The unique story of Louis Vuitton and his bags
The unique story of Louis Vuitton began in 1837. At that time, the 16-year-old Louis Vuitton set off for Paris. There he wanted to complete an apprenticeship as a suitcase maker . He completed his apprenticeship with "Monsieur Maréchal". After successfully completing his apprenticeship, he stayed there for 17 years and gained important experience. At that time, the young Louis Vuitton did not yet know what history his company would write.
In 1854, Louis Vuitton decided to open his own workshop. He opened it under the name " Louis Vuitton Malletier " at 4, Rue Neuve-des-Capucines in Paris. There he sold his suitcases, the shape of which was ideal for the travel conditions of the time. "Malletier" means "suitcase maker" in English.
Because his suitcases were so popular with travelers, he opened a second workshop in 1859 in Asniéres , a suburb of Paris. Initially, around 20 employees made suitcases there. He had the family home built next to his workshop. The history of Louis Vuitton and his bags and suitcases was shaped here. Today, custom-made items are made here for customers. There is also a private gallery on the property. There, Louis Vuitton presents the " Time Capsule ", an exhibition that takes visitors on a journey through the history of Louis Vuitton.
The revolutionary developments of Louis Vuitton
Together with his son Georges, he developed the revolutionary Tumbler Lock in 1886. With this lock, they transformed their suitcases into real treasure chests. Since thefts were common on trips at the time, the lock was a real blessing for travelers. They could safely store their belongings in their suitcases . The Tumbler Lock is still used on Louis Vuitton suitcases today and is an important part of Louis Vuitton's history.
Shortly after developing the Tumbler lock, Louis Vuitton introduced the legendary checkerboard pattern " Damier ". He got the inspiration for the "Damier" pattern from the kitchen of his property in Asniéres, where a similar tiled backsplash hung on the wall. The pattern is still used today on bags and suitcases .
In 1892 , Louis Vuitton died and his son Georges Vuitton took over the company. He developed the world-famous Louis Vuitton pattern in 1896. It was originally developed to protect against imitations by competitors. He used stylized flowers in the Monogram canvas pattern . This was based on the trend at the time to use Japanese or oriental designs that were inspired by Art Nouveau. In 1932 he developed the first bag . This was the birth of the Noé . It was originally designed to transport champagne. It has space for five champagne bottles, four bottles stand in the bag and one is transported upside down. The Noé is extremely popular, which is why you can now buy the bag in two different sizes.
Georges Vuitton died in 1936. His son Gaston-Louis Vuitton took over the management of the company. Shortly after taking over, he developed a new material. This consisted of vinyl-soaked cotton fabric, today's canvas . He wanted to use the new material to make purses, wallets, suitcases and other bags.
From the middle of the 20th century, the demand for large steamer trunks in Europe dropped sharply. The reason for this was that travelers now traveled by car or plane. Louis Vuitton's large, robust trunks were too unwieldy and the demand for small, light trunks rose rapidly. By the mid-1970s, Louis Vuitton only employed around 60 people and operated two boutiques, one in Paris and the other in Nice.
Gaston-Louis Vuitton died in 1970. In 1971, his grandson Patrick-Louis Vuitton took over the company, where he still heads the custom-made department in Asniéres. This produces around 350 custom-made items per year. These include various bags and suitcases made of exotic leather or cases for iPads.
At the request of the family , Henry Recaimer , husband of daughter Odile Vuitton, took over the management of the company in 1977. Over the next ten years, he expanded the company and managed the transition from a luxury niche market to a luxury mass market. He opened additional production facilities to meet the increased demand. His bags and suitcases became increasingly popular.
From Louis Vuitton to LVMH
In order to protect itself from hostile takeovers, the company merged with the French spirits manufacturer Moët Hennessy in 1987. The merger of the two companies resulted in the formation of " LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton SA ". In 1990, LVMH developed two new types of leather. Epi and Taiga leather have been an integral part of the range ever since. In the mid-1990s, the Vuitton family's former property in Asniéres was converted into a company museum. The first clothing line was launched in 1998 and in 2001 Marc Jacobs created the first charm bracelet.
With the new interpretation of the Tribute, Louis Vuitton brought another bag onto the market in 2007. The Neverfull was initially marketed as a beach bag. Today, the bag is known for being able to store everything in it. Its main purpose is to be able to store as many things as possible in it. The name Neverfull comes from "never full", meaning the bag can never be full. Today, it is one of Louis Vuitton's best-selling bags.
In recent years, Louis Vuitton has become one of the leading companies in the luxury sector. Customers can always look forward to new lines of bags and clothing. When you buy a Louis Vuitton bag, you are not just buying a bag , you are buying a piece of history . A part of this history belongs in every woman's wardrobe.
In our boutique you will always find a selection of bags and travel bags from Louis Vuitton .
Image source:
Image 1: Suitcase, John Rawlings, Vogue, May 1954 Source: Vogue
Picture 2: Tumbler lock, source: Louis Vuitton
Picture 3: Regal Noé and Speedy, happiness and shine
