Louis Vuitton is understood around the world for its ubiquitous monogram canvas and classic purses such as the iconic Speedy, Alma, Noé and more. but most purse enthusiasts understand that the brand’s storied history began with its travel goods. This year, Monsieur Louis Vuitton himself would have been 200, and in celebration of Vuitton’s 200th birthday, we’re looking back at the brand’s humble beginnings and highlighting the evolution of its travel pieces, which are at the core of the brand’s DNA.
Os primeiros dias
Louis Vuitton was born in 1821 in Anchay, France, which is not far from the border of Switzerland. Vuitton left house when he was just 13 years old, reaching Paris two years later on foot, where he then apprenticed with a renowned trunk maker for 17 years before he established his own Maison in 1854 at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines.
An 1872 photograph of Louis Vuitton’s store on 1 rue Scribe in Paris
Louis Vuitton had many connections within the Parisian Haute Couture world, and he was able to determine and comprehend the transformation that was taking location within the world of travel. He was able to foresee a requirement for products to take people from location to location and thus, the visionary that is Louis Vuitton completely reinvented fashion packing, inventing Gris Trianon, more commonly understood as coated canvas.
This new material made luggage waterproof, ending up being an early trademark for the house, earning the name ‘Vuittonite’. soon after, the entrepreneur took a visionary leap by inventing the first-ever flat-topped trunk, which enabled for luggage to be easily stacked in a ship’s baggage car.
A evolução
A historic flat-top trunk made in 1879 in the Gris Trianon canvas
The Louis Vuitton effect was obvious from the brand’s beginning, and it was only a few short years after the House’s founding that Louis Vuitton began to outgrow his Parisian headquarters. In 1859 the workshop was relocated to Asnières, which is a village found northwest of Paris. The Asnières atelier is the core of the brand, and in over a century and a half, that extremely atelier has produced a plethora of exceptional, made-to-order pieces. key pieces and hard-sided luggage special orders are still produced there to this extremely day and it would be remiss not to mention the Asnières atelier when discussing the evolution of Vuitton and his trunks.
Following the move, a red-striped version of the brand’s renowned canvas was produced in 1872, which paved the method of what we now understand as the brand’s iconic Damier canvas. Damier was produced in 1888, partially as a method to battle the extremely imitated striped canvas. though the brand is now commonly understood for its Monogram, monogram canvas was not copyrighted up until 1896, when it was invented by Vuitton’s son Georges. The now-instantly recognizable canvas integrated Louis Vuitton’s initials with abstract floral shapes. What now seems commonplace in the purse world was thought about a radical move back then, as any initials generally seen on a trunk were usually the carrier’s own.
An advertisement from 1910 for Louis Vuitton’s wardrobe Trunk
At the extremely end of the 19th century, the brand produced and began creating its very first supple bags, many of which were the extremely basis for the icons we understand and like today. In fact, as early as 1906, the brand began creating trunks that are almost similar to the exact same hard-sided versions that are still made. and from the refined, elegant constructions of the early aughts that were designed to hold dresses, fits or toiletries an worldwide powerhouse was formed.
Vuitton and Beyond
Forever an trendsetter and visionary, Louis Vuitton died in 1892, leaving behind an extraordinary tradition that is understood and evolved upon to this day. He has passed on a priceless savoir-faire to future generations, and that is seen in everything that the brand does today. much like the brand’s beginnings, when Louis Vuitton himself anticipated the age of contemporary travel and its ever-changing needs, partnerships and partnerships with iconic creative minds continue to push boundaries.
A vintage picture of Louis Vuitton luggage
A Celebration: 200 Louis
In celebration of Vuitton’s 200th birthday, the home has revealed 200 Louis, which tapped 200 visionaries to create celebratory windows around the world in honor of Louis Vuitton’s birth. The windows debuted on August 4th, and all began with a box measuring 50x50x100cm, which is an ode to the the original trunk that Louis established in the 1850s. 200 Louis is meant to be a homage to the guy behind the trunk, which is the most emblematic item from the House.
The box serves as a starting point for imagination and innovation, much like the humble beginnings of the home itself. From the box, each visionary was provided free rein to check out their own innovations and creativity, and the reSults podem ser vistos em todo o mundo. Esse trabalho colaborativo visa prolongar além do bicentenário de Louis, servindo como uma exploração do passado enquanto olhava para o futuro, tendo em mente a herança icônica da Maison.
LV 200 tronco visionário do Sr. Flower Fantastic
Todas as fotos cortesia de Louis Vuitton