Louis Vuitton 101
Louis Vuitton was born in 1821 in France. He arrived in Paris at 22 and learned to craft durable containers and how to pack them properly under the successful box maker and packer Monsieur Marechal.
In 1854, years after he had mastered his craft and became well respected for it, Vuitton ventured out on his own to open a shop. Four years later, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Vuitton changed the way luggage was designed. At the time trunks had rounded tops to allow for water to run off but this did not allow for convenient storage. Vuitton introduced a flat, yet waterproof trunk that was easily stackable.
In 1886, his son George invented and patented an ingenious locking system that made it impossible to pick the lock of their trunks. This lock is still used today.
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was, and still is, one of fashion biggest icons. She had her eye on all upcoming trends that were on the horizon. In 1925, Louis Vuitton created a dome-shaped handbag meant for personal use, rather than travel, specifically for Chanel.
Chanel allowed Louis Vuitton to mass produce the bag for the general public in 1934. It was redesigned to be more compact and streamlined for everyday use. The result was the classic Louis Vuitton Alma bag that we all know and love today.
In 1987, now under Henry Racamier, Louis Vuitton and Moet et Chandon and Hennessy teamed up to create the LVMH conglomerate. This was the parent conglomerate of the companies.
1997 was a pivotal year for the brand as it ventured into ready to wear with the appointment of Marc Jacobs as the first creative director. In 2001, Stephen Sprouse, with the help of Marc Jacobs, designed a collection of neon graffiti written over the classic monogram canvas.
Following the success of the Stephen Sprouse collaboration, Louis Vuitton began to align itself with artists and designers. In 2003, Louis Vuitton worked with Takashi Murakami to create the Multicolor Monogram. This collection is still very popular to this day.
As Louis Vuitton sales continued to soar, in 2007 the brand introduced a new handbag known as the Neverfull. It would become LV's most classic styles and one of the most recognized handbags in the world.
After Marc Jacobs, a number of groundbreaking creative directors joined the brand. Kim Jones started at Louis Vuitton Men's in 2011, Nicolas Ghesquière joined womenswear in 2013, and Virgil Abloh started at Louis Vuitton Men's 2018.
According to Rebag's Clair Report he retention value of several Louis Vuitton bags went over 100% of their manufacturer’s suggested retail price in 2021 making Louis Vuitton a great brand in which to invest.