Know more about the man who gave world brand that is synonym to fashion, luxury and wealth, Louis Vuitton.
The name Louis Vuitton is known worldwide and is a symbol of wealth, luxury and quality. The brand is shaped and redefined fashion like never before. But before the world became obsessed with Louis Vuitton and its luxury products, a humble middle-class man went out and honed his skills and became the most noted luggage box creator. We have heard the name of the brand so many times that we often forget that it all started with a man who founded this iconic brand. So, let us know more about Louis Vuitton, the man behind the legendary logo.
Humble beginnings.
Louis Vuitton was born in a working middle-class family in France in the year 1821. His father was a farmer, and his mother was working as a milliner. His mother passed away, and soon after, his father remarried. Vuitton left home in the year 1835 while he was still a teenager. He did many odd jobs for two years and survived in Paris.
Learning the tricks of the trade.
As a 16-year-old in Paris, Louis Vuitton started an apprenticeship with a craftsman named Monsieur Marechal, who specialized in making luggage boxes for trains, horse carriages, boats etc. He learned and honed his skills in learning the art of making luggage boxes. He spent 17 years working with Marechal before moving on and starting his own workshop.
He developed some really impressive professional connections.
In the 19th century, the height of luxury was when you had your personal packer, and a box maker, and Louis Vuitton understood this need of elite very well. He soon had a very impressive resume that included being a personal packer to Eugenie de Montijo, the Empress of France. Impressed by his talent, he became the first choice of elite and who’s who of society.
His trunks were known for their unique design.
His first branded steamer trunk was revolutionary in the year 1857. It was not only flat, waterproof but also was quite easy to manage and stack. His designs were much more practical than all other fashionable trunks in those times. Interestingly, his earliest design does not feature the legendary LV monogram but was covered with Trianon, a durable grey canvas.
So, Louis Vuitton single-handedly created an iconic brand that grew with leaps and bounds and continues to do so even 200 years after his death.
