Louis Vuitton Celebrates Luxury in Beirut

Louis Vuitton is proud to have chosen the beautiful location on 103 Allenby Street, a step away from the newly reconstructed Beirut Souks, for its first store in Beirut, Lebanon. Imprinted with years of history, the structure correlates perfectly with the values that the Maison cherishes most. Yves Carcelle, Chairman & CEO of Louis Vuitton, describes Beirut as being “a fascinating city which attracts visitors from not only nearby regions, but the world over”. Just like Louis Vuitton, Beirut embraces the same values of tradition and history all while looking forward to the future. The reconstruction of Beirut has allowed the famous Malletier to install and open a luxurious location dedicated to the art of living and travel. “For many years, the Maison has maintained strong relations with the Lebanese clientele and is proud to reiterate its engagement by offering a new store which respects the Beirutis’ heritage and patrimony.”

Keeping its engagement to the heritage and history of the city, the Louis Vuitton store, which opens its doors the 17th of July 2010, preserves the original architecture of downtown Beirut, wrapping around the beautiful facade of the building, allowing three beautiful vitrines to showcase the latest products of the season.

Built on two levels on a total of 270 square meters, the Louis Vuitton store seeks to offer its clients a promenade into a world of luxury. Leather goods, luggage, small leather goods, textiles, and accessories, and of course, shoes, all of which are designed under the direction of Creative Director, Marc Jacobs, are presented throughout the store for a large offer of exquisite products to its Lebanese customers. Following Peter Marino’s architectural concept for the Louis Vuitton Maisons such as the Champs- Elysées in Paris and New Bond Street in London, the Beirut store exposes a similar interior design.

The beige and brown marble stone shares the floor with soft beige carpeting, off-white bleached Aniegre wooden panels cover the lower part of the walls and product displays while the circular metallic nettings, posing as the Monogram flower, can be found decorating the upper walls towards the ceiling. True to its heritage and traditions, the store first welcomes its clients by revealing a beautiful collection of vintage trunks and luggage. To the right of the entrance is the introduction to the women’s universe with accessories and iconic leather goods such as the Neverfull, Speedy, and Keepall. To the left, a larger area is dedicated to the men’s section, immediately pulling the customer towards the men’s city bags, presented in emblematic canvasses such as the Damier Graphite or Monogram Macassar.

Continuing deeper into the men’s universe, the interior design adapts a masculine personality with a slight darker wood tone, presenting men’s accessories including sunglasses, textiles, and further along, men’s shoes. Returning to discover the women’s area to the right of the store entrance, a set of marble stone stairs leads the way to a mezzanine where another world of women’s products awaits.

At the top of the stairway, women’s accessories and a textile bar present a selection of sunglasses, scarves, and fashion jewelery. Entering into a larger room, the customer falls upon a wider collection of women’s city bags and small leather goods discreetly warmed by a small lounge consisting of a sofa and dark brown marble inspired coffee table.

Lastly, a little coven of shoes is perceived in the far left of the large women’s section, almost entirely dedicated to shoes with the exception of a small display of women’s leather goods, elegantly selected to pair with the perfect shoe. The customer can comfortably shop the shoes section thanks to another set of canapés.

Fusing Louis Vuitton’s and Beirut’s architectural traditions, the store brings a dynamic new spirit of luxury to the heart of Lebanon’s capital, and represents a stylish showcase for Louis Vuitton’s collection of luggage, city bags, men’s and women’s shoes, fashion jewelery, textiles and accessories.