Website: www.vuitton.com

Louis Vuitton Malletier, shown here on the left, was born in 1821 in Cons-le-Sannier, France. He was the son of a carpenter. In 1835, he walked the 250 miles to Paris and apprenticed himself to master trunk-maker Monsieur Marechal who was making trunks for the court of Empress Eugenie.

Louis recognized a need for flat trunks which could go in the cargo hold of ocean-going ships or on luggage racks of trains, without getting damaged. So he took his first two names, and formed a company in 1854 to make high quality luggage. Right from the beginning, Louis insisted on extraordinary quality and craftsmanship, catering to the rich people who appreciated the beauty of his products. He found himself luggage maker to kings, tsars and noble people almost immediately.

In 1872 he introduced the striped red and beige colour scheme which has remained instantly recognizable. In 1876 he invented the wardrobe trunk which had a rail inside and small drawers. He opened his first London store in 1885. His monogram was introduced in 1886 and his chequerboard canvas design was introduced in 1888 with the help of his son Georges.

Louis Vuitton died in 1892. His company was carried on by Georges Vuitton. In addition to their store in London, but Georges saw opportunities in the United States and set up a shop in New York.

After US aviator Charles Lindbergh crossed from Paris to New York, he brought a full set of Vuitton luggage. Vuitton now sponsors vintage car competitions and sports activities all over the world including the America's Cup yacht race.

In 1943, Henry Racamier (born 1913) married Odile Vuitton, granddaughter of the founder. He took over the company in 1977 at the age of 65 and over the next decade transformed it from a small business to an international powerhouse with 100 stores all over the world.

Racamier oversaw many milestones, the first Japanese store in 1978, the first Korean store in 1984, the introduction of their EPI leather line in 1987 and the first Chinese store.

In 1987 Racamier merged the company with the Champagne group Moet Hennessy, run by Bernard Arnault, which is now one of the world's most powerful luxury goods conglomerates owning Dior, Givenchy and other fashion houses. In 1990 Racamier left the company which he had built up. He died in early 2003 at the age of 90.

Up until the 1990's Louis Vuitton completed a century of making bags and luggage out of exotic leathers such as alligator, lizard and ostrich as well as ordinary animal skins. But always of the very highest quality.

Patrick Louis Vuitton, the great grandson of the founder, is at present the President of the company. Yves Carcelle was named C.E.O. in 1990.

In 1997, the house of Louis Vuitton decided to branch out into ready-to-wear womens clothing. They appointed young American designer Marc Jacobs as artistic director. His picture is shown here on the right. He has been a great success. His designs for Louis Vuitton are elegant and wearable, no shock tactics or radical chic. Understated and streamlined, his clothes exude effortless luxury while at the same time being fresh and innocently sexy. You can read all about Marc Jacobs by clicking here.

Handbags

Louis Vuitton is famous for it's handbags, beautiful, creative, unusual and in fantastic demand. Marc has encouraged artistic designers to make special handbags for Louis Vuitton. In 2001 Stephen Sprouse designed a Graffiti bag which you can see if you click on SPROUSE. Julie Verhoeven, the popular illustrator and now fashion designer, made a fairytale applique set of bags in 2002 which are shown on her page, and can be seen by clicking VERHOEVEN. In 2003, Japanese designer Takashi Murakami created the "Eye Love" handbag range which generated $ 300 million in sales. The latest bag is the "Theda" bag of 2004.

Each season, Marc Jacobs presents the Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear collections during Paris Fashion Week. Here are reviews of the recent few collections.

Spring/Summer 2003

Jacobs presented the Louis Vuitton collection during the Paris Fashion Week in October 2002. It was a very cute collection and will drive the young ladies nuts. A dress from the Spring collection is shown on the right.

Autumn/Winter 2003

During Paris Fashion Week in March 2003, Marc showed his second collection of the season, that for LOUIS VUITTON. An outfit from the show is shown on the left.

He took the Courreges' 60's space age look, with A-line cashmere minis under gorgeous jackets with short sleeves and big buttons. Jacobs manages to provide his clients with stunning wardrobe staples each season and this time he showed how to do RED just right.

Spring/Summer 2004

During Paris Fashion Week in October 2003, Marc Jacobs showed his Louis Vuitton collection for next Spring. An outfit from this collection is shown on the right.

He went for gold in his splendid show, which appeared on chains caging soft silk skirts, on platform-soled shoes and a wonderful hit handbag. He made a witty reference to Cleopatra sending Art Deco looks and an Egyptian theme with silken shorts, bead-fronged dresses, wide satin sailor pants and gladiator pleats.

Marc said "we gave all the models a nice handbag, my favourites were the ones draped in suede and ostrich over the classic monogram -I thought these were whimsical and indulgent and precious."

Jennifer Lopez

In Summer 2003, Jennifer Lopez, the famous singer, actress and model, has appeared in the ad campaign for Louis Vuitton products. A picture of her from the campaign is shown on the left.

In January 2004 Louis Vuitton celebrated it's 150th anniversary. Louis Vuitton started up his company in 1854. Yves Carcelle, the 55 year old chairman of the company hosted a grand celebration.

Fall/Winter 2004 ready-to-wear

Marc Jacobs presented the Louis Vuitton Fall collection in Paris during Fashion Week in March 2004. An outfit from the show is pictured on the right.

Marc was captivated by the Scottish highlands this season, and tartans appeared profusely. Bonnie Prince Charlie velvet breeches and Scots hats were a playful way with luxury of Vuitton clothing. His winter wear reminded one of Vivienne Westwood, who so loves plaid, but Jacobs did his own thing with the warm fabric mixing 50s cocktail dresses with Edwardian capes and fur printed with the LV logo.

New Ad campaign

After Jennifer Lopez did the 2003 ad campaign, Marc Jacobs chose Naomi Campbell, Angela Lindvall and Kate Moss for 2004. He is now planning his 2005 ads to include Diane Kruger who is playing Helen in the film "Troy" and Christina Ricci, Scarlett Johansson and Chloe Sevigny.

Spring/Summer 2005

During Paris Fashion Week in October 2004, Marc Jacobs showed his Louis Vuitton collection for next Spring. An outfit from this collection is shown on the left.

The colours were amazing, metallic shades exploded overhead on the runway, and lighted orbs spun. The collection was a whirl of circular-patterned skirts with giant cutouts, flower prints on hot pants, snug puple knits, cute crochet bags and even a scarlet purse with the LV logo knitted on. Marc was really having fun.

Autumn/Winter 2005

Marc Jacobs' Autumn/Winter collection for the house of Louis Vuitton was shown during Paris Fashion Week in March 2005. He presented an exploration of Paris chic, starting with an impeccable black Shetland suit with an elongated calf-length pencil skirt. He used balloon sleeves so popular this season. Cashmere coats, shawl-collared Balenciaga inspired sleeves, mink embroidery on a cape, and tweed covered in tulle. He used lizard patchwork on dresses and skirts. It had regal sophistication and sexiness. Jacobs himself said he was inspired by a trip to Vienna and the Wiener turn of the century arts and crafts movement.

Spring/Summer 2006
Paris Fashion Week

Marc Jacobs presented his Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2006 collection during Paris Fashion Week in October 2005. A brown mini dress from the collection is shown on the left. It is lavishly embellished with sequins, mirrors and embroidery.

Marc was determined to out-sparkle the audience. He used his most gaudy colours, shortest skirts, geometric blocks of colour and lots of flashy handbags that looked like vintage stall stuff. This seemed to be Vuitton "takes a trip" collection very much contrasting with his dark lush romanticism of last season.

click below:

The Taste of Luxury:
Bernard Arnault and the Moet-Hennessy
Louis Vuitton Story
by Nadege Forestier

Louis Vuitton : The Birth of Modern Luxury
by Paul Gerard Pasols

2005