The purpose of this study is to suggest characteristics of Louis Vuitton bags by the shape and aesthetic value and to examine sources of Louis Vuitton's continuous popularity over 150 years by looking at its marketing strategy that extended the meanin...
The purpose of this study is to suggest characteristics of Louis Vuitton bags by the shape and aesthetic value and to examine sources of Louis Vuitton's continuous popularity over 150 years by looking at its marketing strategy that extended the meaning of total fashion brand. Also, I can utilize the Louis Vuitton's aesthetic and marketing strategy examinations in order to develop a higher value-added creativity in designs.
The method of this study is to collect materials from documentary records based on previous studies, fashion-related magazines and professional collection magazines, internet websites, 「Marc Jacobs - Louis Vuitton」video that discussed Louis Vuitton's designs and interviews, and actual data from domestic and international shops and collections.
In order to approach Louis Vuitton from all angles, I first looked at bag's fundamental notions and history and the formation background of Louis Vuitton that started as a bag specialty brand. A role of bag has changed from only a tool that carries one's belongings to an item that expresses one's unique identity and characteristics. As growing importance of the role of bag, we try to grasp inclusive considerations of bag's essential role in fashion coordination.
I looked at Louis Vuitton's transition through times by appearance of the brand, creation of monogram and expansion of product lines, globalization of the brand, and the design innovation by Marc Jacobs. The 21st century fashion is described as expressing one's identity by a brand's value. So, I studied the strength of the brand that leads trends by predicting new life style yet its design never fades away and that changes to total fashion brand to become the representation of brand symbolism.
I analyzed Louis Vuitton's characteristics of bag's shape and aesthetic value that have preserved traditions yet constantly pursued changes reflecting times' new trends.
The characteristics of bags' shapes are expressed by their practical forms, reconstruction by materials and patterns, imaging colors, and the accentuation of combination accessories. The forms are based on practicality and functionality, but Louis Vuitton also brings unique configuration that communicates with new trends into relief in order to make the bag an essential item to lead total look. The reconstruction by materials and patterns has become the most important element in the characteristics of Louis Vuitton bags representing its logo. Through dynamic mix and match using the accessories that corresponds with the materials and patterns, Louis Vuitton puts emphasis on the fashion ability and tredniness. Colors embossed by sensible, trendy, and active design are newly changing clothing image. Thus, the characteristics of bag are continuously changing in order to make the united image between bag and clothing as an essential element in total coordination.
The aesthetic characteristics shown in Louis Vuitton's design are functionaltiy, modernity in lifestyle, originality of the logo, and amusing sense of fun and parody. The functionality of Louis Vuitton's bag is based on practicality and shown through the invention of an epoch-making material to adapt new traveling methods by adjusting weight and size, and the modern interior design of the bag. Also, the brand has been in the stream of times by predicting future lifestyle to express designs with both eternity and modernity. When looking at originality of the logo in Louis Vuitton, it was first to build united brand image by creating monogram canvas. The amusing sense of fun and parody is often shown in Marc Jacobs' design it expresses young image and adds an amusing element to traditional Louis Vuitton's design-a brand with true modernity was recreated.
The marketing strategies of Louis Vuitton, the most firmly standing brand despite of times, I look at in this study are the establishment of brand identity through the invention of monogram, collaboration of fashion designers and art, and advertisement strategy and promotion using fashion icon.
The brand identity strategy had started to prevent imitation products, and Louis Vuitton established BI through monogram invention using stripe and damier pattern. Monogram expanded the past image, raised the value of its tradition, gave the innovative uniqueness, and at the same time, it plays an important role in confirming Louis Vuitton's identity through the power of the logo and symbol. The tradition of collaboration of fashion designers and art had started from the 1st generation Louis Vuitton, and the brand value has risen from luxury goods to works of art by Marc Jacobs.
Using fashion icons in advertisements and promotions appeal the emotional and sensational image of the brand. Marc Jacobs is successfully recreating Louis Vuitton's tradition by newly interpreting modernity through dynamic images. The brand establishes its image as a timeless, traditional, and valueable luxury brand rather than just an expensive luxury brand by modernly communicating with the general public through the advertising campaigns that say life is journey, which naturally suggests them a time for self-discovery.
Based on stated above Louis Vuitton's aesthetic and marketing strategies, I came up designs with three different concepts that focus classic, pop-casual, and intellectual yet sexy: ‘Urban purity’ for day-wear, ‘Arty Puzzle’ for casual wear, ‘Mineral Glitter’ for evening-wear. The main targets are women between mid-twenties and mid-thirties with their own professions who can express total coordination with a sense of modernity based on TPO.
After the mapping-work and preparation of operation directions including textile designs, I produced works that matches each image and material and color.
This study looks into Louis Vuitton from all angles including its formation background, characteristics of shape, aesthetic value, and marketing strategy in order to give practical data for long-run domestic luxury brand creation by observing the brand that started as a bag specialty brand and transformed to a fashion total brand.