Created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton as a tribute to his father Louis, the founder of the Maison, the Monogram has embodied an ongoing dialogue between heritage, innovation, and culture for well over a century, originally conceived as a signature to safeguard the Maison’s creations before rapidly becoming a universal language, inspired by Neo-Gothic ornamentation and the influence of Japonism. One hundred and thirty years later, it remains the most recognisable luxury emblem in the world, and 2026 is the year Louis Vuitton is taking that fact seriously enough to spend an entire year celebrating it.
The Three Anniversary Collections
Louis Vuitton unveiled three exclusive capsule collections that revisit the Monogram by reinterpreting classic savoir-faire through contemporary artistry. The Monogram Origine Collection reimagines the 1896 canvas with a new linen and cotton jacquard weave in soft pastel hues drawn from the archives, a material that carries the original pattern while feeling entirely of the present moment. The VVN Collection is an ode to Louis Vuitton’s premium leather goods legacy, using the pale-colored natural cowhide that has always trimmed Monogram bags as the main material, a canvas that develops its own unique patina over time and use, with the Monogram appearing on detachable name tags and a jacquard inner lining. The Time Trunk Collection rounds out the trio with trompe-l’oeil printing that reproduces the textures and metallic details of the house’s classic trunks, the piece of luggage that started everything in 1854.
The Iconic Bags
Louis Vuitton inaugurated the celebration year with the most iconic of the Monogram bags, the Speedy, the Keepall, the Noé, the Alma, and the Neverfull, all distinctly innovative pieces that have set the prototype as era-defining accessories across the decades since their introduction. Elevating them to works of art from the house’s heritage rather than simply reissuing them, the anniversary treatment gives each silhouette the historical weight it has always deserved without reducing it to a museum piece.
A Year-Long Celebration
Starting from January 2026, the Maison launched a series of initiatives including special collections, dedicated thematic windows, and exclusive presentations in its stores, a year-long programme that treats the anniversary as an ongoing conversation rather than a single moment. For Pierre-Louis Vuitton, the house’s Head of Savoir-Faire and a member of the founding family, the Monogram is not just a logo; it is his heritage, and the year-long celebration acknowledges the profound impact this design has had on the house. One hundred and thirty years is a long time for any design to remain relevant. The Monogram has not simply survived; it has remained genuinely coveted across three centuries, by every generation that encountered it.
