If you survived the logomania of the early 2000s, you know: there's no monogram easier to recognize than Louis Vuitton. The brand's signature LV has been spotted on bags carried by everyone from Paris Hilton [1] to Angelina Jolie [2]. But there's so much more to the luxury label than its place on the arm of Hollywood's hottest A-listers. In fact, this fashion powerhouse has had a long and fascinating history that has managed to make it a cultural phenomenon time and time again. So read on for a little bit of history and some crazy-cool facts about the luxe brand [3] behind some of your favorite bags.
The Start
Louis Vuitton Malletier began his career [4] as a trunk maker at age 16.
Destined For Greatness
The house of Louis Vuitton was founded in 1854 [5].
Trunk Club
Louis's son George Vuitton created a new type of lock [6], the tumbler lock.
A Great Escape
The father and son were so sure of their lock that they challenged Harry Houdini [7] to a public escape. Sadly, Houdini didn't agree.
A True Original
The brand's signature monogram canvas debuted in 1896 [8] as a way to fight counterfeits.
Tote-tastic
In 1914, the largest luggage store in the world was opened by the brand [9] on Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Crafted With Care
Items are still made by hand in France [10].
All For the Show
The famous monogram inspired artist Salvador Dalí [11] to create the "Dalígram."
Modern Art
More recently, the brand has teamed up with artists like Takashi Murakami [12] and Stephen Sprouse.
Carrie's Choice
Sex and the City [13] helped instigate a craze [14] for the designer and its knockoffs.
Star Power
Celebrities including Angelina Jolie [15], Madonna [16], and David Bowie have posed for the brand, but the strangest campaign star may be Mikhail Gorbachev [17], the final president of the USSR.
What's in a Name?
The label is part of LVMH, a group comprising 70 retail houses [18] including Christian Dior, Donna Karan, and Givenchy.
Cheers to That
The M and H in LVMH [19] stand for Moët and Hennessy, two popular brands of alcohol.
Power Player
According to Forbes, Louis Vuitton is considered the world's 14th most valuable brand [20].
Louis Louis Louis
As of 2013, the brand had been mentioned 19 times in songs by Kanye West [21].
Behind the Design
Marc Jacobs was the brand's artistic director [22] for 16 years, from 1997 to 2013.
A New Beginning
The head designer for Louis Vuitton is currently Nicolas Ghesquière, who took the helm in 2013.