From Rags to Riches: The Story of Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton reads synonymous with luxury. But not many know that it was a HOMELESS boy, who walked 292 miles to chase this dream.

August was Louis Vuitton's birthday month; he was born in 1821 to a farmer and hat maker. Due to family troubles, he left his home and travelled to Paris when he was 13 YEARS OLD.

There, he worked for a box maker. He held this position for 17 years. Then one day, the Empress of France became his client. Overnight, it bought him ENORMOUS success.

Louis Vuitton's greatness was based on innovation. He had observed that classical bags were heavy and easily damaged. Thus, he created the ICONIC steamer trunk: lightweight, watertight, and stackable.

The workshop was demolished in 1871 by the Franco-Prussian War, but Louis took this as a positive opportunity. He relocated to a location that is the soul of Paris: near the railway station and LUXURY hotels, catering only to elite travelers of that time.

It was taken further by his son, George Vuitton. He introduced unpickable locks and specialized trunks for cars and planes, continuing to keep the brand at the very forefront of INNOVATION.

If you had bought a Louis Vuitton bag in 2007, it would have been a better investment than gold.

This goes on to prove that personal luxury items, especially from a brand like Louis Vuitton, can turn out to be great but amazingly lucrative investments!

Today, Louis Vuitton is under the lead of Bernard Arnault and part of LVMH: a luxury holdings company with 75 luxury brands. With over $400 billion in valuation, LVMH stands as a living tribute to Louis Vuitton's legacy in quality, innovation, and strategic positioning within target markets.

Lessons from Louis Vuitton in business: Do simple things EXCEPTIONALLY well; innovate by finding new needs and persist in EXCELLENCE.

From humble beginnings to worldwide leadership, Louis Vuitton defines luxury and success.