In luxury, 'maison' is a special word. It refers, on one hand, to a business founded by an individual, then carried on by subsequent generations. History, heritage and a continuous line of transmission that suggests not merely a brand, but an entity that lasts and stands for something. On the other hand, and just as often, a maison French for 'house-can be literal. As in a family home or headquarters that can be thought of as a geographical heart.
It's certainly the case for Louis Vuitton, founded in 1854 as, first and foremost, a maker of high-end steamer trunks.
The literal house in question is located in Asnières-sur-Seine, a suburb northwest of central Paris. It's here that founder Louis Vuitton set up a family home and trunk-making workshop that honed the brand's savoir-faire and expertise. It was, until the late 1980s, a private home to generations of the Vuitton family. Today, the historic address houses a museum and a small atelier that continues to produce special-order creations.
A little farther afield in Geneva, Switzerland is a different kind of home for Louis Vuitton. In the Meyrin municipality lies La Fabrique du Temps, or factory of time, the cutting-edge facility that is the epicentre of the brand's watchmaking operations. If Asnières is the historic and symbolic home, think of La Fabrique du Temps as a younger beating heart.
La Fabrique du Temps was founded in 2007 by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini as a highconcept laboratory of complicated watchmaking. Vuitton acquired it in 2011, imbued it with its name and just a decade ago opened the doors to the manufacture in Meyrin. It's no understatement to say that the brand has made incredible leaps in its horological story.
Since Navas and Barbasini were brought into the fold, it has staked a claim in utterly novel and unusual complications.
This story is from the November 2024 edition of Vogue Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2024 edition of Vogue Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Fusion Of Worlds
Fusing French elegance with Balinese spirit, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort extends an invitation for free minds to meet.
House Proud
Two symbolic homes come together in Louis Vuitton's latest haute horlogerie creation: a pocket watch that honours its historic trunk manufacture in Asnières and its cutting-edge watchmaking facility in Geneva.
A LIFE'S WORK
There are some paths in life that are a calling and palliative care feels like one of them. With great tenderness, three hospice nurses open up on what it means to offer care—in its many forms—at the end of life.
Genetic Make-Up
Digital filters, but with real-life consequences. Vogue Singapore considers the implications behind a new generation of parents choosing to edit pictures of their children.
Mythic ROMANCE
Dior's Cruise 2025 collection transports us to the enchanting landscapes of Scotland, blending romantic narratives with modern allure.
AN ASYLUM
Co-founders Jaren Neo and Becky Ng speak to Vogue Singapore on the driving force behind their label, its in-house residency programme and their hopes for a more supportive creative ecosystem.
Metropolis of IMAGINATION
Moncler debuts The City of Genius in Shanghai, a bold celebration of creativity featuring an eclectic line-up of visionary co-creators.
STANDING Tall
The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 collection was an exploration of postmodern architecture and the future through sharp tailoring, romantic draping and ornamental detailing.
WATERWORKS
In an era of power showers, cold plunges and #Shower Tok, there's still merit to be found in slowing down for the age-old ritual of bathing.
First CLASS
Education is the most powerful weapon, a noble pursuit that these three watches and jewellery brands have embarked on with different approaches.
