Louis Vuitton's new exhibition in Paris traces the brand's stylish history
World renowned French fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton is showcasing its 160 years of stylish heritage in Paris with a free to public exhibition that explores the history of the brand's famous bags and other accessories.
The “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez (Fly, Sail, Travel)– Louis Vuitton” exhibition, curated by Olivier Saillard, opened Thursday in Grand Palais — a place where the brand first presented its trunks in 1900 during Paris' Universal Exhibition.
Louis Vuitton and travel has special link as the brand's founder travelled to Paris by walking 280 miles from his home in the mountains of France on feet. In 1854, he opened a shop of luxury trunks on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris, France and in the coming years was recognised for his craftsmanship in bags.
The exhibit is spread across nine rooms and includes 180 pieces from the Vuitton archives, including the brand's signature trunks, Vuitton’s exquisite leather goods and paintings. The exhibition has video installations, which traces Louis Vuitton's great journey from its year of establishment till today.
According to the brand's website, the exhibition “retraces Louis Vuitton’s great journey from 1854 to today, through depictions of the Maison’s founding members and those who create the Louis Vuitton of tomorrow.”
“The exhibition retraces the unique progression that turned travel into a concept that breathed new life into fashion and daily necessity," said Saillard, who has previously worked with Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons and Azzedine Alaïa, The Telegraph writes. He also noted that well known people like the "elegant ladies who were followers of Empress Eugénie", the wife of Napoleon III have been Vuitton's clients. The ladies made journeys to Algiers and Egypt and used the brand's trunks for the same.
The opening day of the exhibition was a star-studded one. Karl Lagerfeld, Alber Elbaz, Olafur Eliasson and Eva Herzigová were few celebs who were in attendance.
The exhibition will run till Feb. 21, 2016.
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