Description
Louis Vuitton Black Vernis Alma BB Noir Magnetique patent leather bag
When fashion designer Louis Vuitton first arrived in Paris in 1837, the city had yet to unfold as a fashion and design capital. But it was here that Vuitton founded his luggage empire and, just a quarter century later, opened the world’s largest store of travel items at 70 avenue des Champs-Élysées.
The company went on to open stores around the globe, from New York to Beijing, while the signature leather bags evolved to include the latest technological innovations. These days, traveling with Louis Vuitton pieces is the ultimate symbol of sophistication and luxury, for both far-flung adventures and everyday subway commutes.
After opening his first store in Paris in 1854, Louis Vuitton moved his workshops to Asnières-sur-Seine, northwest of the city. Craftsmen began to build luggage there in 1859, developing the brand’s original flat-top gray trunk and later outfitting French expeditions with travel gear. Above the workshop was a loft where the Vuitton family lived in order to remain close to production. Later they moved into an Art Nouveau–style home next door.
In 1896, four years after Vuitton’s death, the company introduced the first monogram canvas. The “LV” paired with geometric shapes has become the brand’s most iconic print. Here, a woman’s trunk in monogram canvas, circa 1906.
The brand has experimented with a variety of trunk finishes over the years: solid Trianon gray hemp oil, red-striped cloth, checkered Damier canvas, and the classic monogram canvas.
The Louis Vuitton Alma is a true iconic bag, and its elegant curved and structured shape embodies classic city style. It was created in 1934 by Gaston-Louis Vuitton. The Alma was the second handbag by Louis Vuitton, after the Speedy. Rumor goes that the Alma was originally made for Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel as a custom order in 1925 already. Coco gave permission to produce the bag for the public later on. With an 80 years old history behind it, it isn’t only one of the Louis Vuitton symbols but also one of the most recognizable handbags in the world.
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