About this product

Louis Vuitton Cabin Trunk – Louis Vuitton had humble beginnings, born in 1821 into a working-class family in eastern France. He learned the values of perseverance and hard work from an early age, observing his family’s dedication. At 16, Vuitton embarked on a 292-mile journey from his hometown to Paris, seeking a new life amidst the city’s rapid industrialization and evolving modes of transportation that demanded durable travel pieces. Taking an apprenticeship with Monsieur Marechal, a skilled box maker and packer, Vuitton honed his craft in crafting robust containers and efficient packing techniques, highly esteemed professions at the time.

In 1854, having mastered his skills and earned respect in the trade, Vuitton established his own shop on Rue Neuve des Capucines, marking the beginning of his prominence as a luggage artisan. Four years later, in 1858, he innovated by creating the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk—a departure from traditional rounded-top trunks to a flat, waterproof design that enabled easy stacking. Initially using a gray canvas called Trianon, the signature monogram didn’t emerge until much later. With a growing business, Vuitton relocated his family and operations to Asniere, employing twenty artisans, a number that would multiply to 100 by 1900 and more than double by 1914. Throughout the late 1800s, Vuitton continually experimented with designs, introducing patterns like the striped canvas (1876) and the enduringly popular Damier print (1888) to deter counterfeiters. His son George’s invention of an innovative locking system in 1886 further solidified the brand’s security measures. However, Louis Vuitton’s passing in 1892 marked a turning point as George Vuitton took the reins, unveiling the iconic LV monogram in 1896 to honor his father, propelling the brand to even greater heights among elite clienteles.