The pioneers of
modern fashion What are the connotations of Louis Vuitton? Bags, such as the classic Speedy, or shoes, all printed with the iconic LV-logo. Undisputedly one of the most recognizable brands in fashion, but the question is; who was Louis Vuitton, the man behind the brand? Born on August 4, 1821 in a small village in the east of France, surrounded by mountains and woods. Vuitton came from a working-class family, his father being a farmer and his mother a millinier. When Vuitton was only 10 years old, his mother passed away and his father remarried. Not getting along very well with his new stepmother, young Vuitton took aim for Paris and ran away.
was a rapidly growing city, and he was lucky to be taken in by Monsieur Merechal, creating trunks in his box-making workshop. Because of his excellent work, Vuitton soon made a name for himself among the most fashionable group of people in Paris.
At age 16, Louis Vuitton finally arrived in the capital city. He arrived to a world of industrial revolution. Paris
Because of his luck or skill, or perhaps a combination of both - Vuitton was hired by Eugenie de Montijo; the wife
The classic print
started transforming it into a global brand, and the now legendary Monogram Canvas was introduced in 1896.
New boutique in Singapore of Napoleon III. He became her personal box-maker and packer, and was told to pack the most beautiful of clothes in an exquisite way. This job created a way for Vuitton to reach a clientele consisting of the elite and royal classes.
Fast-forwarding 100 years, and the brand is sold all over the globe, having not only collections of trunks and bags, but accessories, jewellery and prêt-à-porter. The LVMH-group was founded after the merger of Moët et Chandon, Hennessey and Louis Vuitton. Marc Jacobs became the designer in chief of the brand in 1997, and has been since then. Needless to say, Louis Vuitton is one of the biggest and most famous brands in the world, and it all started with one young man’s escape to Paris.
In 1853, he founds Louis Vuitton: Mallaetier à Paris, on Rue Neuve des Capucines. In 1858 he introduced trunks with flat bottoms, which made it possible to place them on top of each other. The new design became very successful, and many others copied this design. The first boutique in London opened on Oxford Street in 1885. Louis Vuitton died in 1892, and his son Georges took over the company. He
Collection for S/S 2013
Marc Jacobs
Mikaela K. Erson