The world's most valuable luxury brand, constantly evolving.
1854 | PARIS, FRANCE | LOUIS VUITTON
Louis Vuitton is the world's most valuable luxury brand. Even if you wanted to disagree, there's no longer any room for argument.
BrandZ™, the world's largest brand asset database that evaluates and researches brand value using its own unique methods, publishes the "World's Most Valuable Brands Ranking" every year. Louis Vuitton has consistently ranked first in the luxury category since the survey began in 2006.
The history of the brand began in 1854, when its founder was Louis Vuitton. He was a craftsman who was responsible for storing and transporting the luxurious skirts that were fashionable among French aristocratic women at the time, and even for manufacturing the wooden boxes specifically for them. Utilizing his exceptional skills, he established "Louis Vuitton," which is said to be the world's first travel bag atelier, and the brand was born.
He foresaw an era where transportation networks would make travel easier, and devised a trunk with a flat lid that was easier to stack, rather than the round lids that were common until then. In addition to its convenience, the high functionality of the waterproof, plain cotton "Gris Trianon canvas" fabric he used also contributed to its great popularity. This served as a springboard for the brand's rapid growth.
The Damier and Monogram patterns are instantly recognizable to anyone who sees them. These patterns, truly icons of Louis Vuitton, were designed by the second-generation owner, Georges Vuitton, with Damier created in 1888 and Monogram in 1896. One theory suggests that the Damier pattern was inspired by the checkered pattern and the Monogram by Japanese family crests, reflecting the Japonisme movement that was popular in Europe in the late 19th century.
Armed with the world's most recognizable logo, perfected product design, and the highest quality delivered by skilled craftsmen, this brand has captivated people around the world for many years with its wide variety of items, from bags and wallets to key cases, accessories, and apparel.
However, these factors are not the only ones that have propelled Louis Vuitton to become the world's top brand. The appointment of Marc Jacobs as designer in 1997, Kim Jones, who worked at Dunhill before becoming the artistic director of the men's division in 2011, and Virgil Abloh of Off-White in 2018, have also had a significant impact. Furthermore, collaborations with Supreme, artist Takashi Murakami, Comme des Garçons, and street style icon Hiroshi Fujiwara have had a tremendous impact worldwide. While respecting history and prestige, the brand has achieved a dynamic evolution through innovative approaches by exceptionally talented individuals who are not bound by those boundaries, exquisitely blending tradition and innovation. This fact is what has brought Louis Vuitton to the top of the world. And even now, the world's most valuable luxury brand continues to evolve and increase its value.