Louis Vuitton recently launched a public exhibit, The Trunks and Toys Show, that celebrates both aspects of the lauded luxury brand, history and style. Running at The Gallery in Greenbelt 5 until August 5, the exhibit represents a sampling of the grander Heritage Collection, which is housed in the Louis Vuitton Museum in Asnières, Paris. Raphael Gerard, curator of the museum, opened the ten-set show with a guided tour.

Each set centers around a historic trunk, a vintage toy, and a visual representation by the renowned photographer and long-time collaborator Jean Larivière. The trunks, spanning a century from 1885 to 1980, serve as touchstones that not only mark the progression of time, but also the influence and innovation that Louis Vuitton has enjoyed since the 19th century. "Over the years, Louis Vuitton has become an icon in the art of traveling," Gerard states.

From voyages aboard ships to jetting across the skies, Vuitton has been at the height of travel luxury.

The oldest piece featured in the exhibit is the Bed Trunk that dates back to 1885. Its name is quaintly self-explanatory, as it pulls out into a comfortable yet compact bed. "This was popular for those who would travel by boat as the beds on board would often be cramped or even unhygienic," explains Gerard as he also adds that Vuitton often would customize the trunk for children and taller individuals. The Cabin Trunk was specially designed to fit snuggly under the beds of ship cabins for that extra needed yet streamlined storage.

At the turn of the century, when trains and automobiles became a more common mode of transport, the Sac Plat, or Flat Bag, was introduced. Crafted from soft leather, the bag was designed for carrying a blanket on the often cold journeys. Also built for cars was the Ladies’ hat trunk, which innovatively came in numerously brightly colored leather to match the colors of the cars. Those who traveled by airplane were not overlooked. The Ajaccio Aviette Suitcase, made from wood and leather to make it light yet durable, became a fast favorite for high flyers. As traveling took a back seat to a sporting lifestyle, Vuitton introduced the Keepall as the bag to house all sports paraphernalia.

Beside each iconic trunk, vintage metal toys that belonged to the personal collection of the Vuitton family depict the signs of the times. These toys became a source of inspiration for the playfully childlike images that Larivière captured for the family over the span of 20 years of close collaboration. "Larivière took pictures of the toys to make them look real," Gerard elaborates, “or recreated the toy with models.”

The luxury house continues to press forward with the times as it revisits the past. "Our designers often visit the [Louis Vuitton] Museum for inspiration. And many of the bags and trunks that we will be seeing soon came from an idea from the past," shares Gerard.

Also on display is a working model of the "Malle Mars," the winning entry of an in-house competition for the ultimate travel trunk. Designed by a Japanese employee in an LA boutique, the Mars trunk features all the amenities that one would deem necessary with planet-jumping.

As proven through the test of time, Louis Vuitton will remain to be at the forefront of luxury and innovation as we push the limits of travel.

Visit the Trunks and Toys Exhibition at Greenbelt 5 until August 5, 2010 or their newly opened temporary store on the fourth floor of Greenbelt 5.