Louis Vuitton Handbags: Leather Luxury

Through out the years, Louis Vuitton handbags have been etched with impeccable artistry and skill. In the tradition of quality workmanship, Louis Vuitton handbags have become the standard in luxury travel. And the innovation behind it began in Paris…

Early 1800's, a trained luggage packer for upper class Parisian families was appointed by Napoleon III to pack for the Empress Eugenie. With a vast knowledge in bags, he began designing luggage for rich Parisian travelers. His name was Louis Vuitton. He was a pioneer with his early inventions of flat, air-tight and easily stackable luggage. In 1854, as luggage began to rise into a new level of design, Louis Vuitton built his own luggage design house. Since then Louis Vuitton handbags gained much respect and adoration mainly from the upscale population. An 1867 World's Fair bronze medal and a gold medal in 1889 earned the Louis Vuitton name recognition throughout international fashion community. It was only in 1892 when Louis Vuitton handbags first came out. Later, the Louis Vuitton luggage company grew into a leather empire and the Louis Vuitton handbag became no less than royalty among leather.

The LV Monogram
The Louis Vuitton handbag is a status symbol, no doubt. In fact, the Louis Vuitton brand is so coveted that it is the number one brand in the industry that's counterfeited resulting to only more than 1% genuine LV products in the market. In 1896, two years after the death of Louis Vuitton, his son, Georges, revolutionized the industry with the “LV Monogram Canvas”. It was the first designer label branded onto to a product originally as a preventive measure.

Let the bags speak for themselves.
- In 1888, Louis Vuitton brought out the Damier Canvas pattern. Designed in collaboration with Georges, it carries the “marque L. Vuitton déposée” which is roughly translated as L. Vuitton trademark.
- Georges designed the Monogram Canvas in which the graphic symbols were inspired by a Late Victorian trend composed of oriental diagrams.
- Introduced in 1901, The Steamer Bag is a small handbag that is made to accompany the LV trunks
- The 1930 Keepall Louis Vuitton handbag, simple and classic, it became a style icon in travel along with its 1933 Speedy follow-up mini version. Clad in the LV trademark throughout the dark leather, their sleek curve toward the top and handles maintain a simple elegance within its practical structure.
- The popular Noe bag that was originally a 5-champagne-bottle carrier phenomenally soared to an elegant handbag when women of the upper class saw its beauty.
- Marc Jacobs and Stephen Sprouse designed the limited edition graffiti monogram in 2001 made available only to their V.I.P. list.
- In 2003, Takashi Murakami and Marc Jacobs created the Monogram Multicolore canvas in 33 different colors.
- Takashi Murakami created the Cherry Blossom pattern in 2004 and the Monogram Cerises pattern in 2005 both resembling Japanese animation.