The History of Louis Vuitton
Can you imagine a world without Louis Vuitton and its iconic LV monogram Neverfull or the beloved Speedy? Luxury fashion would not be complete without its emblematic prints. What people may not know is that Louis Vuitton began by making and packing trunks. The creator catered to the French elite, at a time when holidays abroad were a luxury. The creator's popularity grew, the brand and models evolved, and Louis Vuitton eventually became one of the most coveted handbag and luggage brands in the world. If you would like to acquire second-hand Louis Vuitton bags, The Brand Collector gives you access to the best items from around the world.
1837 - Making boxes and trunks
When Vuitton was 16, he arrived in Paris and was taken on as an apprentice by a prosperous box and trunk maker, probably the best decision he could have made. It was an honorable job at the time and, fairly quickly, he made a name for himself among the Parisian elite. In 1884, he opened his own box-making and packing workshop in Paris, called Louis Vuitton Malletier.
1858 - The canvas trunk
The new trunk is made from gray canvas. It was lighter and made from more durable materials. It was also very different from what was already on the market, as it was usually made of leather and dome-shaped. This trunk was rectangular, which made it stackable and more practical. Although it was taking a risk with its new design, it was a great success.
1872 - The Trianon canvas
Another new trunk was developed in beige canvas with red stripes. This design greatly appealed to the Parisian elite and marked the beginning of Louis Vuitton as a luxury brand.
1886 - The lock icon
Trunks often attracted thieves, so to prevent this and protect the client's belongings, a lock was developed. It was a unique locking system with two spring-loaded catches; this lock is the same style of lock we see today.
1888 - The Damier
Louis Vuitton became such a popular brand that people began creating replicas. He therefore introduced and patented the Damier canvas pattern, which is the one we still see today.
1896 - The monogram
He introduced the monogram canvas and patented the bag. The monogram is the iconic print with the LV logo, quatrefoils and flowers, inspired by Japanese and Oriental designs from the Victorian era.
1930 - The Keepall Speedy
The Louis Vuitton Keepall was introduced as a bag that can hold everything you need to take with you, while being lightweight and easy to carry on vacation. Later, a smaller version of the Keepall was introduced, the Speedy. It is the house's first handbag designed for everyday use.
1932 - The Noé
The Louis Vuitton "Noé" bag was designed for a champagne producer. He asked whether he could produce an elegant bag for carrying his wines and champagnes. George developed a bucket bag, capable of carrying four bottles and a fifth bottle upside down. The drawstring is designed to hold them in place and prevent them from knocking against each other.
1934 - The Alma
The Louis Vuitton Alma bag was designed for none other than Coco Chanel in 1925, but she later gave her authorization for it to be made available to the public in 1934. The name comes from Place de L'Alma.
1985 - Epi leather
Epi leathers are inspired by the texture of leathers used in the 1920s. They had a unique appearance and a vibrant look. This is the beginning of the house's leather collection.
2003 - The multicolored monogram
Can't picture it?... think of Paris Hilton in the early 2000s. The artistic director at the time, Marc Jacobs, collaborated with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami to give the classic monogram a new twist by creating a collection of 33 multicolored monogram bags on black or white backgrounds. This collaboration lasted more than 12 years and was popular with celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and the Kardashians.
2007 - The Neverfull
The house's best-selling bag of all time is the Neverfull. It was released in 2007 and remains a very popular bag today, as it is sturdy and makes for a very beautiful everyday bag.
2013 - The Capucines
Back in history - The Capucines pays tribute to the first Louis Vuitton store opened in 1854, on Rue des Capucines. The bag retains the vintage box shape but tilts like a trapezoid, giving it a more avant-garde look for Louis Vuitton.
2014 - The Petite Malle
This bag was inspired by the original trunks Louis Vuitton made in his early days, the Petite Malle, an eccentric crossbody bag that truly gives the house's heritage a new lease on life.
2018 - The Cannes
The Fall-Winter 2018 runway featured many styles that revived a traditional silhouette rooted in Louis Vuitton's heritage. The Cannes beauty case is a perfect example of how designer Nicolas Ghesquiere stages the historic shape of the LV Cannes.
2021 - New additions
In 2021, Louis Vuitton produced its Cruise collection, with an updated colored monogram print in a range of different styles. The monogram print itself was updated, drawing inspiration from a deck of cards.
At The Brand Collector, we are proud of our knowledge of this iconic brand and we can help you find the authentic, second-hand Louis Vuitton bag of your dreams, at an affordable price of course. Browse our current range of Louis Vuitton bags!
