Louis Vuitton (born August 4, 1821, died February 27, 1892) opened a luggage store in Paris in 1854. More than a century later, Vuitton’s handbags and luggage are now a status symbol around the world and are often looked to in the world of fashion.
Vuitton moved from his hometown of Anchay, Jura, France in 1835 at the age of fourteen. Two years later, he arrived in Paris and started working with Monsieur Marechal making trunks.
The Louis Vuitton Company
Early Days (1854-1892)
Louis Vuitton did not succeed until just after his death. Vuitton started with flat luggage. This luggage was lightweight, and was bought by France’s Empress Eugénie in its first year of sale. In 1860, Vuitton was forced to relocate, where he expanded due to increasing demand. 7 years later, in Louis Vuitton won a bronze medal at the World’s Fair. In 1871, Vuitton gained ground in the industry although many of his works were getting copied. In 1880, his son Georges married. On their wedding day, Louis gave over control of the business to Georges. Only 3 years later, Louis became a grandfather as Georges son Gaston-Louis Vuitton was born. In 1892, Louis Vuitton started selling handbags. On February 27th, Louis Vuitton died. Georges now had full control of the company Louis Vuitton.
Golden Age of Louis Vuitton (1893-1936)
After Vuitton’s death, Georges made Louis Vuitton a worldwide corporation. Just a year after Louis died, Georges displayed Louis Vuitton at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Georges continued to run Vuitton well as it spread internationally and his book “Le Voyage” [The Journey] was published in 1894.
In 1896, nearing the turn of the century, Louis Vuitton put out its trademark canvas. The ‘Monogram Canvas’, as it came to be called is shown to the right, as it uses various symbols and the Louis Vuitton logo, LV. Georges then sailed to the United States, in which he toured various cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. He sold Vuitton products during the visit.
In 1899 Georges exhibited Vuitton products at the maiden Paris Auto Show.
At the turn of the century, in 1900, Georges Vuitton was given the honor to set up the “Travel Items and Leather Goods” section of the 1900 Paris World Fair. In 1901, the Louis Vuitton Company introduced the ‘Steamer Bag’, a small handbag to be kept inside Vuitton luggage trunks.
3 years later, in 1904 Georges chaired the jury for the St. Louis World Fair. In the same year, the Louis Vuitton company introduced a new line of trunks that have special compartments for items such as perfumes, clothing, and other goods.
In 1906, Georges’ son Gaston-Louis married Renee Versille and Louis Vuitton introduces trunks for automobiles.
In 1914, the Louis Vuitton Building opens in Champs-Elysees. The building was the largest travel-goods store in the world at that time. Store locations open in New York, Bombay, Washington, London, Alexandria and Buenos Aires as World War I begins.
In 1924, only eight years after the end of World War I, the ‘Keepall’ is invented. This bag foreran the duffel bag in a travel bag for light travel to keep necessities in.
In 1929, the seventy-fifth anniversary of Louis Vuitton, a toiletry case is introduced specifically for opera singer Marthe Chenal. It could fit bottles, brushes, mirrors, powder boxes and more toiletries.
In 1931, Louis Vuitton introduced exotic bags such as a handbag of crocodile skin, as well as elephant hide handbags for the Colonial Exhibition.
In 1932, Louis Vuitton introduced the Nóe bag. This bag was made for champagne vinter to transport bottles.
In 1933, the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was introduced.
In 1936, the golden age of Louis Vuitton ends as Georges Vuitton passes away. Estimates attribute Georges Vuitton with over 700 new Vuitton designs. Gaston-Louis Vuitton assumes control of the company. The secretary trunk is introduced for Leopold Stokowski, a conductor.
The Corporate Age of Louis Vuitton (1937 - Present Day)
A recent book by Stephanie Bonvincini, Louis Vuitton, A French Saga, has made allegations about Louis Vuitton’s links with the Vichy regime and the subsequent Nazi occupation of France in the second world war.
In 1946 Vuitton decides to go toward other industries instead of laying off workers in the post-war situation.
In 1951, Louis Vuitton supplies all the travel items for President Auriol of France’s tour of America after World War II.
In 1959, new innovations in the treatment of canvas allow more bags to be made, and Louis Vuitton releases a set of Monogram canvas bags.
Between 1959 and 1965, 25 new models of travel items were introduced each year; a total of 175 new travel items introduced.
In 1968, a Louis Vuitton sales office opens in Toyko, Japan.
In 1969, Gaston-Louis Vuitton dies.
In 1977, the Louis Vuitton SA holding company was created.
In 1978, Louis Vuitton stores open in Toyko and Osaka, Japan.
In 1983, Louis Vuitton teams up with the America’s Cup sailing race to form the Louis Vuitton Cup for Sailing. The Louis Vuitton Cup is an elimination round in which the winner sails against the America’s Cup winner from the previous year for the America’s Cup.
In 1984, the first store in South Korea opens in Seoul.
In 1985, the Epi Leather line is introduced.
In 1987, Louis Vuitton and Moet-Hennessey merge to form LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton. The group continues to own the Louis Vuitton company and brand.
In 1988, the Louis Vuitton Classic Annual Automobile Race is launched in Paris, France.
In 1992, a Louis Vuitton store opens in Beijing, China.
In 1993, LVMH launches the Taiga line, a luggage and briefcase black leather line for men.
In 1996, the centennial of the Monogram Canvas occurs and LVMH spotlights various designers.
In 1997, LVMH launches a line of pens.
In 1998, LVMH adds Marc Jacobs, who designs the Monogram Vernis line, and LVMH launches a line of travel guides to major cities around the world.
In 2001, LVMH creates the Graffiti line and a Louis Vuitton charm bracelet is released.
In 2002, LVMH releases a Louis Vuitton line of watches.
In 2003, Takashi Murakami & Marc Jacobs launch the Cherry Blossom Limited Edition, Multicolore and Eye Love lines.
In 2004, Louis Vuitton opens in New Delhi, India.
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