Louis Vuitton (designer)
Louis Vuitton ( August 4, 1821 * in Lons -le- Saunier, Franche- Comté, † February 27, 1892 in Asnières ) was a French craftsman and entrepreneur who in 1854 in Paris by Louis Vuitton Malletier SA founded.
Trained as a trunk maker Vuitton recognized in times of switch-over from traveling in a carriage to travel by rail or on steamboats mid-19th century the changing needs of the affluent society in terms of baggage and obtained with high-quality suitcases and exclusive luggage, which a few years internationally was after the company was founded as a status symbol, a worldwide reputation. The company was founded by Vuitton is now a global luxury goods company with an international network of own shops and since 1987 belongs to LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton SA.
Life and work
Louis Vuitton was, Franche- Comté born August 4, 1821 in Lons -le- Saunier. At age 14 he made against the will of his father in 1835 to Paris. From his hometown to Paris was just under 400 km, of which he completed on foot. In order to finance this trip, he led in the cities of his journey from various small jobs. In 1837 he began an apprenticeship with Bag makers luggage manufacturer Monsieur Marechal in Paris. Because of his talent, he was exclusive case packer (French layetier ) of the Empress Eugénie de Montijo, at the court of Napoleon III ..
Middle of the 19th century was the main means of transportation of the nobility and wealthy citizens still the coach. This could run in the rain, the water of the suitcases, which were carried on the roof of the carriages, their covers were still arched. With the advent of rail transport changed this fact. Case had now can be stacked and therefore be flat. With this realization opened Vuitton 1854 - after 17 years as an employee at Monsieur Maréchal - with 33 years in Paris, his own business, Louis Vuitton Malletier, in the Rue Neuve -des- Capucines 4, the present Rue des Capucines, near the Place Vendôme. There he sold, among other high-priced, flat case that were very lightweight and airtight for that time. The French word malle animal, which began Vuitton in the company name, it means as much as luggage manufacturer.
Louis Vuitton 1859 built a factory in the Paris suburb of Asnières and left it there by 20 employees manufacture modern case of coated, water-repellent and durable material. The frame scaffolding of trunks and trunk consisted of a wood and metal construction. Vuitton used as a surface material for his luggage impregnated with rye flour linen fabric. This material, initially under the name Trianon still gray in color, turned out to be dust and waterproof. At the Trianon - covering later a canvas upper material joined in striped Rayée pattern.
1867 took Vuitton at the Exposition Universelle de Paris, the World Exhibition in Paris, in part. During this time he and his family moved from Paris to a villa in Asnières. This was converted into the mid-1990s in a museum.
In 1885 Vuitton opened its first store outside of France. The ever-increasing popularity of the luggage manufacturer led him to Oxford Street in London. Developed in 1886 with his son Georges Vuitton Vuitton ( 1857-1936 ), a patented, innovative for its time Kofferschloss whose construction is used to this day. 1888 led the Vuitton Damier checkerboard pattern on its water-resistant linen fabric one that still finds himself in the collections. 1892 Louis Vuitton died in Asnières. The now world-famous, printed on many products the company LV monogram was not invented until 1896 by Vuittons son Georges.