Louis Vuitton Aventura

Photography by Seth Browarnik ; Nathan Valentine on February 19th, 2013 in Fashion, Lifestyle

Aventura, FL – February 7, 2013 – Iconic luxury brand Louis Vuitton has just opened its newest Maison in Aventura at the expansive, upscale Aventura Mall. This is not just merely a store by any means. A Louis Vuitton Maison sets itself apart by offering every product category in both men’s and women’s fashion from leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, and accessories to watches and jewelry. But there’s more. The concept of a Maison is that it’s a space which becomes a travel destination- a place people come to see and experience for themselves because of its magnitude. It brings art and cultural elements into retail for sophisticated shoppers to have an unforgettable experience. Maison Aventura really incorporates the artistic element not only with its exterior, but also with the interior’s permanent and rotating exhibitions. It’s also the first store to offer “Made To Order Shoes” for men and among the first to introduce the custom handbags for women. Step inside the all-new Louis Vuitton Maison Aventura as we take a tour on opening night.

The Maison stands out from the rest of the mall with its beautiful all-white, bi-level exterior designed by architect Peter Marino, making it among the largest in North America.

A unique three radii staircase connects the two levels, making a grand entrance for anyone who walks down it. Made of polished stainless steel and glass with handrails wrapped in Louis Vuitton’s nomad leather, the winding staircase leads down to a custom radial teak floor made to size for the Maison. Hanging above the grand staircase is a permanent sculpture created by the Cuban-born artist and sculptor Jorge Pardo, just for Louis Vuitton.

Women’s ready-to-wear is on the second floor, which is called the “women’s universe.” Step into a woman’s world for elements inspired by land, air, and sea with its lacquered panels resembling water. To complete the space, the second permanent art installation is here: a very feminine, floral collage by Dan Colen.

Guests are welcomed to the world of Louis Vuitton with an art exhibition space in the vestibule of the store’s main entrance. Designed as a rotational exhibition space, prominent artists for the cultured Miami clientele are featured. The first to be shown is visual artist Janaina Tschape, debuting a joyous and colorful video accompanied by two paneled “paper cuts”.

John Mulliken, John Batchelor, Craig Robins, Janaina Yschape, & Herve Mikaeloff

Jackie Soffer, Craig Robins, Valérie Chapoulaud-Floquet, Mathieu Le Bozec, & Michael Burke

Jackie Soffer, David Goubert, & Valérie Chapoulaud-Floquet

In a different form of art, the “men’s universe” holds the very first “Made to Order Shoes” salon in the United States. It’s the combination of Louis Vuitton’s history and traditional old-world craftsmanship with a passion for innovation that brought about this level of service and personalization. Shoes are the most sophisticated and telling accessory a man can wear, which is why Louis Vuitton has gone to such great lengths to make them spectacular.

Gentlemen choose between six models in classic and elegant lines, four types of soles and three different insteps to give each shoe character and define its style. He then chooses from eight types of superior quality leathers to be hand cut-anything from grains calf leather to something exotic like alligator, ostrich, or python. These leathers are treated into eight elegant and deep shades. Finally, the owner’s initials can be embossed inside the shoe for a hidden signature to make it truly his own. “Made to Order Shoes” bring out the top-notch innovation and quality a guy can buy in allowing him to custom design a pair of shoes to reflect his own personality.

In celebration of the big opening, shoppers got some insight into Louis Vuitton’s heritage with live demonstrations of the brand’s expertise. Seasoned artisans were onsite showing their highly-specialized skills from the House’s shoe atelier in Fiesso D’Artico. They used the finest tools and very meticulous artistry to showcase the craftsmanship of the iconic LV trunks and hand-painted techniques used on leather goods.

The made-to-order leather goods service gives women the rare opportunity to enjoy a special personalization of an iconic bag- a must for any devoted Louis Vuitton fashionista.

The Haute Maroquinerie salon is the part of the Maison where women can customize their very own Louis Vuitton bag. Women choose from five classic shapes in 26 colors, eight beautiful types of skins, and two sizes to create their very own, unique bag. There’s also a private garden terrace for the ladies to enjoy while their bags are being hand-crafted in the salon. Hand-painted and stitched, these bags are the definition of luxury in the most artistic and fashionable way.

Since Louis Vuitton is the epitome of luxury suitcases and travel trunks and bags, opening night featured an Art of Packing demonstration in the Maison’s new travel room.