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Louis Vuitton is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton, initially specializing in high-end luggage and trunks. Now part of LVMH Group, it has grown into one of the world's most valuable and recognizable luxury brands, offering leather goods, ready-to-wear, accessories, watches, perfume, and more.
Key moments
1854Founded Louis Vuitton's workshop in Paris, launched first luxury trunks
1858Released the lightweight Gris Trianon canvas trunk
1885Opened first overseas store in London
1896Launched the iconic Monogram canvas pattern
1984Listed on the Paris stock exchange
1987Merged to form LVMH Group
1992Entered the Chinese market
2018Launched official Chinese online flagship store
2025Announced the monograph *From Louis to Vuitton* for global release
Louis Vuitton operates in the global high-end luxury fashion market, facing direct competition from several established peers:
Hermès: A direct rival in luxury leather goods, with a focus on ultra-exclusive, artisanal products and stronger positioning in the ultra-high-net-worth segment
Chanel: Leading competitor in women's luxury wear, handbags, and haute couture, with a strong heritage in timeless, minimalist design
Gucci: Known for bold, trend-driven designs, capturing younger luxury consumers with frequent collaborations and celebrity partnerships
Prada: Competes in leather goods and minimalist luxury, with a strong focus on innovative material use and contemporary aesthetics
Louis Vuitton is a preeminent French luxury fashion house founded in 1854, initially specializing in luxury travel trunks before evolving into a comprehensive luxury lifestyle brand spanning leather goods, ready-to-wear, accessories, timepieces, perfumes, and fine jewelry. As the cornerstone brand of LVMH Group, the world's leading luxury conglomerate, it stands as one of the most valuable and universally recognizable luxury brands across the globe.
Rooted in over 170 years of artisanal craftsmanship, Louis Vuitton has cultivated an iconic global identity defined by its signature monogram canvas, a symbol that transcends cultural and geographic boundaries. The brand has consistently balanced tradition and innovation through high-profile collaborations with contemporary artists, fashion designers, and cultural influencers, expanding its cultural relevance while preserving its core luxury ethos.
Louis Vuitton maintains a dominant market position within the global high-end luxury sector, supported by a robust omnichannel retail network, a loyal multi-generational customer base, and strategic expansion into emerging luxury markets. Its sustained performance and brand stewardship have solidified its status as a benchmark for luxury branding worldwide.
Brand Leadership
Score: 95/100
As the flagship brand of LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate, Louis Vuitton holds a top-tier position in the global high-end luxury market. It leads the premium leather goods segment, with a strong brand premium that consistently outpaces many of its direct competitors, and is frequently ranked among the most valuable luxury brands worldwide.
Consumer Brand Interaction
Score: 90/100
Louis Vuitton cultivates deep consumer engagement through a global network of flagship boutiques, exclusive membership programs, and active social media presence. The brand regularly releases limited-edition collections and hosts immersive cultural events, fostering strong loyalty and repeat patronage among its high-net-worth customer base.
Brand Momentum
Score: 92/100
The brand has maintained steady growth in recent years, driven by successful cross-industry collaborations, expansion into emerging luxury markets, and digital transformation initiatives including virtual fashion experiences and e-commerce optimization. Its consistent ability to resonate with younger consumer segments while preserving its core luxury identity has sustained positive brand momentum.
Brand Stability
Score: 94/100
With over 170 years of operational history and backing from LVMH's extensive global resources, Louis Vuitton exhibits exceptional market stability. The brand has weathered multiple economic downturns and industry disruptions, maintaining consistent revenue streams and brand value through disciplined supply chain management and conservative brand expansion strategies.
Brand Tenure & Heritage
Score: 98/100
Founded in 1854, Louis Vuitton is one of the oldest continuously operating major luxury fashion brands. Its long history has accumulated significant cultural capital, with its legacy of artisanal craftsmanship and iconic design elements becoming integral to global luxury culture.
Industry Positioning
Score: 96/100
Louis Vuitton competes in the global high-end luxury fashion and lifestyle sector, with a diversified product portfolio that covers leather goods, apparel, accessories, watches, jewelry, and fragrances. The brand occupies a premium niche at the top of the luxury market, targeting discerning high-net-worth consumers worldwide.
Global Brand Reach
Score: 93/100
Louis Vuitton operates retail locations in more than 70 countries across six continents, with a localized marketing strategy that adapts to regional cultural preferences while maintaining a unified global brand identity. Its widespread international presence has made it one of the most globally recognized luxury brands.
This brand valuation is generated through AI-assisted reasoning and illustrative figures only. For officially audited brand valuation results, please contact World Brand Lab directly.
revenue
€14 billion (2020)‡R1R‡
num employees
19,000 (2013)‡R2R‡
parent
LVMH
homepage
louisvuitton.com
Louis Vuitton Malletier SAS is a French luxuryfashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton.[3] The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ranging from luxury bags and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, watches, jewellery, accessories, sunglasses and books. Louis Vuitton is one of the world's leading international fashion houses. It sells its products through standalone boutiques, lease departments in high-end department stores, and through the e-commerce section of its website.[4][5] Louis Vuitton merged with Moët Hennessy in 1987 to create LVMH, of which it is a subsidiary.
For six consecutive years (2006–2012), Louis Vuitton was named the world's most valuable luxury brand.Its 2012 valuation was US$25.9 billion.[6] In 2013, the valuation of the brand was US$28.4 billion with revenue of US$9.4 billion.[7] The company operates in 50 countries with more than 460 stores worldwide.[8]
Louis Vuitton has faced some episodes of criticism: continuous targeting due to its failures in ceasing forced labour,[9][10][11] alleged mistreatment of its models in 2017, and a series of strong polemics in Barcelona, Catalonia (due to sponsoring the 2024 America's Cup) that involved an administratively opaque fashion show, significant damages in the Park Güell's UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, and multiple citizen protests against the company.
History
Founding to World War II
The Louis Vuitton label was founded by Vuitton in 1854 on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris.[12] Louis Vuitton had observed that the H. J. Cave Osilite[13] trunk could be easily stacked.In 1858, Vuitton introduced his flat-topped trunks with Trianon canvas, making them lightweight and airtight.[12] Before the introduction of Vuitton's trunks, rounded-top trunks were used, generally to promote water runoff, and thus could not be stacked. It was Vuitton's gray Trianon canvas flat trunk that allowed the ability to stack them on top of another with ease for voyages. Many other luggage makers later imitated Vuitton's style and design.[5]
Brand and intellectual property
The Louis Vuitton brand and the LV monogram are among the world's most valuable brands.[51]
According to a Millward Brown 2010 study, Louis Vuitton was then the world's 19th most valuable brand, and was estimated to be worth over US$19 billion.[52] For six consecutive years, Louis Vuitton was number one of the 10 most powerful brands list published by the Millward Brown Optimor's 2011 BrandZ study with value of $24.3 billion.It was more than double the value of the second ranking brand.[53]
Louis Vuitton is one of the most counterfeited brands in the fashion world due to its image as a status symbol.[51] Ironically, the signature Monogram canvas was created to prevent counterfeiting.[54] In 2004, Louis Vuitton fakes accounted for 18% of counterfeit accessories seized in the European Union
Products
Since the 19th century, Louis Vuitton trunks have been made by hand.[5] Contemporary Fashion gives a preview of the creation of the LV trunks: "The craftsmen line up the leather and canvas, tapping in the tiny nails one by one and securing the five-letter solid pick-proof brass locks with an individual handmade key, designed to allow the traveller to have only one key for all of his or her luggage. The wooden frames of each trunk are made of 30-year-old poplar that has been allowed to dry for at least four years. Each trunk has a serial number and can take up to 60 hours to make, and a suitcase as many as 15 hours.[5]"
Iconic bags of Louis Vuitton include the Speedy bag produced in 1930 and Neverfull bags produced in 2007. Both bags have become Louis Vuitton's most successful handbag launches. They were designed for being both stylish and practical. These bags also come in three sizes: Petit modèle, Moyen modèle and Grand modèle. Each season Louis Vuitton produces rare, limited edition bags that are generally only available by reservation through larger Louis Vuitton stores.
Many of the company's products utilize the brown Damier and Monogram canvas materials,[15] both of which were first used in the late 19th century. All of the company's products exhibit the eponymous LV initials. The company markets its product through its own stores located throughout the world, which allows it to control product quality and pricing.
Advertising campaigns
Louis Vuitton advertising campaigns have included Lea Seydoux, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Richards, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Sean Connery, Matthias Schoenaerts, Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bündchen, Mikhail Gorbachev,[78]JO1 and David Bowie.[79]
The company commonly uses print ads in magazines and billboards in cosmopolitan cities.Louis Vuitton Posters by Razzia were popular in the 1980s.It previously relied on selected press for its advertising campaigns (frequently involving prestigious stars like Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi and Catherine Deneuve) shot by Annie Leibovitz.However, Antoine Arnault, director of the communication department, has recently decided to enter the world of television and cinema: The commercial (90 seconds) is exploring the theme "Where will life take you?" and is translated into 13 different languages. This is the first Vuitton commercial ad ever and was directed by renowned French ad director
Collaborations
Louis Vuitton has had many collaborations with artists, brands and celebrities. They were first popularized in the 2010s by Marc Jacobs, a collector of contemporary art, for the women's ready-to-wear and bags departments.[94] Since then, collaborations have included promotional campaigns, collaborative designs and architectural works with the various Louis Vuitton "Métiers" (departments).
Collaborations have increased in frequency in the late 2010s and 2020s, with an increased popularity in streetwear and hybrid spaces (such as pop-up stores).[95][96]
Collaboration history
Takashi Murakami created special edition collections, such as the Monogramouflage Collection, which debuted in 2008, and a previous collection, released in 2002, which featured some of his artwork. The creations were "painted" over the traditional monogram canvas
Criticism
Alleged mistreatment of models
In May 2017, media reported on alleged mistreatment of Louis Vuitton exclusive model Ulrikke Høyer who was to appear on a Louis Vuitton cruise show in Kyoto. The 20-year-old model, who, on arrival, measured 91.5 cm around her hips, was told she was "too bloated" and "too big" for her ensemble and instructed to drink only water for 24 hours. The model alleged that she was only informed via her agent in France, who received an email including the text "[she] came yesterday in Tokyo to do her final fitting, and she doesn't fit the exact same dress anymore. She has a belly, her face is more puffy [sic] and the back of her dress is open and you can see it is tight." Despite following the instructions, she was eventually excluded from the show. The model stated that she has "received hundreds of messages from models" who have experienced similar mistreatment from the same Louis Vuitton casting director. The casting director denied the allegations and explained the instructions regarding intake of water as a misunderstanding, that the model was instructed that her intake of liquids was to be limited to water.[108][109]
Damaging and opaque privatization of UNESCO historic heritage
The company participated in the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris.[12] In 1871, Ōyama Iwao became the first recorded Japanese customer, ordering a set of luggage while in Paris as a military observer during the Franco-Prussian War.[14] To protect against the duplication of his look, Vuitton changed the Trianon design to a beige-and-brown stripes design in 1876.[5] By 1885, the company opened its first store in London on Oxford Street.[12] Soon thereafter, due to the continuing imitation of his look, in 1888, Vuitton created the Damier Canvas pattern, which bore a logo that reads "marque L. Vuitton déposée", which translates into "L. Vuitton registered trademark".
In 1892, Louis Vuitton died, and the company's management passed to his son.[5][12]
After the death of his father, Georges Vuitton began a campaign to build the company into a worldwide corporation, exhibiting the company's products at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.In 1896, the company launched the signature Monogram canvas[15] and made the worldwide patents on it.[5][12] Its graphic symbols, including quatrefoils and flowers (as well as the LV monogram), were based on the trend of using Japanese family crests (mon) designs in the late Victorian era.At the time, Georges Vuitton was fascinated by Japanese motifs, including mon, and his son, Gaston-Louis Vuitton, amassed a large collection of Japanese sword guards (tsuba).Some of the motifs found on the trunks were inspired by these tsuba.[16][17][18] The patents later proved to be successful in stopping counterfeiting.In this same year, Georges travelled to the United States, where he toured cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, selling Vuitton products. In 1901, the Louis Vuitton Company introduced the Steamer Bag, a smaller piece of luggage designed to be kept inside Vuitton luggage trunks.
By 1913, the Louis Vuitton Building opened on the Champs-Elysees. It was the largest travel-goods store in the world at the time. Stores also opened in New York, Bombay, Washington, London, Alexandria, and Buenos Aires as World War I began. Afterwards, in 1930, the Keepall bag was introduced. During 1932, LV introduced the Noé bag. This bag was originally made for champagne vintners to transport bottles. Soon thereafter, the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was introduced (both are still manufactured today).[12] In 1936 Georges Vuitton died, and his son, Gaston-Louis Vuitton, assumed control of the company.[12]
WWII Nazi collaboration
During World War II, Louis Vuitton collaborated with the Nazis during the German occupation of France.The French book Louis Vuitton, A French Saga, authored by French journalist Stephanie Bonvicini and published by Paris-based Editions Fayard in 2004,[19] tells how members of the Vuitton family actively aided the Vichy government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain and increased their wealth from their business affairs with the Germans. The family set up a factory dedicated to producing artefacts glorifying Pétain, including more than 2,500 busts.
Caroline Babulle, a spokeswoman for the publisher, Fayard, said: "They have not contested anything in the book, but they are trying to bury it by pretending it doesn't exist."[20] Responding to the book's release in 2004, a spokesman for LVMH said: "This is ancient history. The book covers a period when it was family-run and long before it became part of LVMH. We are diverse, tolerant and all the things a modern company should be."[20] An LVMH spokesman told the satirical magazine Le Canard Enchaîné: "We don't deny the facts, but regrettably the author has exaggerated the Vichy episode. We haven't put any pressure on anyone. If the journalists want to censor themselves, then that suits us fine."That publication was the only French periodical to mention the book, possibly because LVMH is the country's biggest advertiser in the press.[20]
1945 through 2000
During this period, Louis Vuitton began to incorporate leather into most of its products, which ranged from small purses and wallets to larger pieces of luggage. In order to broaden its line, the company revamped its signature Monogram canvas in 1959[12] to make it more supple, allowing it to be used for purses, bags, and wallets.It is believed that in the 1920s, counterfeiting returned as a greater issue to continue on into the 21st century.[5] In 1966, the Papillon was launched (a cylindrical bag that is still popular today).
In 1975, the company owned only two shops and had an annual revenue of 10 million Francs.Odile Vuitton pushed for the expansion of the company internationally.[21][22] Her husband Henry Racamier joined her and took over the reins of Louis Vuitton in 1977.By 1977 Louis Vuitton reached an annual revenue up to 70 million Francs (US$14.27 million).[23]
A year later, the label opened its first stores in Japan: in Tokyo and Osaka.In 1983, the company joined with America's Cup to form the Louis Vuitton Cup, a preliminary competition (known as an eliminatory regatta) for the yacht race.Louis Vuitton later expanded its presence in Asia with the opening of a store in Taipei, Taiwan in 1983 and Seoul, South Korea in 1984.In the following year, 1985, the Epi leather line was introduced.[12]
1987 saw the creation of LVMH.[12]Moët et Chandon and Hennessy, leading manufacturers of champagne and cognac, merged respectively with Louis Vuitton to form the luxury goods conglomerate. Profits for 1988 were reported to have been up by 49% more than in 1987. By 1989, Louis Vuitton came to operate 130 stores worldwide.[12] Entering the 1990s, Yves Carcelle was named president of LV, and in 1992, Louis Vuitton entered mainland China by opening its first store in Beijing at the Palace Hotel. Further products became introduced such as the Taiga leather line in 1993, and the literature collection of Voyager Avec... in 1994. In 1996, the celebration of the Centennial of the Monogram canvas was held in seven cities worldwide.[12]
In 1997, Louis Vuitton made Marc Jacobs its Artistic Director.[24] In March of the following year, he designed and introduced the company's first "prêt-à-porter" line of clothing for men and women.Also in this year products introduced included the Monogram Vernis line, the LV scrapbooks, and the Louis Vuitton City Guide.[12]
The last events in the 20th century were the release of the mini monogram line in 1999 and the opening of the first store in Africa in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2000.Finally, the auction at the International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, where the vanity case "amfAR" designed by Sharon Stone was sold, with the proceeds going to the Foundation for AIDS Research (also in 2000).[12]
2001 to 2011
By 2001, Stephen Sprouse, in collaboration with Marc Jacobs, designed a limited-edition line of Vuitton bags[12] that featured graffiti written over the monogram pattern. The graffiti read Louis Vuitton and, on certain bags, the name of the bag (such as Keepall and Speedy). Certain pieces, which featured the graffiti without the Monogram canvas background, were only available on Louis Vuitton's V.I.P. customer list.Jacobs also created the charm bracelet, the first-ever piece of jewellery from LV, within the same year.[12]
In 2002, the Tambour watch collection was introduced.[12] During this year, the LV building in Tokyo's Ginza district was opened, and the brand collaborated with Bob Wilson for its Christmas windows scenography.In 2003, Takashi Murakami,[12] in collaboration with Marc Jacobs, masterminded the new Monogram Multicolore canvas range of handbags and accessories. This range included the monograms of the standard Monogram canvas but in 33 different colours on either a white or black background. (The classic canvas features gold monograms on a brown background.) Murakami also created the Cherry Blossom pattern, in which smiling cartoon faces in the middle of pink and yellow flowers were sporadically placed atop the Monogram canvas. This pattern appeared on a limited number of pieces. The production of this limited-edition run was discontinued in June 2003.Within 2003, the stores in Moscow, Russia, and in New Delhi, India were opened, the Utah and Suhali leather lines were released, and the 20th anniversary of the LV Cup was held.[12]
In 2004, Louis Vuitton celebrated its 150th anniversary. The brand also inaugurated stores in New York City (on Fifth Avenue), São Paulo, Mexico City, Cancún and Johannesburg. It also opened its first global store in Shanghai. By 2005, Louis Vuitton reopened its Champs-Élysées store in Paris designed by the American Architect Eric Carlson and released the Speedy watch collection.In 2006, LV held the inauguration of the Espace Louis Vuitton on its 7th floor.[12] In 2008, Louis Vuitton released the Damier Graphite canvas. The canvas features the classic Damier pattern but in black and grey, giving it a masculine look and urban feel. Also in 2008, Pharrell Williams co-designed a series of jewellery ("Blason") and glasses for Louis Vuitton.[25]
In 2010, Louis Vuitton opened what is described as their most luxurious store in London.[26]
In early 2011, Louis Vuitton hired Kim Jones as its "Men Ready-to-Wear Studio and Style Director".He became the lead designer of menswear while working under the company-wide artistic directorship of Marc Jacobs.[27]
On 17 September 2011, the company opened its Louis Vuitton Island Maison at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.[28]
2012 to present
As of, the company hired Darren Spaziani to lead its accessory collection.[29]
On 4 November 2013, the company confirmed that Nicolas Ghesquière had been hired to replace Marc Jacobs as artistic director of women's collections.Ghesquière's first line for the company was shown in Paris in March 2014.[30]
On 7 April 2014, Edouard Schneider became the head of press and public relations at Louis Vuitton under Frédéric Winckler, who is Vuitton's communications and events director.[31]
On 26 March 2018, Virgil Abloh was named artistic director of men's wear, replacing Kim Jones who had departed for Dior[32]—he was the label's first African-American artistic director and one of few black designers of a major European fashion house.[33] His debut show was held at the 2018 Paris Men's Fashion Week and staged in the historical Palais-Royal gardens' courtyard.[34][35]
On 28 November 2021, Abloh died of cardiac angiosarcoma, which he had been battling privately for two years prior.[36]
LV was in the first place in the BrandZ's top 10 most valuable luxury brands in 2019, with a worth of $47.2 billion. On 15 January 2020, the company acquired the Sewelô diamond, which is the third-largest rough diamond ever found in history, from Lucara Diamond who mined it from their mine in Botswana.[37][38][39][40]
In March 2022, LVMH announced closure of its 120+ stores in Russia, "given the current circumstances in the region,"[41] due to the Russo-Ukrainian War.An LVMH spokesperson stated the company would continue to pay salary and benefits to its 3,500 employees in Russia.[41]
On 14 February 2023, Pharrell Williams was named creative director of men's wear.[42] In March 2025, announced the launch of a cosmetic and beauty line, called La Beauté Louis Vuitton, with Britishmakeup artistPat McGrath as its creative director.[43][44] The collection has been in development for four years and is expected to include 55 lipsticks, eight eye shadow palettes and 10 lip balms.[45][46] McGrath's collaboration with Louis Vuitton originated from her longstanding relationship with Nicolas Ghesquière, the house's artistic director of women’s collections since 2014, and resulted in a product line developed over five years through a confidential process that included visits to the brand's historic home and atelier in Asnières-sur-Seine.[47]
The line officially launched on August 29, 2025 on Louis Vuitton's website and select stores worldwide, with 55 lipstick shades, 10 lip balms and eight eyeshadow palettes in the debut line.[49] The number of lipstick shades was chosen as a reference to the Roman numeral LV, which equals 55, and is known as the brand's monogram.[48]
The company actively seeks to eradicate counterfeiting, and employs a team of lawyers and special investigation agencies to pursue offenders through the courts worldwide.The company allocates approximately half of its communications budget to counteract counterfeiting of its goods.[5]LVMH, Vuitton's parent company, has described "Some 60 people at various levels of responsibility working full-time on anti-counterfeiting in collaboration with a wide network of outside investigators and a team of lawyers."[56] The company closely controls the distribution of its products.[5] Until the 1980s, Vuitton products were widely sold in department stores, such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.Today, Vuitton products are primarily available at company-owned Louis Vuitton boutiques,[5] with a small number of exceptions noted in upscale shopping districts or inside luxury department stores. Company boutiques within department stores operate independently, and are operated by company managers and employees. LV has an official online store, through its main website.[57]
In 2006, the company filed a lawsuit against Colorado-based Manifest Information Services Ltd. (aka Manifest Hostmaster and Manifest.com), through WIPO, in order to compel Manifest transfer the domain name LV.com to Louis Vuitton; the legal action failed and the domain was subsequently acquired by Liverpool Victoria (LV=), England's largest fraternalinsurance company.[58]
Several high-profile rap music artists have mentioned the company in song lyrics, most notably: Kanye West, Juicy J, and Wiz Khalifa.[59][60]
Louis Vuitton has been operating in China for 30 years and nowadays the country is the main market for the French maison, boasting about 40 offline stores nationwide.[61]
"Simple Living"
On 13 February 2007, Louis Vuitton sent a cease-and-desist order to Danish art student Nadia Plesner for using an image of a bag that allegedly infringed Louis Vuitton's intellectual property rights.Plesner had created a satirical illustration, "Simple Living", depicting a malnourished child holding a designer dog and a designer bag, and used it on T-shirts and posters to raise funds for the charity "Divest for Darfur".[62] On 25 March, the court ruled in favour of LV that the image was a clear infringement of copyright. Despite the ruling, Plesner continued to use the image, arguing artistic freedom, and posted copies of the cease-and-desist order on her website. On 15 April 2008, Louis Vuitton notified Plesner of the lawsuit being brought against her. Louis Vuitton demanded $7,500 (€5,000) for each day Plesner continues to sell the "Simple Living" products, $7,500 for each day the original cease-and-desist letter is published on her website and $7,500 a day for using the name "Louis Vuitton" on her website, plus legal and enforcement costs.[63]
An LVMH spokeswoman interviewed by New York Magazine said that Louis Vuitton were forced to take legal action when Plesner did not respond to their original request to remove the contested image, nor to the subsequent cease-and-desist order.[64] In October 2008, Louis Vuitton declared that the company had dropped its lawsuit[65] but have since reopened it along with a new €205,000 claim due to a painting by the same artist.[66] In May 2011, the court in The Hague found in favour of Plesner's right to freedom of expression.[67]
Britney Spears video
On 19 November 2007 Louis Vuitton, in further efforts to prevent counterfeiting, successfully sued Britney Spears for violating anti-counterfeiting laws.A part of the music video for the song "Do Somethin'" shows fingers tapping on the dashboard of a hot pink Hummer with what looks like Louis Vuitton's "Cherry Blossom" design bearing the LV logo.Britney Spears herself was not found liable, but a civil court in Paris ordered Sony BMG and MTV Online to stop showing the video. They were also fined €80,000 to each group. An anonymous spokesperson for LVMH stated that the video constituted an "attack" on Louis Vuitton's brands and its luxury image.[68]
S-Lock copyright in Hong Kong
In another legal warning dated back to September 2012, Louis Vuitton had filed complaints against two small retail shops in Hong Kong for allegedly violating its intellectual property rights in relation to the "S-Lock" design for Louis Vuitton's handbags. According to the Hong Kong-based Apple Daily newspaper, the company was seeking compensation of HK$40,000 (around $US 5,000) and a public apology in the newspaper. The shopkeeper refused to pay, and Louis Vuitton demanded further damages up to HK$150,000 in February 2013. The shop claimed to have sourced two such handbags from Japan at around HK$120, which it retailed at HK$220. In the case of the other small shop selling two handbags, they argued with Louis Vuitton that the designs were different, and got LV's demand reduced to HK$5,000 (around US$640). The owner refused to pay and said they were ready to face LV in court. [69]
Checker-pattern chair in Hong Kong barber shop
In February 2013, Louis Vuitton lodged a complaint against the owner of a barber shop in Hong Kong for allegedly violating its intellectual property rights in relation to a stool using fabric that is similar to the checkered pattern of Louis Vuitton's handbags.According to the Hong Kong-based Apple Daily newspaper the company was seeking compensation of HK$25,000 (around US$3,200) and the publication of an apology in the form of newspaper advertisement. The barber had sourced his furniture and equipment from Chinese vendors. Facing this accusation the barbershop owner said he had no means to defend himself against Louis Vuitton and may have to close his shop, which had been operating for a year in a remote area of Hong Kong Island. The controversy caused discussion on Hong Kong news forums and resulted in protests on Facebook pages.[70]
2021 patent ruling in Japan
In 2020, Louis Vuitton filed a complaint with the Japan Patent Office, claiming that the design of pouches for Buddhist prayer beads (juzu) and cases for temple stamp books (goshuin-chō) produced by a manufacturer in Asakusa, Tokyo, infringed on its trademark rights for the Damier Canvas pattern used in its products.In 2021, the Japan Patent Office rejected Louis Vuitton's claim, stating that the designs of the juzu pouches and goshuin-chō were based on ichimatsu moyō ( ja ), a traditional Japanese checkered pattern, and did not constitute an imitation of Louis Vuitton's design.[71][72][73]
It also allows LV to prevent counterfeit products entering its distribution channels.
In addition, the company distributes its products through the company's own website, LouisVuitton.com.[5]
In June 2021, Louis Vuitton sparked controversy by marketing a $700 scarf called 'Monogram Keffieh'.[74] The traditional Palestinian black and white keffiyeh has been a symbol of Palestinian nationalism since 1968. Louis Vuitton, however, changed the colours from the original black and white to blue and white which Palestinians and pro-Palestine social media activists called the colours of the flag of Israel, sporting with House signature patterns which was described as 'disgraceful'. Some users of Twitter began to tweet memes using the quote "If I don't steal it, someone else will" from a repatriated Israeli citizen who had recently gone viral for trying to illegally occupy the home of a Palestinian. Another user accused Louis Vuitton for being politically neutral when it came to Palestine and Israel but "totally cool" with profiting off of the keffiyeh.[75]In 2017 Louis Vuitton made headlines for producing a men's collection using prints similar to those of the Basotho blanket and to the designs of Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana, a controversial move that sparked accusations of cultural appropriation in South Africa and Lesotho.[76][77]
In 2002, president and CEO of LVMH Watches Daniel Lalonde (later, global CEO for LVMH brands Moët and Dom Pérignon) recruited celebrities, such as Maria Sharapova, Brad Pitt, Tiger Woods, and Uma Thurman, for advertising campaigns photographed by Patrick Demarchelier.Ads featuring Woods reportedly led to a 30% boost in sales, resulting in TAG Heuer being rated as the No. 2 luxury watch brand in America by 2005.[81]
In 2021, French actress and Louis Vuitton house ambassador Lea Seydoux wore a custom designed dress by Nicolas Ghesquière to the James BondNo Time to Die premiere in London. The dress itself took over 520 hours to make and the design was consisted of a white silk gown which featured a sparkling chiffon cape. The dress also included 29,000 sequins, 50,000 cuvettes and over 8800 glass beads which were carefully set on the dress.[82][83] In the same year, the luxury brand released an NFT mobile game titled Louis the Game to celebrate its founder's 200th birthday and in an effort to reach out to its younger, Gen-Z audience.[84] As part of its 200th anniversary celebrations in 2021, Louis Vuitton included work by Constantin Prozorov, a digital collage artist.[85]In 2022, Deepika Padukone was roped in as House Ambassador.[86][87]
Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH is set to enter Formula One from the 2025 season onward,[88] with the brand set to sponsor the Australian Grand Prix from 2025 onward.[89]
Sho Hirano of Japanese group Number i was appointed as brand ambassador for the Japanese side of the brand on 7 January 2025. On his role as ambassador, Hirano said: “Louis Vuitton has been a brand I’ve admired for years, and I’m thrilled to be involved in future projects. I hope to share the charm of this iconic Maison in my own way. Let’s explore the world of Louis Vuitton together.”[90][91] Hirano was in Paris for the brand's Fall/Winter 2025 campaign.[92] He returned for the Spring/Summer 2026 showcase.[93]
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Marc Jacobs also commemorated a previous collaboration, designed by Stephen Sprouse. This collection, originally released in 2001, featured bold print that looked like graffiti, over the traditional canvas. The recreation of the collab used the same idea, but gave it a new twist using bold colours, like hot pink, neon green, and orange, that also glow in the dark. This recreated version of the graffiti collection was released in 2009.
Louis Vuitton also collaborated with Kanye West in 2009, designing his own limited run of shoes.
In July 2012, Jacobs teamed up with Yayoi Kusama to create the "Infinitely Kusama" Collection, which features bold colours of dots over the vernis leather or the Monogram canvas. These pieces come in black with white dots, red with white dots, and yellow with black dots.
Louis Vuitton collaborated in their Spring–Summer 2016 collection advertising campaign with the highly popular Japanese video game franchise Final Fantasy and the game Final Fantasy XIII's main heroine, Lightning.
In 2017 Louis Vuitton collaborated with American streetwear brand Supreme, releasing products in various pop-up stores in major cities around the world. Items feature the Louis Vuitton Monogram canvas mixed with the Supreme box-logo design.[97]
Also in 2017, Louis Vuitton collaborated with artist Jeff Koons for two collections in an effort to "further [explore] the intersection of fashion and art."[98]
Nicolas Ghesquiere collaborated with Vogue creative director Grace Coddington on a cat-themed "Catogram" collection in 2018.[99]
In June 2019, the brand collaborated with six contemporary artists Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood on "Artycapucines." Each artist designed their version of the Capucine bag which were sold in numbered, limited quantities.[100]
In July 2019, Louis Vuitton opened a temporary exhibition titled "Louis Vuitton X" in Los Angeles, showcasing items from its various collaborations over the years.[101]
In October 2019, Louis Vuitton partnered with Riot Games to create digital assets for new skin line named "True Damage", where you can clearly see the LV logo on Qiyana in League of Legends, along with a specialty trophy case for the 2019 League of Legends World Championship.[102]
In June 2020, the brand collaborated with Japanese designer Nigo[103] x Virgil Abloh capsule collection.
In October 2020, Nicolas Ghesquière reportedly revamped the La Samaritaine department store for the Women's Spring-Summer 2021 fashion show by providing a virtual runway with 360-degree views and social-distanced seating for guests.[104]
For the fall 2021 women's collection, the brand collaborated with the Piero Fornasetti Atelier.[105][106]
In March 2024, Tyler Okonma (a.k.a. Tyler, The Creator) collaborated with Louis Vuitton to create their 2024 Spring collection.
In March 2025, the watch division of the brand collaborated with Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.[107]
Few years later, in May 2024, a strong polemic was reported by the media due to the fashion show organized by Louis Vuitton in Barcelona, Catalonia, as a result of its main sponsorship in the 2024 America's Cup hosted in this city.The company managed to organize the event inside the Antoni Gaudi's authored gardens Park Güell, declared as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, despite the public regulations that strictly limited its activities to "scientific and educative purposes".[110] The week before the show, the technical contractors were found to have destroyed the wall of a protected stairway and a stone ball.[110][111][112] The negligence, however, was only admitted after the damage had been denounced and published in the press by the neighborhood association.The residents' platform criticized that neither the company, nor the contractors or the City Council of Barcelona had informed them about such big occasion neither its impact.[112]
The tension between the public opinion, the City Council and the organizer quickly escalated the immediate days before the show, especially after the neighbors knew that both the park and the nearby streets would remain closed during the event[110][112][113] and due to the lack of transparency in the whole process.[113] In addition, the neighboring schools were forced to close earlier, denied their after-school activities and the access of families were limited with mandatory ID checkups.[113] The situation significantly worsened the already fragile, social environment in the area, which had already been suffering from touristification and gentrification in the past years.[111][113] The public company that operates the privatized access of the park, BSM, refused to disclose whether Louis Vuitton had paid or not for the event.[114] It alleged a non-disclosure agreement, while representatives of the mayor, Jaume Collboni (Socialists' Party of Catalonia), defended the show as a "positive promotion for the city to the world".[114]
Both the evenings before, and during the day of the fashion show, hundreds of inhabitants protested in the flagship Louis Vuitton shop of Barcelona (Passeig de Gràcia) and in the outskirts of Park Güell.[115][116] They blocked the access of the shop and displayed banners such as "Your luxury, our misery",[116] celebrated cassolades,[117] and demonstrated few times in front of the gardens' main doors against the company and the City Council.[118][119] A day before, it was also disclosed by investigative journalists Octuvre that Louis Vuitton had secretly pressured and achieved the free usage of the part as a sponsorship deal for the America's Cup:[120] it was later published by the press that a tailor-made secret decree was concocted so that the parade could fit in as an act of public interest.[115][121] At the arrival of the show attendants to the venue on May 23, hundreds of protesters, mostly activists, neighbors, and families, gathered in the surroundings of the park and attempted to peacefully trespass the police cordon.[122][123][124] The tension increased and the demonstration ended with police charges, while the event (Cruise 2025 Collection; in Catalan Col·lecció Creuer 2025)[122][123][124] was finally celebrated in the Sala Hipòstila of Gaudi's park premises.[125][126][127] During the gala reception of the show, VIP guests by Louis Vuitton were, however, photographed by the media mocking and even mooning the outside protesters from a viewpoint of the park.[128][129][130][131]
