Goyard

Goyard, Malletier is a French malletier (trunkmaker) founded in 1853, making the company the second-oldest malletier still in existence; founded seven years after La Malle Bernard and a year prior to the foundation of Louis Vuitton.

History

1828 Francois Goyard was born on September 8th,1828, in Clamecy, Burgundy - an area also known as the Venice of the Nivern. Throughout the previous two centuries, his family was Compagnon de Rivière. Hence, they were experts at the transportation of wood, by river, from the forests of Morvan up to Paris - where it was used to heat homes in the city. Travelling twenty kilometres per day, the Goyards would float vast batches of wood - in train-like formations, seventy five metres long and five metres wide - taking eleven days to navigate the Yonne and the Seine. The return journey would subsequently be made on foot.

1832 However, when Francois’ father, Edme Goyard (1801-1879) turned thirty years old, in 1832, he decided to move his family to Paris, in search of a more rewarding type of life.

1845 By 1845, and now aged seventeen, Francois became an apprentice at Morel, which, in 1836, had acquired the esteemed Maison Martin - packing case and trunk maker of Son Altesse Royale Madame la Duchesse de Berry, step daughter of King Charles X, mother of the heir of the throne, located 4 rue Neuve des Capucines - and renowned as the greatest company of its ilk within Paris. Long before this, in 1828, Maison Martin had purchased Meffre, also a packer, and moved to 233 rue Saint-honoré. In 1820, Meffre was the successor of Catelouze who originally moved from 355 to 347 rue Saint Honoré which became 233, rue Saint Honoré when the number of the street were changed.

Monsieur Henri Morel perceived François Goyard as someone who was clearly capable of becoming his successor. So, after Morel’s death, in 1852, Francois duly became the heir of the company, located at rue Saint Honore since 1805 and by now long-imbued with the collective expertise and heritage of all those aforementioned companies, steadily acquired over the years. Since the First Empire it had been the most prestigious Layetiers, Coffretiers, Emballeurs. Following on from this, labels placed inside the trunks proudly declared, ‘Goyard, Successeur de Monsieur Morel’. A whole new era opened up, as La Maison Goyard was born…

In the past, the Grand Duke of Russia, the Maharajah de Kapurthala, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor and many aristocratic families, all travelled with Goyard luggage; and their special orders have always been an important part of Goyard’s reputation.

Goyard is known for its hard-sided trunks and small accessories. All pieces are covered in a signature hand-painted patented chevron canvas made of cotton, linen, and hemp and displayed in various colors. The chevron canvas was created in 1892; and was traditionally produced in black and red.

In the late 1990s, Goyard was purchased by the Signoles family, and the company introduced several new colours at that time. Goyard is renowned for monogramming the durable, lightweight canvas with the initials of its customers upon request. To this day, Goyard produces special orders and bespoke pieces, made to order in Carcassonne, France.

Other famous clients have included: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Gregory Peck, Pablo Picasso, Gary Cooper, Debra Messing, Kanye West, John D. Rockefeller, Nigo, and Lupe Fiasco.

Retail Ethos

Unlike many other companies, Goyard encourages its clients away from less intimate retail experiences - such as those offered by online catalogues or e-commerce websites - in order to maintain its time-honoured practice of personalised attention. Clients are instead initially advised to contact Goyard directly by email or telephone, or visit one of the various Goyard stores, for enquiries relating to the existing range of classic designs, or specific made to measure items.

Goyard locations

Goyard is located in Paris, Beverly Hills, Boston, Hong Kong, Kyoto, London, New York, Osaka, San Francisco, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Tokyo. A new London premises opens in the midst of Mayfair, at 116 Mount Street, in summer 2009.

External links

• Official site