The bag brand Moynat has a shop at 348 Rue Saint-Honoré, one of Paris's most prestigious luxury streets.
In 1849, the Courambier family established a workshop manufacturing trunks and bags. Pauline Moynat, the daughter of a craftsman, became a partner in 1869, and the history of Moynat, which bears her surname, began. This was during the era when automobiles were just beginning to become popular. As a businesswoman, Moynat built a successful business manufacturing and selling trunks for car roofs, but the brand closed in 1976.
However, in 2010, the brand was acquired by a private company owned by Bernard Arnault, CEO of the LVMH Group. In November 2011, the business restarted with the opening of a shop on Rue Saint-Honoré. Guillaume Davin, who has a workshop in Burgundy, France and previously served as vice president of Louis Vuitton Japan, is CEO, with Ramesh Nair serving as head of the creative department. Additionally, Japan-based Gwenael Nicolas, who also worked on the Louis Vuitton Ginza Namiki-dori store, is in charge of the space and graphic design. The first floor of the store houses the women's collection, while the second floor houses the men's. "Because the founder is a woman, the color palette is feminine," says Davin. Design elements from archive collections are also incorporated into the collection, including a bag with a shape inspired by the curve of a car's roof, a key lock named "cat's tongue," and a monogram pattern shaped like the letter "M." Popular items for women include uniquely streamlined handbags and tote bags with two-way handles, while for men, larger Boston bags and gadget cases are popular. Prices for women's handbags range from 2,000 to 3,000 euros. The upper floor of the store houses Moynat's archives, collected from around the world. Items include one that once belonged to the Kennedy family and a trunk bearing a Nagasaki port sticker discovered in a Japanese antiques shop. The hand-hammered studs and hand-painted monogram patterns from the 1920s demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship of the time. Each item, from a bicycle trunk for picnics to a wrinkle-resistant trunk for cruises, is custom-made to fit the customer's lifestyle. The store also has an atelier where Nehru is currently developing prototypes. Next door, an artist with a École des Beaux-Arts (Paris art school) is engraving initials onto bags.

Currently, the brand is only available at its Paris flagship store, but Davant says, "Since 30% of our customers are Japanese, we'd love to consider expanding into Japan."

Moynat's first image film, directed by Mary Clerte of NOWNESS, was recently released. Featuring Jeanne Damas, the film features an archive trunk considered an Art Deco masterpiece that won an award at the 1925 Paris World's Fair. The film aims to capture a new fan base by showcasing the long-established brand's identity in a fresh way.