Behind Louis Vuitton's iconic Malle Courrier | Iconic | Esquire - video Dailymotion

For Esquire US' new series "Iconic," we went behind the scenes at Louis Vuitton in Paris to find out how their signature trunk gets made.

Transcript

00:00In the workshops at Annière, drawing on over a century and a half of expertise, carpenters

00:07build the trunk and its top from a lightweight poplar wood.

00:10From then on, the complete trunk is made by just one artisan, using a surprisingly small

00:14number of tools.

00:16The artisan applies a fine white cotton canvas as a base layer to the inside of the trunk

00:20and its lid.

00:28Next comes the precise application down to the millimetre of the iconic monogram canvas.

00:34As this is a made-to-order programme, of course, customers can choose from a range of iconic

00:38Vuitton canvases.

00:44At this point, the Malcourir begins to look and feel like an iconic piece of Vuitton luggage.

00:53With the canvas applied to the lid and base, the two parts are ready for the next step.

00:57Hinges are riveted onto the lid and the two halves are combined.

01:10Lozinage, a word invented by Louis Vuitton himself, is the process of strengthening all

01:15the edges with L-shaped reinforcements that are attached meticulously by hand with hundreds

01:21of tiny brass nails.