In Louis Vuitton’s crown, the family home and historical workshop in Asnières is where the rarest leather luxuries are made. Dana Koh journeys to Paris for a private tour and exclusive peek at the SG50 commemorative Petite Malle Singapore Brilliant Rouge.

In the world of luxury retail and ultra-exclusive experiences, a visit to the Louis Vuitton family home and historical atelier is as good as it gets. Beyond anything a boutique’s VIP room could ever offer, a private guided tour here lets a select few walk in the footsteps of Monsieur Vuitton himself and watch some of Paris’ most outstanding artisans at work as they deftly assemble special-order pieces. 

It was here in the suburb of Asnières that Louis Vuitton established his first trunk workshop in 1859, four years after founding the brand. The location was strategic, just 30min out of Paris, and close to the Seine for ease of transporting the wood needed to make his luxury goods. He then built his family home next door, where five generations of Vuittons continued to live until 1984.

Strolling up the pebbled driveway, the verdant gardens offer a warm welcome to the cottage-like residence, with lush vines cascading above a lofty front door. Sunlight streams through stained glass windows, imbuing a warm glow throughout the house that has been lovingly restored and maintained and is home to generations of Vuitton treasures. Far from the contemporised versions of a Louis Vuitton maison we see today, this house is endearingly warm and charming with its intriguing pastiche of styles best described as 18th-century art nouveau with oriental influences. Amid plush leather tufted chairs and feminine floral print and frilled accents, vintage trunks stand in almost ever corner, some used as coffee tables, others lined with framed family photographs and objets d’art. 

Craft to Perfection


Across the lawn is the historical workshop. This is where I get an exclusive peek at the Petite Malle Singapore Brilliant Rouge. In the workshop, some 200 craftsmen, many of whom have worked there for decades, produce limited edition products and special orders. The distinct smell of leather excites the senses as artisans pick and prime materials. There are rolls and sheaths of buttery soft cowhide leather, many in a signature shade of brown—the foundation for all monogram bags. Walking past rows of exotic leathers from stingray to python, stored in cool temperature and waiting to be coloured, glossed, matted or cut by hand, I catch a glimpse of a chilli red alligator skin. 

No ungloved hand is to touch these skins, and I am handed a white glove to slip on before getting a closer look. Though already in Paris waiting to be pieced together, this alligator leather has been dyed and hand-finished to perfection in Singapore by leading tannery and leather craft house, Heng Long. Respected for its know-how and top-grade skins, Heng Long is a longstanding partner of Louis Vuitton. In 2011, the LVMH group acquired a majority stake in the company. 

Highly top secret at the time of this visit, this exclusive clutch marks the first time the maison has ever created a luxury exotic skin item to celebrate its history and ties with Singapore and in particular, the country’s 50th birthday this year. Christopher Kilaniotis, president of Louis Vuitton South Asia, says: “This exceptional creation, a tribute to our longstanding relationship with Singapore, brings together the best in both French and Singaporean savoir faire and craftsmanship.” 

To commemorate the exact date, only nine Petite Malle Singapore Brilliant Rouge have been created. Each bag is embossed with “Limited Edition Singapore Jubilee 2015” on the malletage, a pattern of quilted leather on the inside of the bag that resembles the maison’s classic trunk, immediately adding to its value as a coveted collectible. These mini trunks are fashioned on the second floor of the workshop, which is bustling with craftsmen bent over their work desks assembling the most intricate of pieces. 

While I am about a season too early to see the actual assembly take place, an artisan gladly demonstrates the application of another shade of alligator leather—a beautiful royal blue—onto a wooden frame, on top of which he deftly secures gold hardware. Around the corner, more artisans are working on the finishing, and I watch a man apply canvas and leather onto a more hefty-sized monogram trunk. He follows the golden rules: always centre the logo, never cut the monogram, and place the flowers in a way that perfectly corresponds from one edge to another. 

It is these fine techniques that customers in Singapore will have the honour of witnessing for themselves come August. As part of Singapore’s jubilee celebrations, Louis Vuitton will be showcasing the craftsmanship behind the Petite Malle at its Marina Bay Sands island maison during the week of National Day—so there’s more reason to celebrate before revelling at the parade and fireworks.