The Vivid History of the Iconic Louis Vuitton Trunks
Today marks the bicentennial anniversary of Mr. Louis Vuitton, the visionary designer behind his eponymous brand that lives on today. Mr Vuitton was born on August 4, 1821, in Anchay, France. A nomad in his younger years, he spent two years living on the road before arriving and settling in Paris. It was there that he began working with one of the city's most respected layetier emballeurs—experts in the packing of delicate garments.
It's no surprise then that the trail-blazing Vuitton eventually decided to leave his own legacy by opening a shop on Paris's rue Neuve des Capucines in 1854. He sensed the need for less unwieldy luggage options, especially as the technology developing at the time was allowing people to move around more easily. Thus, the famous trunks were born. They were lighter, stronger, able to fit more easily in trains' and boats' luggage compartments, and covered in gris Trianon, which was a sturdy canvas that eventually became trademarked by the new maison.
This canvas eventually became known as Vuittonite and was in such demand that it required Mr. Vuitton to cover his luggage in his own fabric as a way of differentiating his original designs from his competitors' copies. As the designer experimented with designs, a stripe was added in the 1870s that later gave way to the check of the late 1880s. The iconic Louis Vuitton luggage has been a mainstay of the house, and claimed by some of the most well-known creatives of the past centuries: explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza's sleeping cot was none other than a 'trunk bed' created by Louis Vuitton, Ernest Hemingway had a special trunk built to house his writing tools, and others, like Jeanne Lanvin and Paul Poiret, are just among the few to boast ownership of a coveted trunk.
To mark this momentous occasion, the house has planned a series of events, including 200 celebrated figures from their respective fields sharing their own interpretation of the world's most famous trunk. Writers, musicians, astronauts, writers, and scientists are all taking a turn at designing a special edition piece, and these one-of-a-kind creations will be shared throughout the fall before being auctioned through Sotheby's in December with the proceeds being donated. What an enlightened way to celebrate the man known for his pioneering spirit and innovative ideas, but then again, it's only natural.
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