From Punjab to the Paris Olympics: A journey around the world in a Louis Vuitton trunk
PTC News Desk: During the 19th century, Jagatjit Singh, the Maharaja of Kapurthala in Punjab, desired his luggage to be a reflection of his personal style when he travelled the world. He was a huge fan of France. His adoration for anything French is so great that it is reported that the mansion of Versailles in France served as the inspiration for his Kapurthala mansion.
Thus, Singh was able to enjoy the pinnacle of French luxury at work when he was employed by Louis Vuitton, which made over 60 custom trunks for Singh. His elaborate traditional attire, suits, turbans, swords, shoes, and garments all went into several trunks.
For the wealthy and regal
But Kapurthala wasn’t the only person who fell in love with the fabled trunks of Louis Vuitton. Since 1858, they have been producing trunks for the world’s affluent and well-known. From the coasts of Egypt to the numerous Maharajas of India, royalty has always been a top choice for LV trunk buyers. It all started in 1858 when Louis Vuitton unveiled the world’s first LV trunk.
‘Trunk’ or ‘malle’ is where Louis Vuitton Malletier gets its name. The first trunk manufactured by the trunk-makers was composed of the incredibly resilient and waterproof Trianon canvas. LV was able to create trunks with a flat bottom and top because to the canvas.
These crates could be stacked. Compared to the rounded-topped ones in use at the time, they were more convenient for travel. Up to that point, trunks had a rounded top to allow water to drain off. Now Louis Vuitton has solved that issue with the Trianon canvas.
The Mail Box
The Mail Trunk or Malle Courrier was patented by the brand in 1867. Basically, the trunk that is flat.
With a variety of canvases in between, LV rendered their trunks impervious to imitations during the ensuing decades. In 1897, monogram canvas was first utilized. Currently, it is the most utilised and well-liked Louis Vuitton canvas.
The most inventive examples of Louis Vuitton’s inventiveness from the 19th century onwards are their Asnieres-made special-order trunks. The materials that go into making the trunks that are subsequently transported over the globe include zinc, copper, wood, canvas, and an abundance of leathers such as natural cowhide, calf, crocodile, alligator, elephant, walrus, lizard, snake, and seal. For occasionally globally renowned events.
The Olympics in Paris in 2024
And thus we arrive at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where the torch was transported in a custom Louis Vuitton trunk.
Twelve days prior to the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Olympic torch makes its way to the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. The case was a living example of classic Louis Vuitton design. Before the specially-made suitcase was opened and the torch was given to Thierry Henry, it was positioned atop a pedestal in the center of the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees.
The legendary French football player then carried the lit torch to the Place de la Concorde, which was close by. The final stage of preparations is underway in Paris ahead of the July 26 opening of the Games.
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163 million dollars were sponsored
The LVMH empire is headquartered in the capital of France. $163 million was spent by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton on the Paris Olympics last year. This year’s winner medals are being designed by the Parisian jeweler Chaumet, while Moet Hennessy is responsible for the wines served in Olympic hospitality suites.
The flame arrived in Paris inside an LV luggage thanks to LVMH’s prestigious sponsor status. Throughout the torch’s 79-day trip this year, the trunk has been a constant.
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‘Victory travels in LV’
Around the world, Louis Vuitton is in charge of several trophy trunks. You may recall Deepika Padukone, an Indian actress and LV ambassador, revealing the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar from a Louis Vuitton trunk back in 2022. The FIFA trophy travels the world with Louis Vuitton trunks, joining an impressive collection of other trophies.
“Victory Travels in Louis Vuitton,” the company declares in reference to its trophy trunks. Carrying sporting trophies from sporting events throughout the world is a testament to the brand’s centuries-old legacy of savoir-faire, which is French for ‘knowing how to do’. The masters of the maison make these trophy trunks by hand at their historic studio in Asnieres, outside of Paris.
The Grand Prix de Monaco, Australian Open, Davis Cup, Suzanne Lenglen Cup and Musketeers’ Cup from Roland Garros, Rugby World Cup, Ballon D’Or, FIFA World Cup, NBA’s Larry O’Brien, League of Legends’ Summoner’s Cup, and America’s Cup are among the trophies now in their trophy trunks.
LV trunks are renowned for their style, robustness, and unmatched French sexiness. Additionally, LVMH spends a lot of money to establish partnerships with athletic events for their trophy trunks. After then, they have a lengthy and distinguished list of well-known clients.
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A case for tea, one for mallets
Consider the Gaekwads of Baroda, for instance. Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III happened upon an LV concept tea case sketch in a Harper’s Bazaar magazine in 1926. It dawned on him that the tea case would make the ideal travelling companion for his tiger hunts. He thus ordered one from the maison right away, and in 1930 LV delivered the tea case. Constructed from grained leather, the case held every tea-making accessory that the Maharaja could require while out hunting.
During the period when compactness was not a popular concept, his tea case was revolutionary. Gaekwad continued to support Louis Vuitton throughout his life.
Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir commissioned Louis Vuitton to make custom trunks in 1925 to hold his clothing and accessories. Singh also had a passion for polo and desired an LV trunk to store his mallets in. The company delivered.
Singh ordered 38 LV trunks for himself during the course of seven months in 1928, with the luggage bearing their intended uses clearly marked on them. Among these trunks, a silver toiletries package with almost fifty items—brushes, bottles, soap boxes, razors, and a jewelry box—jumped out! Each of these trunks was marked with the diagonally striped J&K stamp.
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The tilbury for the eccentric countess
From the fussy Indian maharajas who wouldn’t stop until their vision in leather and canvas accompanied them on trips to the eccentric French explorer Blanche de Clermont Tonnerre, who wanted to travel the world on her own terms in a DIY carriage, royalty’s fascination with LV trunks transcends nations and centuries.
Tonnerre had no desire to deal with the headache of figuring out how to get around in countries such as Iraq, Siberia, China, India, and Persia. Recall that we are discussing the early 1900s at this point. Thus, in 1910, she knocked on the doors of Louis Vuitton, the only company she thought could make a tilbury for her, along with trunks.
And Vuitton was up to the task. It made the explorer a set of LV trunks and a tilbury wagon. Traveling was a breeze for Tonnerre with this two-wheeled carriage that could be disassembled and reassembled as needed.
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Centre of attention
No monarchy, from Punjab to Paris, could exist without luxury. It calls for amazement. It calls for a show. It requires something distinct that makes it stand out.
That’s why grandeur and extravagance are expected for the oldest Games in history. It makes sense that the torch would arrive in a trunk from the original trunkmakers, who are renowned for their savoir-faire legacy. since they are capable of doing it.
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