Spring Break
How to best carry Louis Vuitton under your underarm
Issue date: 4/10/08
Throughout the 21st century, there is one name that stands distinguished in the category of luggage and travel retail: Louis Vuitton.
Starting with just a tiny store in Paris in 1854, Vuitton's trunks and suitcases were lightweight and rectangular, and thus a great change from the regular luggage of the day. The popularity of the Louis Vuitton brand has made it one of the most counterfeited in the world.
His company, Louis Vuitton Malletier, or LV, rapidly gained popularity and opened its first store in London soon after taking over in Paris. Shortly after, Vuitton passed away, and his son Georges came into management.
In 1986, at the turn of the century, Vuitton unveiled its now legendary Monogram Canvas. The gold quatrefoils and flowers as well as the LV monogram set upon a brown background now checker the company's merchandise. From that point forward, the brand has been unstoppable.
Stores opened on the Champs-Élysées, New York, Bombay and Buenos Aires. The brand flew through the markets, raking in massive profits while still creating new lines and designs of luggage. In 1987, LV merged with champagne manufacturer Moët et Chandon and brandy manufacturer Hennessy to create LVMH as a luxury goods group.
A decade later, LV hired fashion designer Marc Jacobs as its arts director, and soon thereafter he produced the brand's first ready-to-wear line of clothing for men and women. LV further broadened its reach with a pen collection and a city travel guide.
In 2003 Takashi Murakami collaborated with Jacobs to remodel the Monogram Canvas to create the new Monogram Multicolore line of handbags. The Multicolore monogram replaces the original gold color with 33 different colors set on a white or black background.
The look quickly became popular with teens and young women and was further popularized by Jennifer Lopez.
The company saw its 150th worldwide anniversary in 2004 and the reopening of its Champs-Élysées store (its largest in the world) in 2005.
Starting with just a tiny store in Paris in 1854, Vuitton's trunks and suitcases were lightweight and rectangular, and thus a great change from the regular luggage of the day. The popularity of the Louis Vuitton brand has made it one of the most counterfeited in the world.
His company, Louis Vuitton Malletier, or LV, rapidly gained popularity and opened its first store in London soon after taking over in Paris. Shortly after, Vuitton passed away, and his son Georges came into management.
In 1986, at the turn of the century, Vuitton unveiled its now legendary Monogram Canvas. The gold quatrefoils and flowers as well as the LV monogram set upon a brown background now checker the company's merchandise. From that point forward, the brand has been unstoppable.
Stores opened on the Champs-Élysées, New York, Bombay and Buenos Aires. The brand flew through the markets, raking in massive profits while still creating new lines and designs of luggage. In 1987, LV merged with champagne manufacturer Moët et Chandon and brandy manufacturer Hennessy to create LVMH as a luxury goods group.
A decade later, LV hired fashion designer Marc Jacobs as its arts director, and soon thereafter he produced the brand's first ready-to-wear line of clothing for men and women. LV further broadened its reach with a pen collection and a city travel guide.
In 2003 Takashi Murakami collaborated with Jacobs to remodel the Monogram Canvas to create the new Monogram Multicolore line of handbags. The Multicolore monogram replaces the original gold color with 33 different colors set on a white or black background.
The look quickly became popular with teens and young women and was further popularized by Jennifer Lopez.
The company saw its 150th worldwide anniversary in 2004 and the reopening of its Champs-Élysées store (its largest in the world) in 2005.
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