Carrying a Louis Vuitton bag entails style, status, and taste. Carrying the LV Malle Maison de Famille denotes flair, flamboyance, and family. The Speedys and Neverfulls have dominated the streets for years, but the LV Malle Maison de Famille, a piece that belongs in the hands of a true LV loyalist, commands a different kind of attention. It is not your everyday shopper or your party pouch, but a declaration of a long-standing relationship with the French luxury label and a deep appreciation not only of its craftsmanship, but also of its history. Speaking of history, the Malle Maison de Famille, Nicolas Ghesquière’s homage to the Maison d’Asnières, the Vuitton family home, brings LV lovers the very heart of Louis Vuitton’s legacy.
The collectible trunk is a literal translation of 18 Rue Louis Vuitton, the home built in 1869. The idea of the LV founder’s home living in your handbag closet as a miniature house is special, all the more so because the original structure was commissioned by Louis Vuitton himself. Later, his son Georges Vuitton and his wife Joséphine renovated the home in the iconic Art Nouveau style seen today. As for the utterly homely trunk, it features classic Louis Vuitton details such as gold-tone hardware, the iconic S-lock, leather finishes, and a structured trunk shape. The real treat, however, is the miniaturization of an iconic part of LV history, which we will delve into in detail below.
A home, a legacy, a fashion statement
More than a bag or a trunk, the LV Malle Maison de Famille is an art piece. Timeless as it comes, the creation replicates the home’s intricate stained-glass windows created in the 1890s, complete with floral motifs such as irises and poppies. The house has gone on to inspire Louis Vuitton design codes across decades. In fact, some say the signature LV Monogram itself was inspired by the floral patterns on the kitchen tiles in this house. By shrinking the 19th-century Asnières residence into a wearable work of art, Louis Vuitton makes the wearer aware of the importance of every tiny element. For the roof, the bag uses a peaked cowhide lid to mimic the steep, dark roof of the Asnières home, and it features a functioning handle at the top for carrying.
The addition of a diminutive enamel bird on the roof is reminiscent of the garden wildlife at the family estate. The highly identifiable brick-and-stone exterior is recreated using cowhide leather printed with a detailed illustration of the house’s façade, including its windows and brickwork. The bag accurately depicts the rows of windows and the specific structural layout of the 1869 family home, making it all the more applause-worthy.
What lies inside the $45,000 LV Malle Maison de Famille-
Inside, the bag opens to reveal a leather-lined interior, several compartments with trays, and a dedicated nook specifically designed to hold a Louis Vuitton perfume bottle. This is an especially thoughtful touch, one that helps carry not just the structure, but also the soul and atmosphere of the Vuitton family residence. The 34.7 x 33.5 x 19.4 cm trunk uses the iconic S-lock and reinforced gold corners to root the house firmly in Louis Vuitton’s trunk-making history.
The LV Malle Maison de Famille is a miniature home likely crafted in the original
To this day, Maison d’Asnières is where roughly 30 expert artisans create Louis Vuitton’s hard-sided trunks, exotic leather goods, and trophy cases. The grounds also include a private museum housing more than 165,000 documents and 23,000 objects spanning over 170 years of rich history. In all probability, the bag itself is a product of the very place it represents.
