Today is what would have been Louis Vuitton's 196th birthdayand that's a cause for celebration. This year's Louis Vuitton birthday is being celebrated (via blog, of course) with a look at just how far the brand has come since Vuitton started his company in 1864._x000D_   _x000D_ We're taking a look at today's Louis Vuitton to really showcase the craftsmanship that led to this brand being around for more than 150 years._x000D_   _x000D_

A Look Back at Louis

_x000D_ Louis Vuitton was a traveler. At age 13, he left his hometown, on foot, to begin his journey to Paris where he would eventually found his legacy. Beginning as an apprentice to a box-maker, Louis Vuitton soon developed a love for quality design and, in 1864, left to begin his own workshop._x000D_   _x000D_ Originally, Louis Vuitton worked with Trianon canvas for years until bootleggers began to copy his designs. It was at that point that Louis Vuitton added new designs to their coated canvas material to dissuade bootleggers from selling knockoffs of his creations. Thus, many of the materials that we love today, like Monogram and Damier canvas, were made._x000D_   _x000D_

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A post shared by Couture USA (@coutureusa) on Jul 20, 2017 at 3:04pm PDT

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And, on This Year's Louis Vuitton Birthday: A Look at LV Now

_x000D_ _x000D_ Louis Vuitton has always been about structure and classic design. Modern Louis Vuitton bags are no different, though they do all have a certain je ne sais quoi. Modern Louis Vuitton bags come in Monogram and Damier canvas, of course, but their leather designs have captivated us this year._x000D_   _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_   _x000D_ _x000D_ Featuring many classically Louis Vuitton elements, these bags are made from Empreinte leather and were designed with the gold-toned LV hardware. The difference lies in the mixed-material straps, at least in the bags above, and the additional elements of metal throughout the bags. These structured beauties are perfect for women of any age—as long as they have a taste for the high-end._x000D_   _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_   _x000D_ _x000D_ Modern Louis Vuitton bags are innovative, like the tote above. Understated, these modern bags are made for day-to-night transformations that don't force you to downgrade bags or leave your essentials behind. From work to play, these new bags are the epitome of 2017's Louis Vuitton._x000D_ _x000D_  _x000D_ _x000D_

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_x000D_ _x000D_ A post shared by Couture USA (@coutureusa) on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:18pm PDT_x000D_

_x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_   _x000D_ _x000D_ And even if designs do still feature classic Monogram canvas (and we hope they always do!), Louis Vuitton does it with a bit of edge. From the reimagined Monogram canvasNeverfulls, to the Louis Vuitton Tuffetage Canvas Deauville Cube bag shown above, there's always a daring and beautiful element that makes heads turn wherever you go._x000D_   _x000D_