Louis Vuitton, a French entrepreneur and designer, has achieved an iconic status in the fashion industry.
In 1852, when Napoleon took on the role of Emperor of France, Louis Vuitton was employed by his wife to serve as her personal box-maker and packer. This opportunity opened doors for Vuitton to cater to an exclusive clientele consisting of the elite and royalty. Throughout his life and beyond, the Louis Vuitton brand flourished and transformed into the globally acclaimed luxury leather and lifestyle brand it is recognized as today.
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Background
Tragically, Vuitton’s mother passed away when he was just 10 years old, leading his father to remarry. According to legend, Vuitton’s new stepmother possessed the characteristics of a villainous figure from a fairy tale, being severe and wicked. As a strong-willed and determined child, vexed by his stepmothera and unenthusiastic about the provincial life in Anchay, Vuitton made a resolution to escape to the vibrant capital city of Paris.
At the age of 13, on the first day of favorable spring weather in 1835, Vuitton embarked on a solo journey from his hometown to Paris, traveling on foot. Over the course of more than two years, he relied on odd jobs to sustain himself and sought shelter wherever he could find it, as he trekked the 292-mile distance from Anchay to Paris.
Finally, at the age of 16 in 1837, he reached the bustling capital city amidst an ongoing industrial revolution characterized by a juxtaposition of remarkable magnificence and extreme destitution, rapid advancements, and devastating epidemics.
As a teenager, Vuitton found apprenticeship under Monsieur Marechal, a prosperous box-maker and packer. During the 19th century in Europe, box-making and packing were regarded as sophisticated and esteemed crafts. These artisans skillfully crafted custom-made boxes tailored to the specific goods they contained and personally handled the loading and unloading process. Within a few years, Vuitton established himself as one of the premier practitioners of this art form, earning recognition among the fashionable elite of Paris.
On December 2, 1851, 16 years after Vuitton’s arrival in Paris, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte orchestrated a coup d’état. Exactly one year later, he proclaimed himself Emperor of the French, adopting the regal name Napoleon III. This restoration of the French Empire under Napoleon III proved to be an immense stroke of luck for the young Vuitton. The Empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo, a Spanish countess who became Napoleon III’s wife, enlisted Vuitton as her personal box-maker and packer, entrusting him with the task of impeccably packaging the most exquisite garments. This association with the Empress granted Vuitton access to a clientele comprised of the elite and royalty, who would continue to seek his services throughout his lifetime.
However, in 1870, Vuitton’s business was disrupted by the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent siege of Paris, leading to a brutal civil war that resulted in the downfall of the French Empire. After the siege ended on January 28, 1871, Vuitton returned to Asnières only to find the village in ruins, his staff scattered, his equipment stolen, and his shop demolished.
“I don’t always dress up, but when I do, I wear Louis Vuitton,,
Displaying the same resilient and determined spirit he had demonstrated when he embarked on his solitary 300-mile journey at the age of 13, Vuitton immediately set about rebuilding his business. Within a few months, he established a new shop at a different location: 1 Rue Scribe. This new address brought about a shift towards luxury. Situated in the heart of the transformed Paris, Rue Scribe was home to the esteemed Jockey Club and exuded a distinctly aristocratic ambiance compared to Vuitton’s previous location in Asnières. In 1872, Vuitton unveiled a new trunk design featuring beige canvas with red stripes. This simple yet opulent design captivated the attention of Paris’s emerging elite and marked the inception of the Louis Vuitton label’s contemporary identity as a luxury brand.
