A Legacy in Motion
Louis Vuitton is born in 1821 in Anchay, a small village nestled in the Jura mountains. His family, millers since the 17th century, lives and works deep in the forest, grinding grain and shaping timber by watermill. It is here, among the rhythm of wood and water, that Louis develops an early reverence for craftsmanship.

At age 14, he sets off for Paris, traveling on foot across France. Over two years, he works as day laborer, stable boy and lumberjack, sharpening his resilience and resourcefulness.

He arrives in Paris in 1837, where he begins an apprenticeship with Romain Maréchal, a master trunk-maker and packer. For seventeen years, Louis learns to craft with precision and understand the evolving needs of elite travelers, laying the foundational skills for what will become a legenda

An Artisan with the Soul of an Entrepreneur
The newly married Louis opens his first store in 1854 at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, steps away from Place Vendôme. His earliest trunks reflect the typical features of the time, with rounded lids and iron reinforcements. Before long, he reimagines their structure and introduces a flat-topped model in Trianon grey canvas — lighter, stronger, stackable, and perfectly suited to a world on the move.

The Heart of the House
Outgrowing his workshop in Paris, Louis purchases land in Asnières-sur-Seine in 1859 to build an atelier — a location chosen for its proximity to both Paris’s vibrant social life and key production routes. By the 1870s, the Vuitton family makes Asnières their home, a place that becomes the heart of the Louis Vuitton legacy, where savoir-faire, innovation, and artistry are passed down through generations.ry empire.

From a Man’s Journey to a Global Maison
In 1857 Louis had welcomed his only son, Georges, who becomes an apprentice at the Ateliers d'Asnières at the age of 16. By 1880, he takes over the management of the store on Rue Scribe in Paris, marking a new start for the House. Together, they expand the Asnières ateliers, adding a section dedicated to leather goods. Raised in the world of trunks and travel, Georges marks the start of a new chapter for the House, bringing bold ideas and boundless energy. In 1888, he introduces the Damier canvas, featuring, for the first time, the Vuitton name on the outside of a trunk. A year later, he patents a groundbreaking, unpickable, multi-groove lock system to protect his clients’ most precious belongings.

As the canvas continues to be copied, in 1896 Georges begins the search for a new motif to become a signature emblem for the House. Inspired by Art Nouveau, Japonism, and Gothic heraldic art, Georges creates the now-iconic Monogram canvas — combining geometrical floral motifs with the initials “LV” — a tribute to his father who passed away in 1892.

Exploring New Territories
Born in Asnières in 1883, Gaston-Louis grows up surrounded by trunks, tools, and tales of far-off destinations. A collector, bibliophile, and creative thinker, he champions lightweight, flexible materials and reimagines the art of travel for a new generation — marking the beginning of the next wave of expansions.

As an artist himself, Gaston-Louis brings Louis Vuitton into the creative spotlight of the 1920s, culminating in the House’s participation at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

This same spirit of innovation and exploration fuels his ventures beyond craftsmanship. From the 1910 Star Clock debut in horology, to equipping the Motobloc automobile for the New York-Paris race, to the creation of Heures d’Absence in 1927 — the House’s first perfume — Gaston-Louis expands the Louis Vuitton universe across various métiers, into the world we know today.

[SUSTAINABILITY – CRAFTSMANSHIP & HERITAGE]
Louis Vuitton was born out of craftsmanship. Preserving our time-honoured métiers together with our unique savoir-faire is essential to the enduring success of Louis Vuitton. We make sure that our workplace allows and encourages every one of our employees to develop their skills in the best possible conditions, ensuring the honing and transmission of Louis Vuitton’s unique craftsmanship. Our Maison has a responsibility to preserve and impart the savoir-faire that Louis Vuitton has mastered since its 1854 founding.

Louis Vuitton, "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant"
The Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label is a state-recognised certification, established to distinguish French companies with excellent craftsmanship. To obtain this label, our Maison had to meet three criteria: the ownership of a specific economic asset, the implementation of rare savoir-faire based on the mastery of traditional techniques of high technicality in the implementation of know-how, and the attachment to a specific region or territory. Much more than a badge of honour, earning the EPV label also embodies the richness of rare savoir-faire and a commitment to carrying out actions to preserve it.

Committing to the Métiers d'Excellence
From design to manufacturing to sales, the Métiers d'Excellence are the beating heart of our Maison. They represent a range of 200 professions practiced by more than 26,000 employees around the world. Since signing the "WE for ME Pact" (Worldwide Engagements for the Métiers d'Excellence) in 2021, Louis Vuitton has been committed to the long-term viability of these professions, which are fundamental to the preservation of our heritage and essential to our success.
