Louis Vuitton’s Maison in Aventura Mall is more than just a breathtaking place to see all of Louis’s leather goods in one place. It is a nod to both the brand’s contemporary sophistication and tradition of making world-class travel cases and bags that began in 1871 for Empress Euginie in France.
Customers are completely surrounded by artful opulence such as the leatherwrapped railing on the wood spiral staircase and the onyx and amber pathway on the second level that leads shoppers in from an external private entrance. This way, exclusive shoppers can avoid setting foot in the mall, but with neighbors like Pucci, Hugo Boss and Ulysses Nardin, they probably wouldn’t want to.
David Goubert, a Senior Vice President at Louis Vuitton North America explains, “a Louis Vuitton Maison is conceived as a travel destination influenced by the aesthetics of the city they are located in. This experience of luxury is carefully integrated throughout the store through its architectural elements and exhibition spaces for art.” For Miami influences, Vuitton has chosen Cubanborn artist Jorge Pardo’s sculpture that hangs permanently above the staircase, and a temporary art space that is now showing a video entitled “Paper Cuts” by Janaina Tschape.
The store’s merchandise is equally intriguing as its structure as the Maison boasts the first bespoke men’s shoe salon in North America. The salon, which is in a cozy corner of the store inspired by the inside of a Louis Vuitton shoe trunk, offers complete made-to-order service. Choices to be made include the model of the shoe, instep, soling, skin (from grain calf leather to exotics like python and alligator) and, finally, color. The shoes are then crafted to these specifications in Fiesso d’Artico atelier in Italy.
The Maison is also home to the nation’s second Haute Maroquinerie. Haute Maroquinerie offers a new level of personalization for women’s handbags, which produces a total of 40,000 different options. It starts with five different bag styles available in two sizes, (the Noé, the Lock-it, Triangle, New Steamer and Milaris) and offers eight different skins including the exceptional and exotic, in 26 different colors. These bags are made to order in Vuitton’s original Asnieres workshop outside of Paris and offer women a chance at a unique yet classic bag.
These bespoke services are only offered at a handful of Louis Vuitton locations around the world. “Our clients in South Florida are global in nature, often traveling the world in search of the newest launches and collections.” Now they will have to look no further than their own backyard.
Other interesting offerings include on the spot monogramming, and a large department of fine jewelry and watches which are made in the company’s Place Vendome watchmaking atelier.
The arrival of Louis Vuitton’s bi-level superstore, or Maison, signifies both their dedication to South Florida, which began with their decision to place the second freestanding store in North America in Miami, as well as Aventura’s evolution into a true luxury shopping destination.
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