Happy Birthday, Monsieur Vuitton
On his 200th birthday, we celebrate Louis Vuitton: the man, the myth, the malletier
Louis Vuitton is a label that requires little by way of introduction. Synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship, its reputation, cultivated over 167 years, precedes it. But the global brand’s origins are surprisingly humble.
Louis Vuitton was born in 1821 in Anchay, a small hamlet in eastern France; his father was a farmer and his mother a milliner, who died when he was just 10 years old. After Vuitton’s father remarried, his relationship with his stepmother was quick to sour, and aged 13,
he packed his bags and made the journey to Paris on foot—it would take two years, with several entrepreneurial stops along the way to fund his journey.
In 1837, after establishing himself in Paris, Vuitton took up an apprenticeship with trunk maker Romain Marechal, and was quick to develop a reputation as a leading malletier in his own right. Shortly after getting married in 1854, Vuitton struck out on his own, offering handmade trunks and professional packing services
on the Place Vendôme, surrounded by luxury brands and his eventual counterparts.
Over the ensuing decades, Vuitton’s successes became manifold; being appointed trunk maker and packer to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, played a pivotal role in establishing his skills among the Parisienne elite.
Vuitton laid the foundations for a business built on innovation. His was the first brand to produce flat-lid trunks, allowing them to be easily stacked and more practical for long-haul voyages. Vuitton also introduced the waterproof canvas to his luggage, adding a lasting durability to the brand’s products and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to staying ahead of the curve.
Vuitton continued to work until his death, aged 72, and the company moved forward with son Georges at the helm. During his tenure, Georges oversaw the creation of Vuitton’s signature monogram and floral pattern, deterring counterfeit attempts and cementing the brand’s air of exclusivity.
Louis Vuitton travelled out of necessity, but the activity inspired his lifelong work. Through the years, his clientele has experienced the label’s essence of wanderlust through carefully crafted luggage, ready-to-wear fashion, accessories and even a curated series of city guides. And while crossing borders remains an inaccessible pastime for many, the brand’s savoir faire keeps the spirit of travel alive.