Louis Vuitton Malletier (also referred to as LV) is a French luxury fashion and leather good brand and the company has its headquarter in Paris, France. It is also the oldest fashion house in the world established in 1854. The company was originally known for its trunk and luggage retail.

Louis Vuitton, the founder of the company was born in 1821 in Jura, France. In 1935 he moved to Paris, walking the entire distance 400 kilometer by foot. Upon arriving in Paris he became an apprentice Layetier to prominent household. He became so well known that Napoleon II appointed him as Layetier to his wife the Empress. From his experience with the aristocracy he was able to acquire knowledge that made him an expert on what made good travelling cases. He opened his first store in London, England in 1885, and in 1892 Louis Vuitton died and passed the company to his son George Vuitton.

George Vuitton after taking over the company he turned it into a worldwide corporation, in 1914 he opened the Louis Vuitton building on Les Champs Elyse becoming the largest retail store of its kind. From this point on he opened stores all over the world, New York, Bombay, Washington and other places. His association with Marc Jacob in 1998 allowed the company to introduce his first prêt a porter clothing line for men and women.

Since the 19th century, manufacture of Louis Vuitton’s goods has not changed: the luggage is still made by hand, individual handmade keys for each individual luggage. The woven frames of each trunk are made of poplar aged for 30 year that has been allowed to dry for at least four years. Each trunk has a serial number and can take up to 60 hours to make, and a suitcase as many as 15 hours.

Written by:

Nicole Cousineau 

Nicole Hull

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