Wanderlust inspirations

EN ROUTE to the cosy exhibition of travel-inspired collectibles called Objets Nomades, one has to walk through an underwater passageway to reach the "Island Maison" of French luxury house Louis Vuitton at Marina Bay Sands (MBS). There, on display in this luxurious subterrenean corridor, is a collection of vintage trunks, each with a backstory imbued with the romance of travel.

The small showcase is a succinct illustration of the brand's malletier (trunk-maker) roots and its wanderlust-inspiring history. It is also a fitting prelude to the Objets Nomades collection, shown in Asia for the first time in its entirety. Created in collaboration with 10 designers - including rock stars OF the design world such as Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola and Oki Sato's firm Nendo, as well as emerging talents handpicked by the brand - the pieces range from a hammock to foldable stools, all featuring the exceptional savoir-faire of the fashion heavyweight.

The Ernest Bed by Gwenael Nicolas, for one, is a modern nod to a foldable Bed-Trunk commissioned in 1880 by explorer Pierre de Brazza. Responsible for establishing French colonies in Africa, he ordered two large sized beds with folding horsehair mattresses covered in two-toned striped fabric, which be collapsed into a monogrammed canvas trunk.