When he was only sixteen years old, Louis Vuitton made a decision destined to change forever not only his life but also that of future generations: to become a trunk maker. What many people do not know, in fact, is that Louis Vuitton’s history was born out of luggage. It all began with a trunk that was revolutionary for the time: durable, practical, and safe. At a time when people traveled by carriage, ship or train and luggage was treated with little care, travelers relied on artisans to protect their belongings. Vuitton immediately sensed the need to create a true “travel companion”: sturdy, functional but also capable of responding to the refined taste of the most demanding clientele.
Even before the concept of the “couture trunk,” functionality was the priority. Thus, in 1858, the first modern trunk was born: a parallelepiped with a rigid frame, waterproof canvas, metal reinforcements, and an innovative flat lid, making it stackable and much more practical than traditional models. A simple but ingenious idea that quickly won over high society. From that moment, the maison’s fame grew rapidly, leading to the opening of the Asnières-sur-Seine atelier, still the brand’s production heart today.
In 1930, it was grandson Gaston – Louis Vuitton who marked another turning point with the birth of the Keepall: a soft, light and modern duffle bag designed to accompany travelers in style. Even today, the Keepall in different pattern and color variants is one of the most desired travel bags, both for women and men: over time it has been sported by film icons such as Catherine Deneuve and Jane Fonda, to contemporary celebrities or stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker or Elle Fanning. The more historic rigid models, in square or round versions, are also revived, as are the classic trolley bags.
Trunks, suitcases, and travel bags are thus inextricably linked to Louis Vuitton’s DNA, in a history that seems destined to continue.
[đź“· BACKGRID / IPA; MEGA; Getty Images]
