Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Malletier SAS is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1854 by trunk maker Louis Vuitton. The brand's iconic LV monogram and Damier canvases appear on a wide range of products, from luggage and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, watches, jewelry, and accessories. Louis Vuitton is consistently ranked among the world's most valuable luxury brands, with a valuation of US$28.4 billion in 2013 and revenue of US$9.4 billion that year. The company operates in 50 countries with more than 460 stores worldwide, selling through standalone boutiques, department store concessions, and its e-commerce site.

Louis Vuitton's history begins in 1837 when a 16-year-old Louis Vuitton left his home in Anchay, Jura, and walked to Paris. He apprenticed with trunk maker Monsieur Maréchal for 17 years, eventually becoming a trusted craftsman for French elites, including Empress Eugénie de Montijo. In 1854, he opened his own workshop at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines near Place Vendôme. Four years later, he revolutionized travel with a flat-topped, stackable trunk made of lightweight, waterproof Trianon canvas, replacing the traditional rounded-top trunks. In 1859, he built a family home and atelier in Asnières-sur-Seine, which remains a heritage site. After Louis's death in 1892, his son Georges Vuitton expanded internationally, opening the first overseas store in London in 1885, followed by New York, Philadelphia, Nice, and Lille.

In 1987, Louis Vuitton merged with Moët Hennessy to form LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. Under LVMH's ownership, the brand has continued to grow, launching fine jewelry in 2004 and expanding into perfumes and watches. Louis Vuitton has also faced controversies, including allegations of forced labor in its supply chain, mistreatment of models in 2017, and a polemic in Barcelona linked to its sponsorship of the 2024 America's Cup, which involved an opaque fashion show, damage to Park Güell, and citizen protests. Despite these issues, Louis Vuitton remains a dominant force in luxury fashion, known for its heritage of craftsmanship and innovation in travel. [edit]