the façade of the Maison with Takashi Murakami’s Monogram Multicolor print for the season. This year the store façade display is inspired by the city stamp artwork that Ruben Toledo designed for the Louis Vuitton City Guides for New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Tokyo, Rome and Mumbai. Painter, sculptor, illustrator, columnist and critic for the top fashion magazines, Ruben Toledo has had a long standing relationship with Louis Vuitton sketching each city for the City Guide and illustrating an entire New York City travel scrapbook published by Louis Vuitton.

Conceived by Naoemie Goudal and David Stienhorst, students of the central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London, “Home for the Holidays” window displays feature authentic flapboards reminiscent of those found in train stations around the world. Departure and arrival cities, seasonal activities, inspired quotes regarding the marvel of travel, and personal sentiments will be featured on each flapboard throughout the duration of the season. Starting November 23rd, Louis Vuitton asks you, “Where will your journey take you?” Submissions are being collected at www.departures.vuitton.com and a selection of answers will be posted on the flapboards at the Fifth Avenue Maison throughout December.

Image via Louis Vuitton

Speaking of Hermès, here’s a video I found in their corporate website and I think its really REALLY cool. Is there a Kelly that morphs itself into another Kelly and so forth? We wish!

Video via Hermès

Hermès has started a revolution, to free the ties from restrictions. Hermès created a manifesto for the tie’s right to please itself. It says:

From this day forward: a tie if first and foremost a tie!

• The right to paradox
• The right to excess
• The right to choose its width
• The right to leather
• The right to 2 panels
• The right to be childish
• The right to refuse all previous rights
• The right to change its mind

Join this worthwhile cause, support the right of a tie to do what it wants! Sign-up now!

Manifesto posters after the jump…

Images via Hermès