Monday, February 13, 2017

Louis Vuitton: Imperial Saffron Retail Packaging


Louis Vuitton is an internationally renowned luxury fashion house known for signature monogrammed luggage, handbags & more.

Louis Vuitton’s heritage as a trunk maker preceded even the founding of the company.  In 1837, 23 years prior to the establishment of the brand, a 16-year-old Louis Vuitton Malletier arrived in Paris by foot and started apprenticing for Monsieur Maréchal after deciding he would become a trunk-master, a decision that would not only change his own life but the lives of his sons and future generations. 

At the time, horse-drawn carriages, boats and trains were the main modes of transportation, and baggage was handled roughly, leading travellers to call upon craftsmen to pack and protect their individual objects. Louis Vuitton quickly became a valued craftsman at the Parisian atelier of Monsieur Maréchal. This was the foundation of his highly specialised trade; the beginnings of his career in an artisinal industry that called upon skills to custom design boxes and trunks. 

Louis Vuitton stayed for 17 years before opening his own workshop at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines near the Place Vendome.

In 2016, the brand introduced a new range of packaging named 'Imperial Saffron' which remains true to the house’s origins as a packer and provider of custom luggage.

The iconic brown chocolate color of Louis Vuitton packaging has been replaced by a bright saffron shade named 'Safran Impérial,' specially selected to create a distinctive new visual signature woven into Louis Vuitton’s history for over a century and a half. The color first appeared early in the history of the House, and can be seen in many iconic heritage pieces - the 'Citroën' trunk made by Louis Vuitton for an expedition to Africa organised by the French automobile firm in 1924 in particular.



The new retail packaging includes feature of another historic color, a complimentary striking blue used in early personalisation details from 1854 onwards and also for the House’s ribbons for many decades. The signature combination of the two colours creates a modern yet timeless aesthetic that is reminiscent of the golden age of travel.

Feature of a lighter tone on the sides and interiors of the new packaging echo the natural cowhide leather used by Louis Vuitton since 1860. 

Heavier materials, including thicker paper and cotton ribbon handles, and new formats have been designed to fold/fit conveniently in to luggage in keeping with the Louis Vuitton spirit of travel whilst allowing greater resilience during transport. The use of raw cotton and a flat-pack collapsible design are part of a greater focus on sustainability on behalf of the House, though symbolic signs of luxury have been maintained via appropriation of typical luxury semantics and signature style.

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