We are in the times where there are many luxury brands around but few can boast of their longevity in the business. Louis Vuitton was an entrepreneur and designer who create a brand which has grown into a world-renowned luxury leather and lifestyle brand, iconic to fashion. Born August 4th 1821, Louis Vuitton Malletiers became affectedly known as Louis Vuitton went from humble beginnings to create an empire before his death in February 27th 1892 and his name and the brand is still thriving today.
Vuitton came from a family background of joiners, carpenters, farmers and milliners, so when he ran away from home to Paris as a teenage he was quickly taken in as an apprentice under Monsieur Marechal a successful box-maker and packer. Vuitton worked there until a few months after his marriage on April 22 1854, when he later opened his own box-making and packing shop on Rue Neuve des Capucines, Paris.
In the courtyard of the Vuitton workshops in Asnières, Paris
Vuitton’s fame and popularity came when he introduced his flat waxed trunks made with Trianon canvas, which were lightweight and airtight and convenient for traveling and shipping. Before the Vuitton’s trunks, rounded-top trunks to promote water run off were used but they were heavier and couldn’t be stacked. Therefore, since he was able to eliminate the difficulties surrounding the round-top trunks, his business quickly took off and the brand Louis Vuitton began on the road to success.
After his death the Louis Vuitton brand continued as his son Georges Vuitton decided to build it into a worldwide corporation patenting the label’s LV monogram and putting it on all the products to stop with counterfeiting. Ironically the LV brand is one of the most counterfeited brands and presently, the brand has taken further action as the signature striped pattern used has been registered as a trademark, prohibiting others from using that particular pattern.
Georges Vuitton with his family
Over the years the Louis Vuitton brand has expanded globally and incorporated other products into the brand. In 1997, Marc Jacobs took on the role as artistic director and under his directorship the brand debuted a women collection and then a men’s clothing line the following year. In 2001, Louis Vuitton introduced jewelery to the brand with charm bracelets and watches a year later. Now, the Louis Vuitton brand has products presently ranging from luxury trunks, leather goods, clothing, shoes, watches, jewelery, accessories, sunglasses and more.
The Louis Vuitton brand also is involved in socially and has incorporated fashion with international events and campaigns like The Louis Vuitton Classic for automobile collectors and The Louis Vuitton Cup for yachting. In June 2012, Muhammad Ali his grandson were used in the label’s latest Core Values campaign as seen below.
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In 2004, Louis Vuitton celebrated its 150th anniversary making it to date 158 yrs old, so it’s no doubt that it is one of the world’s most exciting and coveted brands as it has always been a classic and edgy. Whether it be because of ‘no resale policy’, the unique monogram design or the elite club feeling it gives it customers, success of the brand is very evident.
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