Louis Vuitton always excelled in anticipating the needs and desires generated by technological progress, responding to them with imaginative and ingenious new creations. Born in 1821, Louis Vuitton started his career as Empress Eugenie’s favourite emballeur, an expert in the art of packing. In 1854 he founded his company and opened his first store in Paris. The House has been always committed to constant innovation. The aspects of the House have always been: the key to the codes, journeys around the world, elegance in motion, icons of the house, and the red carpet.
be the hand behind each creation
Louis Vuitton’s commitment to fine craftsmanship justifies the selection of leathers coming from the best tanneries, with criteria for quality, color and age of the leathers which are pushed to the extreme. At Louis Vuitton, each leather has its own character, its grain, its subtle tones, combining rarity with resistance. Only expert artisan’s hands can yield such a beauty.
the keys to the codes
Louis Vuitton has been keeping to reinvent its distinctive codes. Louis Vuitton’s first success was its sturdy, innovative travelling trunk, from which the codes of the House have since emerged. These codes include the hardware, the materials, the inimitable patterns used as decoration, the malletage.
These signature elements came to stand for meticulousness with which the trunks were crafted, like every bag that would later bear the Louis Vuitton name. In 1888 Louis Vuitton introduced the Damier canvas with the trademark mention of L.Vuitton, marque déposée.
journeys around the world
Across the centuries, Louis Vuitton has continued to meet the challenges presented by new forms of transport with ingenious and elegant solutions. After creating trunks for rail travel, Louis Vuitton anticipated the development of the motor car and unveiled the first prototype of its Car trunk in 1897 with accessories and luggage that followed. Louis Vuitton created the Steamer bag and the Cabin trunk for Steamer ships on transoceanic travel.
I wish a return to a plastic-free pic-nic trunk that would make any outdoor experience a memorable moment full of elegance and significance, and a pollution-free experience. Quality over quantity is the key to the future.
Air travel saw the arrival of the Aéro trunk and the Aviette, engineered to carry the maximum amount of clothing at the lowest possible weight. Louis Vuitton continues to research the new demands presented by travel, crafting increasingly lightweight but still strong luggage for maximum functionality and comfort.
icons of the house
Most memorable and emblematic Louis Vuitton’s creations became a must-have item, at the time of their launch, and they keep being celebrated to this day as landmarks in the history of the House. Each piece speaks of its own era while fitting seamlessly within the recognizable language of the House, which applies its unique know-how to the challenges of a new age.
In 1896 the Monogram canvas, designed by Georges Vuitton to thwart the company’s many imitators, was finally introduced. In 1930 Louis Vuitton created the Keepall bag, the most legendary of all Louis Vuitton travel bags. In 1984 opening of the first Italian store in Milan.
the red carpet
A long-time companion to Hollywood’s most gifted and glamorous stars, Louis Vuitton still proudly collaborates with modern cinema’s most distinguished female talents. Louis Vuitton work exalts star’s inner strength and unites the House’s love of cutting-edge design experimentation and the traditional skills needed to make it come alive.
The allure of Louis Vuitton can’t stop. Each product became a symbol of elegance and style. A Vuitton’s Bag can enrich even a modest look with character and strength.
In 2001 the House launches the Monogram Graffiti line, created with the American artist Stephen Sprouse. In 2003 the launch of the Monogram Multicolor line, created with the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. In 2008 a limited edition of the Monogramouflage line by Takashi Murakami. In 2014 opening of the foundation Louis Vitton in Paris and the launch of the Celebrating Monogram collection celebrating the 160th anniversary of the House, with the participation of six designers: Christian Louboutin, Cindy Sherman, Frank Gehry, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Newson and Rei Kawakubo.
From “The Time Capsule”, the exhibition held in Milan from Sep. 20th to Oct. 20th 2019