Fellows Auctioneers Ltd

Cementing its place as one of fashion's most enduring and iconic designs is the Louis Vuitton trunk. Instantly recognisable and eternally chic, the meticulously designed trunks boast exquisite craftsmanship on every front. Every evolutionary form of its structure, hardware, leather, and eventual monogram continues to induce awe in the most stylish of fashionistas. But how did one design revolutionise travel bags forever?

The History

A modestly aged 16-year-old Louis Vuitton travelled to Paris in 1837 to start his career as a trunk maker. He honed his skills for 17 years before establishing his self-named brand in 1854. Located on rue neuve des Capucines in the 1st Arrondissement, Paris, Vuitton’s traditional environment was one of fashionable Parisian elites. A humble (in relation to the fashion giant today) sign hung outside his shop that read ‘Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specialising in packing fashions.’

The great seismic waves this single shop emitted in the world of luxury design stem from the simple shape of his trunks. The rectangular canvas completely subverted the traditional rounded-top leather trunks available on the market. As leather is not waterproof, the standard designs needed to be domed to allow water to trickle off; however, such shapes made stacking practically impossible. Vuitton’s response to this - a waterproof coated canvas fabric and a flat-top design, very similar to today’s luggage.

Not stopping there, Vuitton and his son, Georges, in 1886 added a single lock system with two spring buckles. For such innovation, Georges was awarded a patent on a seemingly simple contraption that continues to hallmark such trunks. After the death of Louis Vuitton, Georges took over the company - building upon the foundations laid out by his late father and exerting its reputation beyond the confines of Paris. The success, however, resulted in numerous imitations and counterfeits by their competitors. Having enough of cheap forgery and spurious imitations, Georges, in his typical inventive way, introduced the famous Louis Vuitton monogram, making his works much harder to copy.

The Present Louis Vuitton Trunk

Today, Louis Vuitton consistently celebrates its position as one of the most luxurious brands in the world - taking the top spot in the rankings for six consecutive years from 2006-2012. Not just a trunk manufacturer, the brand now sells luxury bags, shoes, perfumes, watches, jewellery, accessories, sunglasses, and even books. Their standalone boutiques, high-end outlets operate in 50 countries with more than 460 stores worldwide, in addition to their website. Collaborating with numerous creatives including Marc Jacobs, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, and even Kanye West.

The brand is committed to sustainability, enacting their 2020 pledge titled ‘Our Committed Journey,’ which establishes ambitious and quantified objectives to be reached by 2025-2030, such as reducing their direct carbon footprint by 55% - already achieving 12% of this from 2018.