Louis Vuitton was born in Lons-Le-Saunier, France, on August 4, 1821. 200 years later, the craftsman and entrepreneur is a legend. The story of his empire began with a journey - and a suitcase.
August 4, 1821 was a Saturday that would go down in history. No one knew it at the time, but just 13 years later it became clear that the young Louis Vuitton had come into this world to change it forever. Against his father's wishes, he left his hometown for Paris. On foot. During his 441-kilometer journey, he stopped in towns along the way to keep his head above water with small jobs. His journey lasted almost two years. In Paris he began an apprenticeship with the well-known suitcase manufacturer Romain Maréchal.
It was not long before the French court also noticed Vuitton's skills. Empress Eugénie appointed the young man court trunk maker. Vuitton was a visionary who quickly recognized the changing requirements that travelling by train, which was just becoming modern, would bring. At the end of the 1850s, he created Gris Trianon, a coated fabric that made luggage waterproof. He also noticed that suitcases with flat lids were easier to stack - a fact that only became more important with the advent of rail travel. In 1854, he finally opened his first own store. The range included airtight, waterproof, relatively light and flat suitcases in the upper price segment. The address: 4 rue Neuve-des-Capucines. Connoisseurs of the brand will be familiar with it. It gave its name to the iconic Capucines bags.
Vuitton, who was a close friend of the founder of Parisian haute couture, kept his eye on trends and constantly developed his products. His talent for adapting the material to the function of the object ensured that he was always one step ahead of imitators. At the end of the 19th century, the first bags - forerunners of modern handbags and a beacon of brand icons - were added to the collection.
In 1885, when he was already enjoying international fame, Louis Vuitton opened his first shop in London. The logo, today often imitated, consisting of the two initials of the founder, was created by Georges Vuitton in 1896, four years after the death of his father. His legacy lives on, not only in these two letters, but also in the spirit of the company, which still recognizes trends and stands for durable materials and reliable travel companions on all paths.
