Louis Vuitton opened his first store in Paris in 1854 after establishing himself as a trunk maker.
Vuitton arrived in Paris as a teenager and trained as a box-maker and packer. He later worked for the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, before opening his own workshop and shop at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines in 1854.
The business initially focused on practical travel trunks rather than the complete range of fashion products associated with Louis Vuitton today. Its later innovations included flat-topped trunks and distinctive canvas designs that made luggage easier to stack and identify.
The 1854 date refers to Vuitton’s establishment of his own business. It is separate from the dates of later signature products, including the Keepall and Speedy bags.