How A Homeless Teen Created Louis Vuitton?

Emma
3 min readJan 21, 2023

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Louis Vuitton was born in 1821 in Anchay, a small village in the Jura region of France. He was the eldest of five children born to a poor farmer and his wife. As a child, Louis Vuitton was fascinated by the craft of packing and often helped his mother pack her belongings when they moved. He later became a box-maker and packer for wealthy Parisians.

In 1837, at the age of 16, Louis Vuitton decided to leave his small village and move to Paris in search of better opportunities. He worked as a packer for a variety of wealthy Parisians, learning the art of packing and the different needs of his clients. He quickly gained a reputation for his skills and was soon in high demand.

In 1854, Louis Vuitton decided to start his own business. He opened a small store on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris, selling trunks and bags. He quickly gained a reputation for his high-quality products, which were both stylish and practical. He introduced the flat-topped trunk, which could be stacked, and made it possible to pack more into a trunk. He also began using a canvas material known as “Gris Moyen” which was resistant to water, stains, and mildew.

In 1858, Louis Vuitton presented his first collection of trunks at the Universal Exhibition in Paris. His trunks were a hit, and soon he was supplying the French elite, including Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie.

In 1859, Louis Vuitton was awarded a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for his trunks. This helped to further establish his reputation as a leading trunk-maker.

In 1867, Louis Vuitton was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for his trunks. This helped to further establish his reputation as a leading trunk-maker.

In 1871, Louis Vuitton was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for his trunks. This helped to further establish his reputation as a leading trunk-maker.

In 1892, Louis Vuitton passed away, but his company continued to grow and expand under the leadership of his son George. George added new product lines, including handbags and luggage, and opened stores in other cities, including London and New York.

Today, Louis Vuitton is one of the most well-known and successful luxury brands in the world, known for its high-quality leather goods and fashion accessories. The company is still owned and operated by the Vuitton family and continues to innovate and push the boundaries of fashion and design.

The story of Louis Vuitton is an inspiration of how a small town boy with passion and hardworking can become a successful businessman and make a brand name that is recognized globally. His hard work and dedication to his craft made him one of the most successful fashion designers in history, and his legacy lives on through the Louis Vuitton brand

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Emma

Medium Blog writer/Write stories on writing tactics, writing tools,creator, and entrepreneur. I also write about personal development, books and life.