Contemporary leather pieces designed for the urban traveller unveiled at the Montblanc Urban Spirit Gallery in Paris

For one night only, Montblanc opened the doors to the Montblanc Urban Spirit Gallery in Paris, a space transformed into an urban environment for the launch of the Montblanc Urban Spirit Collection, a brand new collection of fine leather companions designed for the urban traveller. Inside the gallery, guests including actor and friend of the Maison Rodrigo Santoro with girlfriend Melanie Fronckowiak, actor Alex Pettyfer, Socialite Louis Marie de Castelbajac, Italian actor and friend of the Maison Luca Argentero, Victoria’s Secret models Thayna Silva Santos and Bruna Lirio, Bloggers Matthew Zorpas, Adam Gallagher and Kadu Dantas as well as french actresses Alice Taglioni, Hande Kodja, Audrey Marnay and Melanie Thierry discovered pieces defined by innovative functionality and streamlined designs, thoughtfully crafted to fit in with the lifestyles of the modern-day pioneers. These dynamic urban lifestyles inspired the multi-sensorial experience created by the raw industrial decor, urban sounds and live interactive art.

“The setting we have created inside the Montblanc Urban Spirit Gallery evokes the Urban Spirit, the  active mind-set that drives the everyday explorer’s perpetual voyage of discovery from city to city or around his own city,” explains Jérôme Lambert, CEO Montblanc International. “Because these new leather pieces and men’s accessories have been conceived as functional and stylish companions for the daily adventures of these modern travellers who thrive in cities around the world, we have set them in their natural urban environment against the unexpected backdrop of steel or cement structures, neon lighting and other industrial materials.”

After enjoying cocktails guests walked through an urban setting exhibition area to discover the Urban Spirit Leather Collection including totes, duffle bags, document cases and double gusset briefcases as well as the Urban Spirit Men’s Accessories, elegant cufflinks inspired by street architecture. Central to the collection of companions designed for city life, the new Limited Edition Urban Spirit Backpack was conceived to adapt to the multi-faceted lifestyle of today’s independent traveller and features a personalised storm cover decorated with the transit maps of some of the world’s greatest cities.  A tribute to urban mobility and the wanderlust of every urban explorer, two one-of-a-kind Urban Spirit helmets were crafted specially for the event displayed alongside motorbikes. The vintage-shaped helmets with their contemporary combination of perforated leathers and refracting shell coating were designed to bring a touch of sophistication to motorcycling around the city. 

Guests interacted with Montblanc artisans demonstrating the finest craftsmanship required to create each piece in the collection. A street artist applied his art to the personalization of leather pen pouches using spray paint, bringing together the traditions of Montblanc leather craftsmanship with the edge of urban street art to create a lasting momento of the event. Calligrapher Nicolas Ouchenir was on hand to demonstrate his own unique street calligraphy, an unconventional twist on traditional calligraphy.

For the final chapter of the Urban Spirit experience, an intimate dinner was held in a room that brought to life the urban spirit. During the dinner, Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert presented the new Limited Edition Urban Spirit Backpacks during a catwalk show punctuated by rhythmic lighting to reflect the colours of each one of the cities represented in the customized storm covers from New York to Seoul. Guests were immersed one last time in this urban environment created for the evening, before stepping out into the streets of Paris, one of the great urban landscapes.