Louis Vuitton: iconic, luxury brand of fine handbags, shoes and other accessories, right? Today, yes. But in 19th century France, the young man himself had a somewhat different reputation.

At the age of 13, he ran away from home and traveled nearly 300 miles on foot from his hometown to Paris, where he met widely-respected box maker and packer Monsieur Marechal—the craft was highly reputable and sophisticated during this period of the Industrial Revolution. Marechal took Vuitton on as an apprentice, and after only a few years, Vuitton became a prominent practitioner of the work. He was even asked by Napoleon III’s wife to personally create boxes for “packing the most beautiful clothes in an exquisite way.”

Throughout his career as a box maker and packer, Vuitton gained respect from royalty for his artistry and innovation; he developed the use of rectangular, canvas trunks in different colors and canvas and glue for casing, which eliminated odors.

So what can we learn from Vuitton’s story? Exquisite craftsmanship, innovative materials, and creative design can invite great admiration and high regard. Something to think about in promoting your brand.



Sources:
biography.com
GQ Magazine