kauguri's

guide to fashion

The Louis Vuitton Story - Part 2

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Louis Vuitton was founded by Louis Vuitton. When Vuitton opened his first store in Paris in 1854, he began by selling flat-topped trunks that were lightweight and airtight, and were bought by France's Empress Eugénie in its first year of sale. His first piece was the gray Trianon canvas flat trunk. Vuitton was the first trunk-maker to create a flat-topped trunk or an airtight trunk. (All trunks before this had rounded tops for water to run off, and thus could not be stacked.) Surprisingly, the Monogram Canvas design was not created until after Louis Vuitton's death; it was created by his son, Georges.

Georges Vuitton is also credited with developing Vuitton's unique five-combination lock... In 1936, after Georges died, his son, Gaston-Louis, took the helm of the company... In 1983 the Louis Vuitton company joined with America's Cup to form the Vuitton Cup, a preliminary competition -- called an eliminatory regatta -- for the world's most prestigious yacht race.

1854 - Vuitton opened his first store in Paris on Rue Nueve des Capucines, founding Louis Vuitton Malletier ("Louis Vuitton Trunk-Maker").

1860 - Vuitton opened a larger factory in Asnières-sur-Seine to accommodate increased demand.

1867 - Vuitton entered the Universal Exhibition at the World's Fair in Paris, winning the bronze medal.

1872 - Creation of the red and beige striped canvas

1876 - Creation of the wardrobe trunk, which contained a rail and small drawers for storing clothing.

1880 - Georges gets married and (on the same day) is given control of the business.

1883 - Georges' son Gaston-Louis is born.

1885 - The first Louis Vuitton store in London opens.

1888 - The Damier Canvas pattern is created by Louis Vuitton in collaboration with Georges, and bears a logo that reads "marque L. Vuitton déposée" (which literally means "mark L. Vuitton deposited" or roughly "L. Vuitton trademark").

1889 - Vuitton wins the gold medal at the World's Fair in Paris.

1892 - Vuitton dies; the Vuitton company begins selling handbags.

----> Part 3 - The Golden Days