The Louis Vuitton Label

Louis Vuitton may have started out creating simple luggage, but throughout the years has expanded greatly, creating a legacy.

Louis Vuitton was born in Jura, France on August 4, 1821. At 14 years of age, he traveled from Jura to Paris working odd jobs along the way. Once in Paris he became an apprentice trunk maker or Layetier to distinguished households. He quickly built a reputation for himself and was appointed by Napoleon III, as a Layetier to Empress Eugenie de Montijo.

In 1854 at the age of 33, he opened his first store in Paris, the Louis Vuitton Malletier. With the experience and knowledge Vuitton had gained over the years, he began to design and create his own Luggage. Instead of the trunks with round tops, he opted for flat surfaces, making it possible to neatly stack luggage. The grey Trianon canvas flat trunk was his breakthrough design.

Vuittons' luggage took off and within a few years he had to expand his business. In 1867 he took part in the World's Fair and received the bronze medal. By 1885, Vuitton had gone international with the opening of a store in London. Other luggage makers had began to copying his style, so Vuitton changed the canvas design to a stripped beige and brown and soon after, changed it to a checkerboard pattern with the "marquee L. Vuitton depose," logo. He participated in the World's Fair of 1889, this time winning a gold medal.

Louis Vuitton died on February 27, 1892 and his company was passed down to his son Georges. Georges took the so many and sailed with it and introduced it to the world. There were so many competitors trying to copy Vuittons' style, that in 1896, Georges introduced the signature "LV" monogram canvas and patented it worldwide. This is recognized as the first designer label, on a product itself.

Georges Vuitton continued to expand the business and in 1913, Champs-Elysees was opened and at the time was considered the world's largest travel goods store. Other stores opened up in Alexandria, Buenos Aires, New York, Washington, London and Bombay as well. After World War I, the keep-all bag was introduced, followed by the Now bag in 1932. Georges died in 1936 and the business was passed to his son Gaston-Louis Vuitton.

Gaston-Louis Vuitton continued to grow the line by incorporating leather into most of the products and by redesigning the Monogram Canvas, creating wallets, purses and bags. In 1997, a cylindrical bag, known as the Papillion was launched and is still very popular today. In 1978, Vuitton opened stores in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan then expanded into Asia in 1983 and South Korea in 1984.

With the designs of leading designer Marc Jacobs, the label expanded even more into the fashion world with the company's first line of clothing being introduced in 1997. At the turn of the century the Louis Vuitton line continued to grow. The first Louis Vuitton jewelry piece, a charm bracelet, was introduced as well as a watch collection. The year 2004 marked the 150^th anniversary of the line and even more stores were opened.

Today Louis Vuitton is all over the world and is as popular as ever and still continuing to grow.