Breakfast with Louis Vuitton

Oh god, I’m gonna sound like a complete sell out right now, but todays breakfast with Louis Vuitton CEO Daniel Lalonde was one of the most feel good moments of my year. Meeting at a small private library at the St. Regis Hotel, Louis Vuitton invited Fashion Indie and a couple of other blog friendlies including Nitrolicious blogger Wendy L, Bag Snob Tina Craig, and Fashion Triber Lesley Scott. The event was surprisingly intimate as the Vuitton clan asked all the bloggers in the room straight out “How do we work with you?”  

The directness of their approach and ability to state their concerns with brand image, information distribution, and working with bloggers was really frank, but at the same time polished and very, not surprisingly, corporate.  We offered suggestions like create blogger login pages and develop events for bloggers, but what I really left with was that many companies are interested in reaching us but have no real means to do it.  

Some key points from the breakfast are below, and no, I did not receive money or product to write this shit, so don’t get all up my ass in the comments section for “endorsing” the house of Louis. It’s just interesting stuff I thought y’all might like.

•  Journeys ad campaign was inspired by the need for the brand to return to it’s routes. Each person in the campaign has been chosen for the life experiences they have had.  Louis spent the last ten years developing the other verticals of the brand (ready to wear, accessories) but felt it was the right time to give us consumers a throwback.  SPOILER ALERT: The next Journeys ad campaign will feature a couple.  My bets on the Clintons, the Gates, or the Bransons. Big money folks with amazing life journeys.
• The flowers on the Louis Vuitton bag are some sort of Da Vinci code mystery. Some people think they come from some sort of Asian influence, but one Louis staffer stressed that the petals are very similar to a tile pattern at the old Louis Vuitton home front.
• There is a Louis Vuitton Bible filled with over 150 years of history for the iconic brand.  Hopefully it will be put in print one day.  
• It’s Vee-ton. Not Vuu-ton.
• The brand plans to make huge pushes online with talks of a possible “network” for true devotees. User-generated content on LouisVuitton.com. I can see it.
• Louis Vuitton has never and will never give Paris Hilton a free bag.
• The brand is like a fifth character in the Sex and the City film.
• Every blogger wants an interview with Marc Jacobs. No one will get one. Duh?