Brief History of Louis Vuitton Bags
Louis Vuitton was founded in 1854 as a maker of travel trunks but today is one the top international fashion brands of luxury handbags and accessories. Louis Vuitton's growth and popularity is due to it's innovative creative directors and unique partnerships that have balanced the history of it's products while modernizing the designs to appeal to new generations of buyers. It's first pattern was the Damier check pattern in 1888 which included a logo that read "marque L. Vuitton déposée," which translates into "L. Vuitton registered trademark" before it's more famous signature Monogram canvas debuted in 1896. The LV Keepall, LV Noe, and LV Speedy were all introduced during the 1930s and remain among the most popular Louis Vuitton bag styles even today. The Louis Vuitton Keepall and Louis Vuitton Speedy come in two distinct styles, without a strap or with a strap or Bandoulière. In 1997, Marc Jacobs became the creative director at Louis Vuitton and ushered in a period of artist collaborations and limited edition Louis Vuitton purses that remain highly desirable in the secondary market. Louis Vuitton handbags from limited edition partnerships with Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama have significantly increased in value since the LV bags were initially sold. Marc Jacobs was replaced by Nicolas Ghesquiere in 2013. In 2017, a Louis Vuitton partnership with streetwear brand Supreme resulted in long lines and products selling out globally within days of the launch. Secondary market prices were over 2x retail immediately following the release. Virgil Abloh was appointed to men's creative director in 2018 and is focused on redefining luxury and streetwear at Louis Vuitton. A Louis Vuitton purse remains one of the most sought after on the resale market.
1 | Louis Vuitton Keepall
The Louis Vuitton Keepall was first introduced in 1930 by Gaston Vuitton as a modern weekend bag in cotton canvas, followed by LV monogram canvas in the 1960s. The LV Keepall was also known as the "globe-trotter" and "tient-tout" or hold all. The Louis Vuitton duffle bag was meant to be folded into the bottom of a suitcase and intentionally had one large compartment so it would be lightweight and flexible. The Louis Vuitton Keepall is available in a range of sizes including the 45, 50, 55 and 60 centimeters and comes both without a strap and with a strap (the LV Keepall Bandoulière). The Louis Vuitton travel bag also comes with a luggage tag, padlock, and keys. The Louis Vuitton duffle bag is available in a range of classic coated canvas patterns including the mongram, damier ebene, damier graphite, and monogram eclipse. Louis Vuitton has also releases limited edition patterns annually that are only available for one season. The most popular limited edition LV duffle bags are the LV Graffiti Keepall in the original or neon colors, LV Monogramouflage Keepall, LV Supreme Keepall and Miroir Line Keepall from 2006 made of Monogram Vernis available in silver and gold. The LV Keepall remains one of the most popular Louis Vuitton men's bag. In 2008, Louis Vuitton launched the new Damier Graphite in black and grey check pattern to mark the 120th anniversary of the canvas. LV Damier Graphite is only available in Louis Vuitton men's accessories and leather goods. With continued expansion of LV men's bags, Louis Vuitton also launched a new monogram pattern for men called the LV Monogram Eclispe in black and grey in 2016. LV Monogram Eclipse joins the Damier Graphite as permanent patterns for Louis Vuitton men's bags. LV Keepalls in these newer patterns are among the top sellers for men.
2 | Louis Vuitton Speedy
The Louis Vuitton Speedy was first introduced in the 1930s but remains one of the most recognizable and popular styles of all LV bags. The LV Speedy bag was designed in response to advances in public transportation and the new need for a compact lightweight bag that was also large enough to hold your daily necessities. The shape is a mini version of the Louis Vuitton Keepall. This Louis Vuitton bag was made popular in the 1960s when Audrey Hepburn was seen carrying the Speedy. The classic sizes come in 25, 30, 35, and 40 centimeters, but Louis Vuitton has also released limited edition Speedy versions in the BB, Mini Sac HL, Nano, and Neo. The original Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was designed without a strap, but in 2011 Louis Vuitton released the Speedy Bandoulière with an adjustable shoulder strap that can be removed. The LV Speedy is available in the classic coated canvas patterns including LV Monogram, LV Damier Ebene, and LV Damier Azur. Additionally, Louis Vuitton releases limited edition patterns every year with many selling for significantly above the original retail price in the secondary market. The most iconic limited edition bags include the Gaffiti LV Speedy and Multicolore LV Speedy. The Speedy remains the most collectible Louis Vuitton purse .
3 | Louis Vuitton Noé
The Louis Vuitton Noé was created in 1932 to carry bottles of champagne without breaking the bottles and is the second oldest Louis Vuitton purse launched by the brand. The original Louis Vuitton Noé was large enough to carry five bottles, four up right and one in the middle upside down. The Louis Vuitton Noé was the first LV bucket bag which has since become a very common and recognizable handbag shape used by many designers. The name Noé is derived from the bible story of Noah since he became a wine maker after surviving the flood. The Louis Vuitton Noé came in two sizes, the original and Petit, but in 2013 Louis Vuitton introduced a smaller version labeled BB and in 2015 an even smaller size called the the Nano Noé and both can be used as an LV crossbody bag.
4 | Louis Vuitton Alma
The Louis Vuitton Alma was launched in 1934 and was the second handbag introduced after the Speedy. The LV Alma was Inspired by the recent art deco movement of the time. This Louis Vuitton purse is instantly recognized for its structured shape and architectural design. The Louis Vuitton Alma has the most structural design and sturdy base of all of the Louis Vuitton purse designs. The first Alma was custom made in 1925 for Gabrielle Chanel and years later she gave permission to have the style manufactured for the general public. The Alma has had several names, including the Squire, the Champs Elysees, and, finally, the Alma, which refers to "Place de l'Alma," the tree-lined square in Paris where the Avenue Montaigne meets the Seine. The LV Alma is made in a wide range of materials and many limited edition patterns have been released. The most common sizes are the LV Alma PM, Alma MM, and Alma GM and, more recently, in the smaller Alama BB and Alma Nano sizes. The Louis Vuitton Alma BB and Louis Vuitton Alma Nano come with straps and can be worn as an LV shoulder bag.
5 | Louis Vuitton Sac Plat
The Louis Vuitton Sac Plat was first launched in 1968 and resembles a shopping bag. Similar to the Keepall, the original design was meant to be folded in your luggage and used once you reached your travel destination. As with many luxury designer brands, Louis Vuitton has created new mini versions of its classic handbags. Louis Vuitton first introduced the LV Petit Sac Plat in 2020 and the monogram version is regularly out of stock due to the popularity of the new mini version. The LV Sac Plat can be carried by its handles and as an LV crossbody bag.
6 | Louis Vuitton Neverfull
The Louis Vuitton Neverfull was first introduced in 2007 and since then has become Louis Vuitton's most successful handbag launch since the Keepall and Speedy. The LV Neverfull was designed as an everyday Louis Vuitton tote and comes in three basic sizes: the Neverfull PM, Neverfull MM, and Neverfull GM. The largest LV tote size, the Neverfull GM, can carry up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms). The Louis Vuitton Neverfull was also designed to be reversible. In 2014, Louis Vuitton added a removable matching LV pochette that can be carried as a LV clutch or LV wristlet. The pochette zips closed, has a wrist strap, and is often sold separately in the secondary market but is not available to purchase at Louis Vuitton. The Neverfull is available in Louis Vuitton's classic coated canvas patterns including Monogram, Damier Ebene, and Damier Azur. The company also introduces limited edition patterns every year that are only available for a one season. The LV Neverfull tote is also available in Epi leather.
7 | Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis
The last new handbag style launched by Marc Jacobs was the Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis in 2013 inspired by the Monceau Briefcase. The style resembles a refined Louis Vuitton messenger bag or schoolbag and comes with a detachable shoulder strap that can be adjusted to wear as an LV crossbody or LV shoulder bag. This Louis Vuitton purse has two interior compartments and exterior zip pocket to keep items organized. It comes in the classic Louis Vuitton monogram coated canvas and a range of other materials and patterns including many of the limited edition patterns Louis Vuitton is releasing annually.
8 | Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires
The newest hit Louis Vuitton purse is the Multi Pochette Accessoires, which launched in late 2019. The bag was an immediate hit and the classic monogram style remains out of stock. This bag comes with three pouches and two straps so the bag can be worn in multiple ways including as an LV crossbody and LV shoulder bag . The trend in mini and micro bags has helped the popularity of the new Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires. Louis Vuitton has already started making the bag in a range of materials including the Empreinte leather, personalized World Tour, and limited edition patterns. This style could be the next greatest hit for Louis Vuitton and as collectible as the LV Speedy or LV Neverfull. This bag apears to have replaced the Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires but given the separate parts, you can recreate the Louis Vuitton Pouchette by carrying the smaller pouch with the chains strap.
