Interview: why Moynat creative director Ramesh Nair hates to compromise
The Indian-born, Paris-based head of the French luxury accessories firm reveals why he rejects mass production
How did the opportunity to revive Moynat come about? “I was working at Hermès with some of the best designers. I was assisting Martin [Margiela] and Jean-Paul [Gaultier], the very best in our industry but I was always wondering what to do next. I was surprised to get a call from LVMH. They asked if I was interested in putting a brand back on the map. For a designer that’s just a fantastic prospect.”
What was the appeal of Moynat? “A lot of brands have disappeared. What was really, really interesting was I could build a brand from scratch and, at the same time, revive a brand with so much history. At Hermès, I saw how important the archive was to them. Also working with Margiela, we used to do clothes inspired by old pieces, pieces from the past. So that’s why we collect old Moynat pieces: I needed a story, I needed history. A brand isn’t just a name, it’s all about the story. Brand building isn’t all about the present and the future, it’s about the past, too.”
Despite great demand, Moynat has kept production small and exclusive. Why is that? “I don’t think I will ever get into mass production. It’s something we won’t compromise on. I hate compromising. When we grow, things do change, obviously, but as we grow I’m trying to put in place things so nothing changes.”