A Very Short History of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull

In an age of fast-paced trends, certain designs stand out for their timeless allure and enduring appeal. And, while IT bags may come and go, others become coveted classics whose popularity never wanes, like Louis Vuitton’s iconic Neverfull.

As its name indicates, the Neverfull was designed to be spacious enough to carry all your essentials, from beach to boardroom, work to weekend. Crafted from Louis Vuitton’s signature Monogram and Damier patterns, it combined the brand’s heritage elegance with functional practicality, with a choice of three sizes, PM, MM and GM. Launched in 2007, it was an instant hit, beloved by celebrities and fashion insiders. “We didn’t have a bag for going to the beach, working, shopping, carrying baby equipment,” explained Nicholas Knightly, former director of leather goods design in ‘Louis Vuitton City Bags: A Natural History’. “The Neverfull is all of that combined.”

Leonardo da Vinci famously said that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and when it comes to handbags, this couldn’t be more true. The beauty – and enduring popularity – of the Neverfull lies in its clean, deceptively simple silhouette, which belies a technically detailed design.

The handles are slim and unfussy, but reinforced with double stitching and thick overstitched chapes which can withstand up to 90 kilos of weight. The simple drawstrings on the side can be pulled to adjust the bag’s look and size, but beyond the aesthetic they also add a layer of extra security once clipped together. A detachable pochette is included, which can either be fastened inside the bag, or used separately as a clutch. And cementing its status as the perfect travel tote, the Neverfull can even be folded down and flattened into your luggage.

Louis Vuitton is renowned for a unique ability to combine its illustrious legacy with creative innovation, and this is reflected in the Neverfull. Its design details evoke the brand’s Sac Marin navy bag and Sac A Linge laundry bag, both of which were first launched in the 19th century, while its rectangular shape and striped interior lining have their origins in the wardrobe trunk and the streamer trunk. However, alongside these elements of tradition and heritage, the Neverfull continues to evolve.

Cutting-edge collaborations with artists including Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama have seen it reimagined in different colours and limited-edition designs, helping the Neverfull retain its place as one of the most relevant, collectible and highly covetable bags on the luxury market. It’s functional, yet chic, modern, yet timeless – the Holy Grail of handbags.

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