This holiday season, Moynat (Instagram) introduces a celebration of color, creativity, and iconic artistry with its 2024 collection in collaboration with legendary Japanese graphic designer Kazumasa Nagai. Available now at Moynat boutiques worldwide, this limited-edition collection captures the spirit of Nagai’s celebrated “Life” series, transforming leather goods into vibrant works of art.
The Moynat x Kazumasa Nagai Holiday 2024 collection combines the French maison’s impeccable craftsmanship with Nagai’s imaginative take on the natural world. Signature pieces, including Duo BB handbags, bag charms, card holders, passport covers, and notebook covers, feature Nagai’s vibrant depictions of animals like lions, chimpanzees, owls, octopus, whale shark and starfish and are available in limited editions. Rendered in bold reds and blues, the designs evoke a sense of wonder, energy, and curiosity—hallmarks of the iconic “Life” series.
Nagai, reflecting on his work, shares, “Animals come in all shapes and varieties; they co-exist with one another. I focused on the life inside me and how it was consistent with the animals. I didn’t draw them realistically; they were all from my world expressed in a simple way with a sense of curiosity and cuteness. My aim was to energise people and create something that symbolises it, that is the Life series.” His vision aligns seamlessly with Moynat’s dedication to bringing artistry to life through leather.
Kazumasa Nagai’s legacy as one of Japan’s preeminent graphic designers brings unparalleled depth to this collection. Renowned for his prolific output of over 1,000 posters and accolades such as the Order of the Rising Sun, Nagai’s “Life” series has been celebrated globally for its vibrant, simplified expression of nature’s diversity.
For Nagai, collaborating with Moynat allowed his artistic dreams to extend into a tactile, functional realm. “The skills of Moynat’s artisans are truly exceptional,” Nagai states. “The way the animals have been integrated feels so lively, a unity of dreams and craftsmanship.”
Moynat, a storied name in luxury leather goods, elevates this partnership by applying its storied expertise to Nagai’s dynamic designs. The result is a collection that is not just an accessory but an artistic statement—each piece exuding vitality and a sense of connection with the natural world.
In an exclusive interview, Kazumasa Nagai spoke about his start as a designer, his work and his collab with Moynat.
Please tell us about your background and works. What has been your path as a graphic designer and what was the inspiration behind your fascinating Life series?
I have been a graphic designer since 1951, I initially started working with sculptures but then transitioned into graphic design by creating abstract work inspired by the Bauhaus. Then I got into photography, even took pictures above a plane and created cosmic light effects with radiating lines. I did that for a while.
Around the late ’80s, my old radial designs started feeling stale, so I made a bold shift. Up until then, my designs were all abstract and not about living things. Computers were just invented which could draw perfectly, unlike hand-drawing, but I liked the little imperfections we get when drawing by hand, so I ditched the compass that I’d always used and started hand drawing. I began realizing then that when it comes to talking about the cosmos, everything has its own universe, people, animals, you name it. There’s a cosmos that resides within people, but humans are just one species, even if two people have different colored eyes or hair, they aren’t that different.
However, animals come in all shapes and varieties; they coexist with one another. On the contrary to complex objects, simple things are far richer and more vibrant. I drew all kinds of things, from elephants to lions and other animals. I didn’t draw them realistically; they were all from my world expressed in a simple way with a sense of curiosity and cuteness. That become the Life series.
Have there been any special life experiences that had a significant impact on your artistic style and the characters you create?
Especially with this series, I aimed for a style as primitive as possible, even if it did not resemble what artistic expressions typically meant; a specific place such as Caves of Altamira or Lascaux Cave or paintings that are passed down by generations. Expressions can be primitive and have a soul to them. I am not trying to imitate them but by inspired by them to create my own versions.
What was the process for this collaboration with Moynat? How did Moynat’s traditions and craftsmanship resonate with you and lead to your involvement in this collaboration?
The Life series is quite broad but for Moynat, I focused on the red lion, chimpanzee, owl and light blue whale shark and octopus, which very surprisingly went well with the handbags.
The skills of Moynat’s artisans are truly exceptional, the way the animals have been integrated into the bags, passport & card holders feel so lively, there is a sense of unity about them. I feel that the bag can become something that expands into the dreams for those who would carry it. I feel grateful and extremely satisfied.
Do the characters and animals that appear in the series carry any special meanings? Does it reflect a personal connection and leap forward as an artist?
For example, lions are usually seen as a bit scary, but adding fur and eyes adds a sense of cuteness, but also strangeness. I think we are drawn to that. Sometimes obvious things are so obvious that they are often overlooked. Every object has a life of its own and when you can look at it repeatedly, it changes according to your mood.
Animal eyes seem to be important to you, why is that?
The eyes are the most straightforward way of looking into the soul. The eyes convey everything. While I used to give animals human-like eyes, along the way I decided that, for this series – round eyes with a black pupil and as the eye moves the pupil shifts, resulting in unimaginable curiosity. Which is why I think the eyes are very important.
Who do you imagine would love these products?
My aim was to energise people and create something that symbolises it. I hope to see it on young customers.
The Moynat x Kazumasa Nagai Holiday 2024 collection is more than just a festive offering; it is a celebration of life, artistry, and the power of collaboration. For those seeking unique gifts or personal treasures, this collection stands as an inspiring fusion of luxury and imagination.
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