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It’s a never ending cycle of discovery, the things you didn’t realise you needed in your life until they appear come into your awareness. For example, I did not know that I needed a bespoke Louis Vuitton-designed mobile wardrobe trunk, or Malle Vestiaire, until they revealed it this month with a little help from House Ambassador, All Blacks rugby legend Dan Carter.
Rugby has been undergoing something of a re-cool-ification in recent months. A recent collaboration with R.M Williams; it’s presence on the runways of Loewe and of Louis Vuitton and of course, Carter himself has had a hand in piquing global interest in the sport. His presence at the debut runway of Pharrell Williams did NOT go unnoticed.
But to the trunk…
According to Louis Vuitton, the retired Five Eighth-turned-fashion-icon worked with the Maison’s artisans to develop the one-of-a-kind trunk that was specially designed and crafted to hold Carter’s sports equipment and memorabilia. The finished result is one that combines Carter’s legacy in the world of rugby with the legacy of Louis Vuitton as one of the world’s most respected luggage designers and creators.
At a height of just under 1.5 metres and featuring six drawers and three hangers, the Malle Vestiaire is the ultimate travelling companion.
Crafted from wood, the trunk has been covered in Maison’s emblematic black-and-silver Monogram Eclipse canvas – a fitting shade that reflects on Carter’s own team colours. The Monogram Eclipse exterior has also been finished with distinctive painted logos and numbers pulled from Carter’s career including DC10 (referring to his player number) and 1598 (the number of points he scored in international rugby).
Featured hardware on the Malle, including metal clasps, closures, and rivets, are the same as those used on historic Louis Vuitton trunks.
If the plush details of the outside weren’t enough to make you want to covet, then what’s on the inside should tip you over the line: a selection of Dan Carter’s most-prized memorabilia, which includes three World Rugby Player of the Year awards; three Rugby World Cup medals; his two 100th-test caps; three jerseys he wore at Rugby World Cups; his pair of “retirement” boots and a pair he wore during a Rugby World Cup; copies of his book, The Art of Winning, and the Louis Vuitton rugby ball he created in collaboration with the Maison in 2019.
“This Malle Vestiaire holds all the memorabilia that symbolise the amazing memories I have of playing professional rugby, while also paying tribute to Louis Vuitton’s renowned Art of Travel,” said Carter in a statement. “I really can’t think of a better way for them to be displayed than in this beautiful trunk.”
Frankly, nor can we.
The one-of-a-kind Malle Vestiaire is available from the Louis Vuitton website.
