How did Louis Vuitton Become the Partner of Travelers in History?
To say that Maison Louis Vuitton symbolizes the art of travel would be an understatement. Flagship elements of pop culture, with cult films from Titanic to Murder in the Sun, its iconic trunks, luggage and bags travel through time to accompany travellers from all over the world, in zeppelin, ocean liner, plane, half-track, motorcycle, ski or shuttle spatial. With this observation as a starting point, the book "Voyages Extraordinaires", published by the French house, seemed obvious. After the free and offbeat City Guides, Travel Books which revisit the spirit of the artist's notebook, and the Fashion Eye collection, photographic albums showing a city, a region or a country through the eye of the artist. The fashion photographer, Louis Vuitton, could not symbolize the art of travel better than stepping back in time to propel its readers through 50 inspiring destinations.
Written by Francisca Mattéoli, writer and globetrotter at heart, this beautiful book tells the adventures of travellers of the time and today, richly illustrated with old photographs, vintage tourism posters and nuggets from the archives of the French house. Chilean of Scottish mother, Francisca Mattéoli spent her childhood in Latin America. After living in Brazil, she finally settled in Paris. She is the author of several travelogues and contributes, among others, to Condé Nast Traveler and National Geographic. At a time when the health crisis has prevented crowds bitten to escape and other explorers from taking off on new adventures, she returns to the very definition of an "extraordinary journey", before giving us her precious advice for to escape when one is confined, the time of a fascinating exchange.
Tell us a few words about the book "Voyages Extraordinaires" that you are signing for Louis Vuitton.
It's a book that takes you on a journey in all possible ways. It's a book that looks like a flying carpet, we start from the 19th century to the present day. There is poetry, art, literature, anything the imagination can bring. Because it is also a book to leave in the imagination, and I believe that, precisely with all that is happening in the world at present, one needs to appeal to its good memories to support the situation. It is a book to escape and get away from everyday life, with more than 50 different stories that make you travel in different ways.
What is an "extraordinary journey"?
Thank you for this question, which is not easy. For me, it's first dreaming of the destination before being there. It is often said that before arriving somewhere, it is the path that is exciting, and before that, there is the dream that we have of a place. There are a lot of places you've dreamed of all your life, and these dreams are already making the trip, by dint of thinking about them. So it starts with what we imagine. Then there is the movement and the means of movement used, whether it is the train, the plane or the boat. All these means of transport are also part of the extraordinary journey. For example, in the book, I talk about the Concorde or the large transatlantic liners that contribute to fabulous voyages. My parents knew this era of the art of travel. These people who took exceptional planes, spent weeks on board a liner, who dressed at night made me dream. At the end, of course, there is the universe in which we arrive and which amazes. The wonder that a trip brings is very important to me. Because an extraordinary trip is necessarily something that amazes you like when you were 4 years old.
What is the most extraordinary journey in this book?
This is the horrible question! It's impossible, I can't choose one. On the other hand, it is true that there are two or three trips which really marked me personally. Starting with the trips I made to countries that were not open to tourism. At one time, I was working for National Geographic and I went to Cambodia or Rwanda for example. And then, as I am South American, South America and among others Brazil where I lived. When you arrive by plane and fly over the Corcovado, it's mind-boggling, you're left speechless. If you listen to Brazilian music on top of that, it's downright awesome. Afterwards, when I went to my home, Chile, in the Atacama desert for the first time, it was also fantastic because the place is varied and different from other deserts.
How is the Louis Vuitton house intimately linked to the simple fact of traveling?
Louis Vuitton has a history linked to travel, as its founder started by walking the Jura Trail in Paris when he was 13, to try his luck in the capital. It was an extraordinary trip for the time. It is not only related to the journey, but also to the extraordinary journey. And then the Louis Vuitton house has followed since its creation all the evolutions of the means of transport. Because she invented the famous "wardrobes" trunks for travelers. This family transmission, which is very rare, has been maintained over the centuries, and I find it very moving to see that even today there are houses like this one, which preserve the art of travel.
Which Louis Vuitton travel accessory (suitcase, bag, vanity, etc.) do you love?
I love wardrobes trunks! First of all, it's more than an accessory, it makes me dream of opening these huge trunks and finding fantastic clothes there to dress at any time of the trip. These trunks are linked to a trip that no longer exists today. They were so spacious, with drawers for jewelry, for correspondence, for dresses, for coats. We find them in the movie "Titanic". My parents and grandparents knew that, and when we arrived from Chile in France, we had trunks like these. It was extraordinary.
Putting the pandemic aside, what are the hottest destinations this summer?
For starters, a sunny place, because most of us have been locked in our apartments. Then, a place full of joie de vivre, where people are friendly. I think South America is going to be taken by storm. Because the idea of drinking a caipirinha at the edge of a beach, it will tempt more than one. This kind of place is going to be among the first destinations people are going to turn to. We want fun and lightness, to get out of the darkness in which we find ourselves at the moment.
How to escape and make the mind travel during a period of confinement?
First of all, thanks to his imagination and then inevitably thanks to the books! When I was a child, when things were wrong with me, I very often took refuge in all kinds of books, with stories and images… In addition, I come from a country where tales are very important. By the way, my mother is Scottish, and Scotland is a land of legends. Having a good book and diving into it when you're going through scary times is the quickest and easiest way to get away from it all.
What book would you recommend reading under these circumstances?
A book that I love, because it also reminds me of my life in Chile, is "The African Farm", by Karen Blixen. She tells of an adventure that touches me very personally. Otherwise, another book, very easy and very offbeat, is "The Wind in the Willows", by Kenneth Grahame. It's a children's book, but for adults! He tells adults about adventures experienced by animals. It is a wonderful book. When you read it, you will call me to tell me that I was right to advise you! (Laughs)
Which destination has been the most extraordinary in your career?
It's difficult, because every destination is different. You are never disappointed when you travel, because even when things don't go well, you create funny memories. Looking back, it often makes you laugh. When you love to travel, every destination is exciting. The main thing is to leave when you can, and to be curious. Because any trip is actually a good experience.
According to you, which means of locomotion is the most interesting in terms of human enrichment?
Each of them is a different experience and brings something completely unique. The jeep in the desert, the Concorde and the funiculars of Valparaíso each offer a different view of the world and our planet. When you are on an ocean liner and see the ocean in front of you, when you are on a plane and feel like a bird, or when you are in a car and taking road trips through the United States or gigantic expanses, it is not the same feeling. It is also the idea of the book to make the reader feel a different feeling and experience every time.
Tell us about your last trip.
It was in France, since we cannot leave the country, in the French Basque Country, because I am of Spanish Basque origin. It was in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where I spent a lot of time when I arrived in France. It is a very typical superb region. I spent a week in the middle of nature, because that's also what we need at the moment. I walked around and took a deep breath of fresh air to recharge my batteries.
Is the next one already planned?
Yes, in Rio as soon as it is authorized. And also in New York, my ticket is already reserved, we'll see if we can go there for my birthday which falls on July 4th. I said to myself, if I have to celebrate the deconfinement, for my birthday, it will be in Central Park.
