One&Only Resorts is celebrating the art of travel by launching the exclusive, One&Only Heritage Collection by Jay Ahr, a limited edition of custom-designed vintage Louis Vuitton Keepalls.

Drawing on the natural beauty and rich culture of each location of One&Only, every bespoke bag is a blend of timeless travel and distinctive craftmanship, reflecting the One&Only ethos of exceptional beauty and unique charm.

Sourced from the 10 global resort destinations, including the Maldives, each treasured bag has been hand-picked and transformed with the highest quality embroidery that Jay Ahr is renowned for.

The bespoke designs are inspired by the local heritage, celebrating each destination. Every authentic Louis Vuitton Keepall is traced to its provenance, and informs a design that continues to tell a story.

Only two bags have been designed for each resort, each completely distinct in design, and are exclusively available for purchase from One&Only.

“Fashion is an intrinsic part of our guests’ lives,” Philippe Zuber, Chief Operating Officer at parent company Kerzner International, said.

“Collaborating with the incredibly creative artist Jonathan Riss for Jay Ahr allows us to create something truly bespoke for our guests that inspires dreams of travel, trips of discovery and a deep connection with the destination. These bags are timeless, and all have a story to tell.”

With a consistent yet evolving appreciation for fashion, One&Only has partnered with several high calibre designers over the years — from Alice Temperley and Christian Louboutin to Missoni and Knowlita — to create exclusive items for the resorts’ discerning guests.

“With The Heritage Collection, One&Only is the perfect partner as truly each bag I produce is the one and only bag,” Founder and Artist Jonathan Riss said.

“I love to discover different cultures and destinations and each One&Only resort is a true celebration of that. Transforming these vintage bags adds to the storied life span with something different, new and compellingly modern.”

Born in Paris and growing up in Brussels, Jonathan Riss spent time immersed in the work of modern and contemporary artists. Captivated by travel at a young age, he left Belgium after school for Ukraine where he developed his skills, designing fabrics and embroidery.

He eventually started his own embroidery atelier in Mumbai, but longing to launch his own brand, he returned to Paris to introduce JAY AHR.

Founded in 2005, JAY AHR (the name is a phonetic spelling of Riss’ initials) is a collection of bold pieces comprised of innovative fabrics and embroidery, celebrating his passion for travel, design, art and culture

Every country where there is a One&Only resort, has either a bag showcasing the national flag or the representative passport of that country. A second bag is available for each resort with a design that epitomises the inspiring location that was hand-picked for the resort, in celebration of the destination.

Each resort, just as each bag, reflects the One&Only independent spirit, showcasing a passion for life and for travel.

For instance, Jay Ahr’s design for One&Only Reethi Rah in Maldives was inspired by crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean tourist paradise and the marine life that lives within. Swirling around coral reefs, aquatic patters and reflections give depth and texture to this abstract design.

The custom redesign of these legendary bags breathes new life into every piece, meaning each one is a rare find as each has a distinct past as well as new signature and identity.

Made from Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram canvas that only gets better with age, the original craftsmanship is unrivalled and the One&Only Heritage Collection of repurposed investment pieces builds on this history, transforming the legacy into a sustainable and timeless icon.

Just like any good story, these collectors’ items are passed from one owner to another — a treasure never to be disposed of, but loved from one generation to the next.

In addition to this very exclusive collection, Jay Ahr will be designing a capsule of luggage tag, travel pouch and travel tote bespoke for each resort. Reflecting the authentic design and celebration of each destination, each item will act as a nod to memories experienced at each One&Only resort around the world.

Perfect for collectors, a badge of honour to be cherished. Each of these items are sold exclusively at each One&Only around the world.

Created exclusively for the ultra-luxury market, One&Only is conceived as a hallmark of excellence.

Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each award-winning resort offers guests a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture, a genuine hospitality and a lively energy that is unrivalled.

The exclusive collection includes One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives.

Set on one of the largest islands in North Male Atoll, the all-villa ultra-luxury One&Only Reethi Rah resort offers an unparalleled array of luxurious options to create an unforgettable holiday.

Sleek and spectacular, with unprecedented privacy, One&Only Reethi Rah inspires extraordinary journeys for the soul. From extensive outdoor adventure options, including snorkelling and diving in the exotic underwater world, to the mesmerising One&Only Spa, guests are spoilt for choice.

The resort offers 122 thatch-roofed villas and a wide range of culinary experiences, including the Botanica restaurant, which offers the ultimate in organic garden-to-fork cuisine, and Rabarbaro, which offers genuine Italian fare, as well as a superfoods breakfast menu.

Guests at One&Only Reethi Rah can enjoy an array of spa experiences, including private sunrise yoga classes on a secluded sandbank, a ‘Twilight Spa Rendezvous’ massage experience under the stars, ‘foot rehab’ – a concept created by the resident yoga instructor and the Bastien Gonzalez therapist which combines yoga and foot massage, Barber+Blade – a men’s grooming and shaving studio and a Spa Courtyard featuring a vitality pool, outdoor sauna and steam room.

To purchase one of the limited-edition bags, contact neoboutique@oneandonlyresorts.com.

It all began during a family holiday on the beautiful white sands off the coast of Southeast Asia known as the Maldives islands.

Dreamy weather, sparkling waters and bright rays of sun engulfed two sisters of Spanish and English descent into a warm embrace. Syreeta and Tanya are both in charge of hotels in the South of Spain and are established business owners — experiences they combine to design luxury accessories.

Inspired by the culture and beauty of the islands, the two sisters crafted gorgeous, floral accessory arrangements for their vacation, sparking an admiration and awe-inspiring curiosity from travellers from all over the world during their fabulous vacation in the most incredible destination.

Syreeta and Tanya knew they had something big here; a concept soon blossomed into an idea since they arrived to this exotic place. A few years later, their idea bloomed into something incredible – Kandhyma.

Named after the breathtaking island of Kandima, a private island resort in the Maldives, Kandhyma was born from the love of travel, beauty, luxury and wonder.

Their inspirations soon started to bloom from day one. As the sisters left the Maldives, they found themselves in the grand city of Dubai – a place they both hold dear to their hearts.

In Dubai, they were swept up with the glamour and sparkle of luxury everywhere; this magical city was truly breathtaking. This excited them and further ignited their desires to launch into their own designing endeavours.

After visiting numerous luxury and exotic destinations looking for inspiring ideas, it dawned on them during their getaway in Marrakech that there was a need for adding decadent floral arrangements to the beautiful straw bags they were making. They craved adding a touch of their sophisticated femininity to their collections and set out to make the most perfect accessories.

Since then, each collection has been lovingly handmade in Spain by local craftsmen who bring gorgeous elements of design and flavour into their creations.

Kandhyma’s line of sophisticated, feminine designs are the perfect accessories to take with you on an island adventure or out to the most cultured exotic destination. The Kandhyma designs are sure to complement any glamorous outfit!

Located on a lush tropical island in Dhaalu atoll, Kandima Maldives offers a choice of 266 stylishly designed studios and villas, with 11 different categories to choose from, all of which have a private terrace and endless tropical views to enjoy.

The five-star resort has first class infrastructure, boasting one of the largest pools in the Maldives, tennis courts, an art studio, a marine biology school, a kids club, a game room, a library, a gym, a yoga studio and a spa.

The island also offers one of the largest selection of F&B outlets in the country, with an incredible choice of 10 restaurants and bars, all featuring unique and individual menus offering flavours of the world from Chinese and Japanese to authentic Maldivian and Mediterranean.

LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas has announced plans to host an exclusive Instagram live festival spanning eight weeks.

Every Monday, from May 4 to June 22, eight internationally acclaimed hosts will offer their expertise in various areas such as finding your intention, travel content creation, wedding planning, freediving, music, cooking, workout and more.

The live sessions, which will be broadcast live on the resort’s Instagram profile (@luxsouthari), will be approximately 30 minutes in duration and published on their IGTV as well, for those who wish to watch at a later time.

At the end of the last live broadcast on June 22, the resort will publish a link to a quiz, inviting everyone to answer simple questions to which they can find the answers in the live sessions.

A lucky winner of the quiz will win a seven-night stay when the resort reopens its doors after the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the first four hosts of the festival.

Chris Pan (@chrispan)

Former Facebook executive and founder of ‘MyIntent’, Chris Pan is on a mission to bring spiritual and emotional wellness to those who need it the most.

MyIntent has served Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Melania Trump, Elon Musk, Justin Bieber, Mark Zuckerberg to name a few, and has been featured on the cover of Time Magazine.

Studying at Harvard Business School, working at Facebook and retiring at 35 was followed by a traumatic breakup, which made Chris realise that money and status do not offer the fulfilment and love that he truly wanted.

This was the start to the MyIntent Project, which has helped millions of people have meaningful connections by finding their intention.

Jeremy Austin (@jeremyaustiin), Angie Villa (@missangievilla)

Internationally praised travel content creators from Miami, US, Jeremy and Angie collaborated with some of the most sought-after destinations and exclusive luxury resorts around the world for the past few years.

What sets this couple apart from others is that they have their own media company, which specialises in high quality photography, videography and eye-catching content campaigns.

Every detail is carefully planned and they’re here to give you their best advice when creating eye-catching content.

Natalia Kulikova (@nata_kulikova)

An international wedding expert who founded the Russian Wedding Academy, Natalia is a journalist, TV presenter and editor-in-chief of JM Just Married.

She has exchanged knowledge from some of the big shots in the industry, including Oscar de la Renta, and the queen of wedding dresses herself, Vera Wang.

If you’re planning your dream wedding and need some guidance to polish every single detail, this one is for you.

Beth Neale (@onebreathbeth)

Formally known as ‘One Breath Beth’, her latest and fourth record was set in the Constant Weight No Fins discipline, which means she dives with no equipment except for a nose clip, and uses breast-strokes down and back up. This was the deepest female dive in the continent of Africa, as well as the deepest official freedive in Bermuda.

Her primary motivation for this historical dive was to raise funds and awareness for her conservation work in Bermuda for the last five years.

Want to learn basic techniques behind freediving? Hold your breath and tune in!

“We are delighted to initiate an online festival and to collaborate with some of the best experts in the game,” Mona Sedghi, Marketing and PR Manager at LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Staying safe at home during these times is a perfect time to rest, learn something new and to discover new, hidden talents. We welcome you all to take part of this new Monday tradition and count down the days until we re-open our doors.”

LUX* South Ari Atoll is one of two resorts in Maldives run by Mauritius-based LUX* Resorts.

Cutting-edge designer villas and world-class dining can be found only a 30-minute seaplane flight away from the main Velana International Airport, making LUX* South Ari Atoll one of the most exciting resorts in the Maldives.

With 193 private villas dotted at the water’s edge along four kilometres of powder fine beach or perched on stilts above a crystal clear lagoon, these spacious pavilions and villas bring an entirely original vibe of coastal, beach house chic to the Maldives.

Excellent eating and drinking is always a cut above the rest at LUX*, and at LUX* South Ari Atoll, there is authentic South East Asian street food in the Maldives’ only over-the-water gourmet night market and world-class Chinese cuisine at East, along with the Japanese restaurant Umami, which offers live teppanyaki and dazzling selection of sakés.

While the resort has a PADI-certified dive centre, two infinity pools, a floodlit tennis court, a fitness centre and a renowned spa which hosts a wellness concierge and a menu of indulgent treatments, what sets the property apart from its neighbours are surprises, or better known as #ReasonstogoLUX.

Designed to create lasting memories for guests, these ‘reasons’ can range from island-roasted coffee in Café LUX* to impromptu movie screenings at cinema paradise and the chance to hang your wishes on the Tree of Wishes.