Louis Vuitton has long been more than a fashion label: its origins lie in practical, purpose-built luggage designed to withstand long journeys. From Louis to Vuitton, a new 406-page volume published by Assouline, traces that history — a visual and tactile celebration of how transportation shaped the house’s identity.
Told through roughly 320 images, the book opens with the invention that changed travel luggage forever: the flat-topped, stackable trunk. Designed to fit neatly in ship holds and train compartments, that simple structural innovation allowed trunks to travel efficiently and securely. What follows in the book is a chronological and thematic survey of how Louis Vuitton adapted its craft across modes of transport — rail, sea, air, and even the racetrack.
Archival photos and workshop shots sit alongside modern imagery: early artisans assembling frames and interior carcasses, a 1920s photograph of air travel, bespoke library trunks from the 1930s, and sleek contemporary scenes of Formula 1 and competitive sailing. The Asnières workshop, founded in 1859 and still in operation today, is a recurring presence; it’s where bespoke trunks and hard-sided cases continue to be handcrafted using a blend of 19th-century techniques and modern technology.
The book highlights notable commissions and collaborations that reveal Louis Vuitton’s ongoing relationship with movement. Among the storied pieces is the Hemingway literary trunk, built to carry manuscripts, shown alongside one-off commissions for collectors. More recent partnerships include official trophy trunks for Formula 1 and the America’s Cup. Handbuilt in Asnières from poplar wood and coated canvas, reinforced with brass corners and leather trim, these trunks are designed to protect coveted trophies as they travel from circuit to circuit or port to port. Artisans can spend more than 400 hours creating bespoke, water-resistant trunks for maritime competitions, underlining the brand’s commitment to durability and craftsmanship.
The book also contrasts historical construction with contemporary innovations: lightweight aluminum frames, double-zip security systems, and interiors optimized for structural strength and packing efficiency — as seen in modern Horizon cases designed by Marc Newson. These developments show how Louis Vuitton translates its heritage of robust, functional design into products made for today’s modes of travel.
A limited-edition release of the volume itself nods to that lineage: a special case produced in only 54 custom trunks, echoing the company’s tradition of creating trunks to house books, trophies, or bespoke collections. Throughout, the narrative emphasizes longevity — coated canvas, reinforced stitching, and brass fittings that made early trunks lifelong companions remain central to the house’s design philosophy.
From Louis to Vuitton reads like a love letter to travel: part museum catalog, part design history, and part craft study. It’s aimed at those who appreciate the intersection of function and beauty — collectors, travelers, and anyone interested in how movement and mobility can shape a brand’s aesthetic and technical evolution.
