What in the LV’s Name is That

If you have inst.agram, you’d have known that I posted a Louis Vuitton- related photo a few days ago. I didn’t disclose what was on the photo and had people guessing 🙂 I was actually already told what it was before I saw the actual “thing”, but when I did see it I remember saying how much it resembled a halogen bulb 🙂

Someone actually guessed what it was, but someone else actually thought it was a compass 🙂 

Ok, so let me tell you what it is– but first, the history of how this “thing” came about. Last December 2011, LV CEO Yves Carcelle passed by the Philippines and I was one of the lucky few to have met him (thanks for that opportunity, LV Manila). It was also then that I was privy to an exhibition by National Yoyo champion Ernest Kahn, who happens to be part of the store’s retail staff. Ernest was really impressive. Watch him work his yoyo here 😀

I was not the only one impressed (everyone was, actually)– in fact, Yves Carcelle was so impressed

that he had Louis Vuitton commission a yoyo just for Ernest (Ernest, you are sooooo lucky!!). That “thing” is a yoyo– a special order Damier Graphite yoyo!

Interestingly enough, yoyo demonstrations like Ernest’s do have historical context with Louis Vuitton! In the 20s when the yoyo was first introduced in France, exhibitions of this new game was done in the store window of the Champs Elysees store in Paris.

Yves is really so cool to have had this made for Ernest.

Which brings to mind how LV never fails to showcase its savoir- faire and ingenuity through special orders like this one. Louis Vuitton has always taken pride in fulfilling customers’ most exceptional requests– I remember visiting the ancestral home of M. Louis Vuitton in Asnieres just two years ago (which also houses one of their workshops) and seeing the custom- made iPod holders of Karl Lagerfeld as well as that “portable” casino complete with a roulette. At Louis Vuitton, you can not only request for a made-to-order piece (one of the more popular examples– having a monogram canvas style bag *that’s not available in other materials* made in damier canvas), you can also ask to have something custom- made (in other words, bespoke!). Impressive, right? And these are a few of the reasons why I personally love Louis Vuitton. It’s all about service!  🙂

Alright folks, now that I am in Ireland, I am off to see the city! Thebaghag travelog begins!! 🙂

x
TheBagHag