LOUIS VUITTON: THE HISTORY.

I think most of people know this world famous brand. Today I will tell you a little bit about this massive brand history (it is very long, and have found a lot of information on the internet, if you’re like me, loves to research and learn, search for the topic, it is very interesting) from one of the biggest luxury brands in the world Louis Vuitton.

• THE HISTORY.

Louis Vuitton was born in a small village in the town of Jura, France (near Switzerland), August 4, 1821, died in Paris, February 27, 1892. Vuitton came from a very poor family of carpenters. To help the family at age 14 traveled on foot to Paris (about 400km) for a 2 years course which he would learn how to work with wood. The Vuitton history with bags is about to begin when a manufacturer of trunks that high society used to travel, hires the boy as an apprentice. In 1851, in every trip of the French emperor Napoleon III, was brought to the Palais des Tuileries a young apprentice, to pack the luggage of the Empress Eugenie, he ends up knowing the Empress and thus becoming her favorite. Thereafter, his career will take off, and in 1854 he opens his maison (MAISON LOUIS VUITTON Malletier in Rue Neuve des Capucines) in Paris, where he produced handmade bags and purses. Vuitton wanted to create something useful, beautiful and practical, to realise his idea he had to work really hard, until he could create something different, the concept of bring all those features were pioneers at the time.

The bags of the season were made with natural leather, leather, therefore had a very strong and distinctive smell, then he had a great idea to create a sturdy fabric that will replace the leather later and also the tips of metal to the corners of the bags.

And even after the store opened, he was still producing custom and unique exclusive products, such as a chest that turned into a bed, on request of a European explorer, another chest that turned into a wagon, for a very special traveler, and also a floating chest for practitioners of ballooning that now and then fell into the sea. The following year, the Maison and the family moved to the small town of Asnieres-sur-Seine, located about 30 kilometers from Paris. Thus, production would be closer to the suppliers of the timber serving as a framework for the bags. In addition, the company would take advantage of river transport for disposal of their production.

Some time later, in 1858, he created a new model of the chest, with the cover line, different than they were accustomed to using at the time, was light and waterproof.

With the company’s growth and brand awareness around the world, Georges Vuitton, son of Louis, he joined his father from 1870 to open new stores outside their country of origin, it would happen only fifteen years later.

• THE MONOGRAM.

Because of innovations in designs and fabrics, Vuitton bags began to be copied in Europe, and to stop so many fakes in 1886 he created a monogram of the letters “L” and “V” that would represent the brand along with the symbols that reproduced flowers, which was used in the lining of the suitcase. The monogram created is still used.

• LVMH.

In 1987, Louis Vuitton company joined the manufacturer Moët et Chandon champagne and Hennessy cognac maker to create a company of luxury goods: the LVMH (Louis Vuitton – Moët Hennessy). The group specializes in incorporating luxury brands, the venture was successful and the group currently owns 60 brands, one of the very Louis Vuitton. Other brands that make up the group are Christian Lacroix, Donna Karan, Fendi, Givenchy and Veuve Clicquot. LVMH’s policy is to maintain the management of these brands independently.

• THE STORES.

Its mission is to make the trips always personal and unique. Their values, which have not changed since the year of its creation are: originality, spirit “avant-garde,” quality, “know-how” and passion. The first store was opened by Louis Vuitton in 1854 in Paris, France. In 1885 he opened a second store in London, succeeded by stores in New York, Bombay, Washington, London, Alexandria and Buenos Aires. Currently there are 432 stores, and the presence of the brand reaches 63 countries. In Brazil, there are six stores. Four in São Paulo – Jardins mall, Iguatemi and Daslu, another store in the Jardins, a store in Rio de Janeiro, at Ipanema district, and another in Brasilia on Iguatemi.

• PRODUCTS.

Regarding the focus of product, in 1929 the brand had deviations, entering the field of perfumes. In the late 1980s, all are based on the diversification issue driver, traveling, and refer to the monitoring of travel products. In 1997, the brand which until then had worked mainly with leather, began to offer a line of clothing ready-to-wear (clothing made in standard sizes to be sold without alterations tailoring or otherwise), shoes , watches and jewelry, and sunglasses. The brand has also developed editorial productions, as in 1994 when it launched a series of publications on travel, entitled “Voyager avec …”. In 1999, started selling a guided tour of cities in the world, “Louis Vuitton City Guide.”

The brand also invests in the development of its raw materials and manufacturing. Search and leather pads softer and lighter. Each type of product uses different types of leather, for example, taiga leather is more discreet, and therefore used in the male product line. Another important factor for the product is the frequent use of the monogram pattern the flowers and symbols on products. In addition to concern with the material, the brand also gives importance to the process of manufacture of the product: from the beginnings of the company until today, this process is done by hand.

To visualize the latest collections, and all the product range, please visit the official page www.louisvuitton.com