If the world of luxury is associated with dreams, that of Louis Vuitton is inseparable from travel. Throughout its collections, the prestigious house of Louis Vuitton never ceases to remind us that travel is at the heart of its DNA. Today recognized in various fields of luxury – ready-to-wear, watchmaking, jewelery – it is above all an exceptional leather goods brand, born from a single activity: the manufacture of trunks.
Here is the story of the extraordinary journey of the brand and the presentation of some of its emblematic bags, worn for almost a century.
Louis Vuitton and his son: the success of a family business
Louis Vuitton, future founder of the house, was born in 1820 into a modest family in Burgundy. He arrived in Paris at the age of 16, in 1837, after having undertaken the 400 kilometer journey on foot which separated him from the capital. He entered the service of a trunk maker – Monsieur Maréchal – who taught him how to make strong and durable trunks. At the time, modern transport was booming: the railway and steamships facilitated travel. The profession of trunk maker is therefore very useful and respected. In 1854, Louis Vuitton was recognized for its activity and enjoyed the support of an elite clientele, so it decided to open its own boutique.
In 1858, he created the first “steam trunk”: a model of trunk suitable for train travel. Until now, travel chests had a domed top, to allow rain to run off them. This posed a problem in storing them properly in a small space. Louis Vuitton introduces a small revolution: a trunk with flat sides in waterproof fabric, easy to stack. His first trunks were decorated with a fabric gray called Trianon. Throughout its successes, Vuitton tested new patterns to dress its trunks: stripes in 1876, and in 1888 the famous checkerboard pattern was born. These patterns, painted by hand, were intended to differentiate Vuitton trunks from counterfeits – they already enjoyed enough prestige to be imitated!
In 1876, Georges Vuitton, Louis's only son, had already been involved in the family business for several years. He invents and patents an ingenious locking system for trunks, making them impossible to pick. This system is still in use today! When his father died in 1892, he inherited a successful business. In 1896, Georges gave the brand his iconic style: the famous "Monogram". This pattern becomes synonymous with luxury and elitism and allows the brand to distinguish itself from its competitors. Georges Vuitton exports the brand to the United States, it quickly becomes a world-class company.
A resolutely modern evolution
Louis Vuitton continued to grow during the turbulent 20th century. In 1987, one of the most significant events for her took place: she merged with Moët Hennessy to found the LVMH group – now one of the largest multinational luxury companies. Ten years later, in 1997, a second transformative event changed the brand: the creation of a ready-to-wear collection, for the first time in its history. The reins of this new sector are entrusted to the talented and unconventional Marc Jacobs. It's a total success: Louis Vuitton is now recognized in the respected world of ready-to-wear. In 2013, the brilliant Nicolas Ghesquière succeeded him. He also brings a marked artistic vision. The two men have energized the brand without harming its elegance.
They set up successful collaborations with artists like Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons. Each of these collaborations offered new interpretations of the brand's iconic bags. All this gives a very particular attitude to the Louis Vuitton brand: the styles of leather goods and ready-to-wear are very preppy, and contain touches of eccentricity.
The brand has continued to expand and integrate new branches of luxury, but it remains close to its roots: it offers a wide range of luggage, and the names of its famous bags are unmistakable: Keepall, Carryall, Nerverful , All-In… These bags are made for adventure.
Panorama of the most iconic handbags, on the arms of women since the beginning of the 20th century!
L'Alma
At the beginning of the 20th century, the growing fame of the luggage brand attracted the attention of the Parisian fashion icon: Gabrielle Chanel. In 1925, a bag was created especially for her. In 1934, almost ten years later, she authorized the production of this bag for the general public. In 1955 it took the name Alma and it was slightly redesigned, while keeping its dome shape, its chic little handles and its practical flat bottom which Coco liked so much. Chanel.
Le Keepall
Heir to the luxury luggage of the house, the Keepall is one of the first travel bags of the house. It was created in 1930, at a time when lifestyles and travel patterns were changing. It is more common to leave for a weekend, and the use of the automobile has spread widely. Trunks are no longer adapted to these new ways of traveling and the flexible Keepall presents a small revolution.
Le Speedy
The brand's most famous bag, it was born under the name of Express in 1930 before being renamed in 1980. Adopted by entire generations and worn in particular by Audrey Hepburn, the Speedy has established itself as the chic and practical bag par excellence. . It is found above all on the arms of young girls, who embrace both the emblematic monogram and the colorful prints. Since 2006, a version of the Speedy with a shoulder strap accentuates its practicality.
The demand for the brand's bags is extraordinary, so much so that they are available in a myriad of materials, patterns and sizes. Find these exceptional bags in our catalog!