The Guide to the Louis Vuitton Keepall Bag

History of the Louis Vuitton Keepall Bag

Louis Vuitton remains iconic for its travel luggage, trunk bags, and accessories. The Keepall was designed by Gaston Vuitton and draws inspiration from Louis Vuitton’s travel luggage. The Keepall’s exceptional appeal, particularly evident upon its introduction in the 1930s, lies in its departure from the heavy and boxy luggage norms of the time. Instead, the Keepall embraces a light, flexible, and convenient design, perfectly suited for spontaneous travelers yearning for quick and effortless departures.

Louis Vuitton has a history in making luggage. In 1930, the Louis Vuitton Keepall was introduced by Gaston Vuitton as the moderately sized weekender bag of Louis Vuitton to accommodate the shifting travel habits of people at the time. The Louis Vuitton Keepall is the spirit of modern travel: light, flexible and always ready for an immediate departure. Being the unisex bag that's great as a carry-on for every trip, it got iconic straight away. The Keepall is the all-time favorite for many celebrities and influencers.

Design

The Louis Vuitton Keepall is an extremely roomy and spacious bag. It has two single handles on top as well as a removable and adjustable strap. It also has a removable leather name tag. Inside you’ll find a zipped pocket just as the bag has a double zipped closure with a padlock.

You can actually see the inspiration for the Keepall all the way back in the 1892 Louis Vuitton handbags catalog where the Sac de Nuit was first presented. Because of the way women’s fashion was at the time, women didn’t have pockets which created the need for smaller and lighter types of travel luggage. The Sac de Nuit was therefor designed with practicality in mind and was made as a bag that would remain in the back of a car.

The Keepall is also a product of its time! The idea of the bag came about during the “Roaring Twenties” and to be fashionable in the 1920s meant being modern and being modern meant being sporty. Women drove their own cars, they played tennis, skied during the winter and swam during the summer. The Keepall reflected all of this with its simple shape and practicality.

When you look for the Keepall in stores and online, you’ll without a doubt come across the Keepall Bandoulière. Keepall Bandoulière simply means that the Keepall will have an extra vertical leather strap attached on the side of the bag to strengthen it.Size Guide

The original Louis Vuitton Keepall is available in four different sizes: 45, 50, 55 and 60.

• Louis Vuitton Keepall 45

As the smallest of the collection, the Louis Vuitton Keepall 45 measures 17.7 x 10.6 x 7.9 inches is ideal for a night away or as a gym bag. Despite its size, it doesn’t compromise on space or style. This size keepall makes it cabin-approved, allowing you to use it as cabin baggage for air travel. Now, you can keep your essentials close by, even when you’re on the move with a removable strap.

• Louis Vuitton Keepall 50

For weekend getaways, the Louis Vuitton Keepall 50 measures 19.7 x 11.4 x 8.7 inches is the ultimate choice. The Keepall 50 offers just enough space for a short trip. If you have a small pet, the LV Keepall 50 serves as a elegant and comfortable carrier.

• Louis Vuitton Keepall 55

Travelers favor the Louis Vuitton Keepall 55 measures 21.7 x 12.2 x 9.4 inches for several reasons: It is stylish and versatile, serving as both a gym bag and a Louis Vuitton Travel bag. It is the perfect size for a five-day trip, fitting everything from clothes to personal items like a laptop or hairdryer. It offers plenty of space for all your belongings. It is accepted as a onboard baggage on most airlines, making it convenient for travel. The Louis Vuitton Keepall 55 is a popular choice among travelers for its style, functionality, and convenience.

• Louis Vuitton Keepall 60

The Louis Vuitton Keepall 60 measures 23.6 x 13 x 10.2 inches, the largest size, is perfect when packing for an extended trip. As the largest in the Keepall collection, it offers lots of space for a week’s worth of luggage. This travel bag, introduced in the 1930s, is your perfect companion for long trips. However, due to its size, it doesn’t qualify as hand baggage on planes, so it’s best checked in.

You can also get a tiny Keepall in the size 25. This is most common as a Keepall Bandoulière however. This small bag measures 9.8 x 5.9 x 4.3 inches. Louis Vuitton has also extended the family of Keepalls with two new addition: The City Keepall and the Keepall XS.

The City Keepall is much smaller than the normal Keepalls – like the Keepall Bandoulière 25 – and measures 10.6 x 6.7 x 5.1 inches. It has a large main compartment and the same double zipped closure you’re used to. It comes with a removable and adjustable strap, so you can wear it on your shoulder or crossbody.

Following up on his technical Pre-Spring 2021 collection, Virgil Abloh had unveiled Keepall XS measures 8.3 x 4.7 x 3.5 inches iterations of Louis Vuitton‘s iconic Keepall bag. Signature silhouettes are transformed into smaller sizes perfect for carrying your daily essentials.

Each size of the Louis Vuitton Keepall offers the same level of craftsmanship and quality that the brand is renowned for. They feature the iconic Monogram canvas or other luxurious materials, sturdy handles, and a removable shoulder strap for added convenience. With its timeless design and versatility, the Louis Vuitton Keepall in any size is an excellent choice for those who value both fashion and functionality in their travel accessories.

Materials Guide

With the invention of the classic Monogram Canvas, the Keepall went from a duffle bag to an iconic fashion piece. The Monogram Canvas was the first print introduced by the French brand and was designed by Louis Vuitton’s son, Georges Vuitton. The print was created as a way to make it harder for other brands to copy Louis Vuitton styles.

Besides canvas, Epi leather is the most used material from Louis Vuitton. The idea for this pattern came to Georges Vuitton in 1920 when he and his sons were looking for durable materials. Fast forward six years and the Epi leather was used for the first time for a tea case trunk. Epi leather is a pressed leather stamped with a textured horizontal pattern covered in a protective finish. Originally this pattern was available in six colors, but Louis Vuitton has removed and added colors to the Epi palette.

The Monogram Eclipse was first introduced as part of the Fall 2016 show. It was Kim Jones’ latest innovation as the artistic director of menswear. The Monogram is therefor only seen on mens bags but as the Keepall is quite a unisex bag this won’t be a problem for female Keepall lovers. The Monogram Eclipse is a dark spin on the iconic Monogram logo hence the name. The colors are monochromatic grey and black.

Monogram Macassar Canvas is another take on the classic Monogram Canvas but this time it has nothing to do with the logo and everything to do with the accompanying leather you find on the bag. Typically, the Vachetta leather on a Keepall will be a light brown but on the Monogram Macassar Canvas the leather is black. The Monogram Macassar was introduced as a full collection for the Fall 2009 season.

When Marc Jacobs was appointed the head of Louis Vuitton in 1997, his first contribution was the creation of the Monogram Vernis. It first appeared on the shelves in 1998 and is a new take on the Monogram print. The shine of the Vernis is achieved with a patent finish on calfskin leather.

Damier Ebene Canvas is without a doubt the other most famous print, right after the Monogram Canvas, and both prints are created by Georges Vuitton! The Damier Canvas was first introduced in 1888. The name ‘Damier’ means ‘chessboard’ in French which perfectly describes the pattern. The Damier pattern has been introduced in several color combinations but only two of them have stuck around. The Damier Ebene is one and the other the Damier Azur. The Damier Ebene is two shades of brown and the Damier Azur Canvas is creme and nayy blue. The Damier Azus was inspired by the French Riviera and created in 2006.

Calf leather with monogram embossing: A luxurious, soft, and supple leather with a monogram pattern.

Collaborations and Limited Editions

Louis Vuitton has continuously reinvented the Keepall, collaborating with renowned designers and artists to infuse fresh perspectives into the iconic design. Limited edition Keepall bags born out of collaborations with luminaries like Virgil Abloh, Supreme, and Yayoi Kusama have ignited fervor among collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike. These collaborations breathe new life into the classic Keepall, ensuring its relevance in contemporary fashion.

Market Demand and Appreciation

The Louis Vuitton Keepall bag remains in high demand globally, resonating with luxury consumers who seek both style and functionality. Its enduring popularity is reflected in market data, with the luxury travel bag segment projected to reach a market value of over $2.5 billion by 2026. The Keepall's timeless appeal continues to captivate consumers across diverse demographics and geographical locations.