There are few fashion symbols as instantly recognisable as Louis Vuitton’s Monogram. More than a pattern, it has become a kind of visual shorthand for travel, craft and luxury — a motif that has moved fluidly across decades, trends and creative eras. In 2026, the House will mark 130 years of the Monogram canvas with a year-long programme of celebrations that looks back to its origins while firmly engaging with the present.
First created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton as a tribute to his father, Louis Vuitton, the Monogram was conceived as both an artistic statement and a practical safeguard. At a moment when imitation was already rife, Georges designed a meticulously detailed arrangement of interlaced LV initials and floral motifs, formally registering the design to protect the House’s work. Drawing on Neo-Gothic ornamentation and the influence of Japonism — a key artistic current of the late 19th century — the design followed earlier innovations such as the striped canvas of 1872 and the Damier of 1888.
But what began as a protective measure quickly grew beyond function. Over the decades, the Monogram has evolved into one of fashion’s most enduring signatures — a visual expression of craftsmanship and modernity that continues to anchor Louis Vuitton’s identity today.
The anniversary celebrations will officially begin in January 2026, opening with a renewed focus on the Monogram bags that have come to define the House. These include the Speedy and Keepall (both introduced in 1930), whose streamlined forms reshaped the idea of travel dressing; the Noé (1932), originally designed to transport five bottles of champagne; the Alma (1992), with its architectural lines inspired by Paris; and the Neverfull (2007), a contemporary staple that has become ubiquitous in modern wardrobes.
Alongside this retrospective moment, Louis Vuitton will unveil a series of new Monogram Anniversary collections, each reinterpreting the canvas through contemporary materials, techniques and design codes. Rooted in the House’s trunk-making savoir-faire, three special-edition lines explore the Monogram from different perspectives.
First, is the Monogram Origine Collection, which revisits the original 1896 pattern through a newly developed canvas, crafted using a jacquard weave in a linen and cotton blend. Rendered in soft pastel hues, the collection draws inspiration from the cover of an archival Louis Vuitton client register, offering a gentle, historically grounded reimagining of the Monogram.
Next is the VVN Collection, which pays homage to the House’s leather goods legacy. Crafted from natural cowhide, each piece celebrates the tactile beauty of hand-finished leather, designed to develop a unique patina over time — a reminder that luxury is as much about longevity as it is about aesthetics.
And finally, the Time Trunk Collection bridges past and present through trompe-l’oeil printing, reproducing the textures and metallic details of Louis Vuitton’s historic trunks. The result is an artful illusion that transforms heritage craftsmanship into a contemporary visual statement.
At 130 years old, the Monogram is anything but static. This anniversary year reframes the canvas as something still evolving — a symbol that continues to sit at the heart of Louis Vuitton’s ideas around travel, craft and innovation.
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