Time Capsule

Louis Vuitton celebrates 160 years of trunk-making this month with a showcase of bespoke creations for private clients

Louis Vuitton celebrates 160 years of trunk-making this month with a showcase of bespoke creations for private clients

The art of travel has been part of Louis Vuitton’s DNA since its founding in 1854, with the maison renowned for creating a rich legacy of trunks and travel accessories. From classic flat trunks to bespoke containers, the pieces are all made by hand at the house’s Asnières atelier, where the original Louis Vuitton, the son of a carpenter, set up shop in 1859. Though computer programs and machinery now do the heavy lifting, the surfaces and details are still made lovingly by the leather-cutting experts and finished by hand.

One of the first models, the steamer trunk, was made to fit under the beds in the cabins of ocean liners in the 20th century, enabling the travellers of the day to be well prepared for their long journeys. The maison has created an incredible assortment of novelty trunks that have become covetable collectibles in their own right. Vintage pieces include a 1977 cigar trunk holding up to 1,000 cylinders, and a bespoke creation for orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowksi complete with an ironing board to straighten his tails on the road. But there are also modern cases for every type of collector, whether the object of their desire is caviar, watches (including auto-winding mechanisms, no less) or casino games, as well as the results of collaborations with other speciaility brands, like Dom Pérignon for champagne and Devialet for speakers.