When you ponder high-end fashion, Louis Vuitton is frequently one of the first brands that springs to thought. This prestigious label has a lengthy history, achieving worldwide recognition and emerging as one of the most renowned names in the fashion industry. However, aside from its widespread recognition and global sales of luxury products, what more can we uncover about Louis Vuitton?
Louis Vuitton is never on sale.
If you’re looking for a discounted Louis Vuitton bag in an upcoming sale, prepare to be disappointed. Louis Vuitton doesn’t hold sales; they prefer to maintain consistent prices throughout the year.
You won’t come across any Louis Vuitton outlet stores, and they don’t engage in wholesale distribution either. Louis Vuitton cautions its customers against purchasing heavily discounted bags online, as these are frequently counterfeit products. This pricing strategy isn’t unique to Louis Vuitton. Other renowned brands, such as Apple and Chanel, also follow a similar approach of not offering discounted sales.
Louis Vuitton started out selling luggage trunks.
In 1854, Louis Vuitton, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, established his company in Paris, primarily crafting luggage trunks as its initial products.
Upon Louis Vuitton’s passing in 1892, the business transitioned to his sole heir, his son Georges. He marked the brand’s global expansion during this period, reaching customers beyond Paris. The product line evolved, with Louis Vuitton expanding into smaller bags and purses by the 1930s.
Three generations of Vuitton men managed it.
In 1936, his eldest son Gaston took over the company upon Georges Vuitton’s passing, making him the third generation of Vuitton men to lead the brand.
During Gaston Vuitton’s leadership, the company expanded its production of smaller bags and luggage items. This era also saw a shift to the extensive use of leather, a material for which Louis Vuitton is renowned today.
A new shape of luggage trunk was born through Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton’s luggage trunks broke from tradition in terms of shape and style. He was a pioneer in crafting trunks with square corners instead of rounded ones. This innovative design made it much simpler to stack the trunks.
With these improved storage options, customers could now conveniently transport their LV trunks on recently introduced modes of travel, such as trains and ocean liners, during the late 19th century.
The famous LV monogram came after Louis Vuitton’s death.
It’s a common misconception that Louis Vuitton himself designed the iconic LV monogram, but it was actually created after his passing. In 1896, his son Georges Vuitton introduced the interlocking “L” and “V” logo, four years following Louis’ death.
This elegant floral design served as a tribute to Louis Vuitton and has since become one of the most renowned fashion brands globally. Additionally, it played a role in preventing counterfeit products and facilitated the brand’s expansion into the international market under Georges’ leadership.
Georges Vuitton challenged Harry Houdini to escape a new safety lock.
Louis Vuitton and his son Georges created an innovative lock system before Louis’s death. This new system enhanced luggage security, making it more difficult for thieves to access expensive bags. Georges patented the system later and challenged Harry Houdini to escape from a luggage trunk, although Houdini didn’t accept the challenge. This act effectively showcased the new security feature.
The company had ties to the Nazi regime during the Second World War.
During the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, numerous fashion houses were forced to close unless they collaborated with the regime.
Under the leadership of Gaston Vuitton, Louis Vuitton chose not to shut down and collaborated with the Nazi-backed government. Henry Vuitton, Gaston’s son, and Louis Vuitton’s great-grandson, received awards for his support and allegiance to the Nazi regime.
Louis Vuitton bags are almost invincible.
These luxury bags are quite pricey for a few key reasons. One of them is their exceptional durability and strength. Louis Vuitton materials are known to withstand various conditions, even heavy exposure to water and fire.
In the production process, these bags are rigorously tested by dropping them repeatedly to check their robustness. The zippers are also opened and closed around 5,000 times to ensure their longevity. Yet, surprisingly, rather than selling end-of-season bags at a discount, they are burned. This decision is made to preserve the high-end and exclusive reputation of Louis Vuitton.
Emma Stone and Lea Seydoux are among the famous LV faces.
Louis Vuitton embraces exclusivity in all aspects, including its choice of models.
Luxury brands naturally seek out top-tier models; Louis Vuitton is no exception. Well-known stars like Emma Stone, Léa Seydoux, and Alicia Vikander are part of the prestigious group of Louis Vuitton ambassadors.
In addition to actresses, Louis Vuitton collaborates with renowned models, including the likes of Lauren Case and Kristen Coffey.
Louis Vuitton worked for Napoleon’s wife, Joséphine.
You might be curious about how Louis Vuitton built his affluent and exclusive customer base. In 1852, he had a fortunate opportunity when he was appointed to craft boxes for Joséphine, the wife of Napoleon, the Emperor of France.
Serving as Joséphine’s personal box maker expanded the reach of Louis Vuitton’s creations, making them available to aristocracy and wealthy individuals across the globe.
The Speedy was made famous by Audrey Hepburn.
During the 1960s, famous actress and model Audrey Hepburn reached out to Louis Vuitton with a request to create a mini Speedy bag.
The original “Speedy” design was conceived in 1930 as a travel case. However, Audrey Hepburn’s fondness for her new bag significantly boosted its popularity. Today, you can find it in various sizes.
Louis Vuitton has an extensive history and has evolved significantly since its modest start. With a global presence spanning many countries, LV stands as one of the most renowned brands not only in the fashion industry but across the entire world!
