Moynat Bags Honest Review

*all photos from Moynat’s site and Instagram because I wasn’t able to take photos while inspecting it*

I fell in love with Moynat bags a long time ago, it must have been 2013 or so, when going to Florence to learn bag-making was just a tiny inkling in my mind and not yet a reality at that point. As luck (and some intention) would have it, I was finally able to get my hands on and inspect it (fawn over it, more like) in person in 2014/2015, while on Christmas break from the aforementioned bag-making course.

In terms of handbags, my holy grail trinity of brands are: Moynat, Moreau (my review here), and Delvaux (my review here). These are the 3 that I have personally inspected, and have seen that they are hand-stitched, of excellent make, and whose quality is definitely up to par for their tier of luxury, which is at the same level as Hermès, IMHO.

I do not include Hermès in my holy trinity because there are just some aspects of the brand that I do not like–and this is just my OWN OPINION. The aspects include, but are not limited to: their borderline unfriendly staff; their whole “method” of purchase which seems ridiculously pretentious to me; and, for a supposedly über-luxury brand, they are frighteningly ubiquitous and, puzzlingly, dress people like the Kardashians, who do not at all seem to be on brand, or if they ARE on brand for Hermès, then I definitely do not want to be associated with that. So as much as their bags are the gold standard, I feel like the prices have become insanely inflated, and the three I mentioned (Moynat, Moreau, Delvaux) give you just as much quality for a lot less snobbery and pretension.

Luxury brands like these (and any brand, really) benefit SO MUCH (I cannot underscore that enough) from excellent staff, especially the ones dealing with/ talking with customers in stores. In Hermès, it was more like a meat market (and this was in at least two different branches in Paris), trying to find a sales associate to assist you as a walk-in was near impossible. It was like they were doing you a favor. That really irked me. In stark comparison, the staff we encountered at Moynat, Moreau, and Delvaux (all in Paris) were very polite, open, and more than happy to assist us with the different styles we wanted to look at, or questions we had. They were most curious about how we came to know about the brand, and smiled when I said, “instagram” haha (I did a lot of research online and via insta for my bag making classes)

So, getting back to Moynat. They are also one of those super old heritage French brands that started out making trunks in the 1800s. They’ve since modernized and adapted that concept, and I love all their bags, basically.

The Réjane is one of their signature styles, and it is impeccably made. For me it has a lot more character than the Hermès, but priced pretty fairly at under 4000€ (exotic leather versions would cost more, of course). I really like that they also designed and patented their own locks, which really do set their bags apart.

I found this photo on their site:

The edge work is impeccable too–painted and polished 8 times is no joke, btw–we typically do at least 3 or 4, and most other brands probably do that or less. They also have a lot of custom hardware that serve specific purposes for their bags. Like look at how they have a custom ring for the handles that also have extra little rings for the detachable strap–you can’t just buy that stuff ready-made.

Cute little story about the Réjane too (pronounced, “reh-zhan” by the staff at the store):

They also have an evening version:

And a really cute saddle version too:

The Cabotin style is also one of my faves, and one of the reasons why is because I know how difficult it is to make. Plus points again for their custom patented hardware (that’s my hardware goals, btw. I want my own patented hardware too haha)

I tend to like bags that have some pop or cultural reference, and this just gives me grade school lunchbox vibes but POSH.

Another of their signature styles, the Pauline. This is a great option if you’re after a minimalist, classic look, without hardware.

I also appreciate that they highlight very handmade add-ons as well, such as hand-painting on leather, marquetry, etc.

The Gabrielle–perfect for those whose name starts with an “M”, I guess? Haha although I do like the clever closure.

Clutch version of the Gabrielle

The Fleur, which is a wonderfully vintage-ish bucket bag that I can totally see full of flowers and baguettes and carried by the quintessential Frenchwoman. I don’t generally like large logos or branding, but in this version, burned/stamped into the leather like that, I feel like it lends to the vintage vibe.

The Quattro leather tote. I personally am a fan of an all-leather tote over a canvas/coated canvas one. And this one is an excellent, basic one that’s got two handles (top handle and shoulder straps), which is always a plus for me. Comes in N/S and E/W versions.

But if I did have to pick a canvas/ coated canvas type of tote, Moynat and Moreau both have excellent ones that are, IMHO, made better than Goyard’s. This one’s the OH! Tote, and you may have also seen variations of this with the funny monster faces (although those are more kitschy and these are more classic–both versions are good).

Their updated trunks are also cute because they retain their signature curved bottoms (meant to follow the shape of the cars where the trunks were usually placed/attached, and in some photos they seem to also follow the shape of the stone banisters of staircases around Paris, where I guess people might set their bags down?).

And they also have a soft version of the Limousine trunk, with the same curved shape

And adorable marquetry–which I LOVE and are so difficult to create perfectly. Those are all pieces of leather that have been cut to create the illustration, put together almost like a puzzle.

The mini vanity is something I’ve also always loved. It’s really cute, but also really difficult to make, especially so pristinely.

You can check out more styles over at Moynat’s website or instagram.

So if you’re ready to go past the previous luxury tier of the more well-known but machine-sewn bags (i.e. YSL, Givenchy, Fendi, Gucci, etc.), and into this next tier of truly high end handmade goodness, then skip the Hermès and maybe try Moynat (or Moreau or Delvaux) instead!

*2022 update: new photos to be added soon! This is also to note that the Rejane bag is now around 4-5000€ (in comparison to 3-4000€ back in 2013 ish)