Louis Vuitton was a real person. He founded the brand in 1854 after having been successful as the professional trunk packer for Empress Eugenie of France. Back then, the dresses for royalty and wealty people were so elaborate, they required custom trunks and packers to fit and protect all the hoop skirts, corsets, and delicate embroidery for heavy travel. Louis Vuitton gradually grew into a brand that offerd simpler travel pieces and Vuitton himself passed the company on to his son, and then the granson and so on. In fact, the famous 'Monogram' design was invented by the son, as a way to deter counterfeiters. There is a wonderful history section on the home page, www.vuitton.com, plus videos of how they make all the products by hand and interesting trivia.

Italian-US company manufacturing and retailing leather luggage and accessories from the 1960s, and designing clothes for men and women from 1969. The Gucci family firm was founded in Italy in the 15th century. In 1905 Guccio Gucci moved from millinery to saddlery, and the business was expanded by his three sons, principally Aldo Gucci (1905–1990), who was responsible for the company's growth in the USA. The Gucci label became an international status symbol in the 1970s. In the early 1990s interest in Gucci grew again, following the introduction of a range of relaxed sportswear-oriented outfits, and the reworking of Gucci loafers in brightly coloured suede.

Miu Miu is positioned as the daily-oriented, younger clothing line from the Prada fashion house, opened in 1992 and headed by Miuccia Prada. The name of the collection is taken from Miuccia Prada's nickname.American actress Katie Holmes has been confirmed as the newest face of the spring/summer 09 campaign.French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis is the current face of Miu Miu, replacing Kirsten Dunst in 2008. Previous faces include model Laetitia Casta, actress/singer Lindsay Lohan, and Chinese actress Zhou Xun.There are Miu Miu boutiques situated in New York, Los Angeles, London, Florence, Milan, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Fukuoka, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, Boston, Taipei, and Hawaii.

La Maison Goyard has, since 1853, proudly established an artisan’s approach to the making of distinctive cases, trunks, luggage and hand bags. Adhering to a traditional fabrication that remains unchanged to this day, all pieces are entirely hand-made in France. It should be noted that, although the pieces are "hand-made", they are not hand-stitched.Founded in 1853, by François Goyard (1828-1890), the company’s original premises have subsequently become an iconic fixture on Paris’s renowned rue Saint Honoré, not least for its period wood panelling and the remarkable mahogany stairwell.

Paula Thomas, designer of Thomas Wylde, was born in Birmingham but currently resides in Los Angeles. She named the brand after her grandfather Robert Thomas, and her great-grandmother Catherine Wylde. Before launching her brand, she had extensive knowledge of the fashion industry working under Welsh designer Julien Macdonald. She was also a runway model for Alexander Mcqueen's first collection. The Thomas Wylde collection is envisioned for the women who embrace rock'n'roll and is sable enough to be worn in an elegant environment. Her collection has taken off since it has been released and has been featured in Elle Magazine amongst other popular publications. Her collection has been worn by stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Olsen Twins to name a few. Thomas Wylde brings out the inner rebel in women but with a feminine touch. Leather boots, scorpion print chiffon dresses and ruffle neck dresses exude rock 'n' roll sophistication.

Anya Hindmarch has been designing handbags and small leather goods under her eponymous label for nearly two decades. The designer's timeless carryalls and evening bags have become a staple in the world of luxury accessories, spotted on public figures such as Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, and Princess Diana since the brand's inception in the early '90s. More recently, the rise of the eco-friendly fashion movement helped propel Hindmarch's "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" to a level of popularity never before seen by an environmentally conscious tote. The demand for the canvas bag in 2007 was so high that it created a new market for recyclable bags that had yet to exist, spawning countless copies and imitations. Additionally, Hindmarch was commissioned by Target last year to create a collection of bags for the mass-market retailer, resulting in a well-received, gently-priced capsule collection.

Balenciaga is now owned by the Gucci Group (part of PPR), and its womenswear and menswear is headed by Nicolas Ghesquière.[7] Ghesquière, like Balenciaga, is a self-taught designer, and apprenticed to Jean-Paul Gaultier and Agnes B. The hip, fresh interpretation of Balenciaga classics, such as the semifitted jacket and the sack dress, caught the attention of the media as well as such celebrities as Madonna and Sinéad O'Connor.

Bottega Veneta was founded by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro in 1966.However interest in the brand declined during the 1990s so in 2000, the Moltedos brought in British designer Giles Deacon to shake up the languishing house. According to Deacon, the interview took place on a bed at the George V in Paris, and he got the job because Laura Moltedo liked a picture in his portfolio, of a budgerigar driving a Rolls-Royce. Under Deacon the company launched a successful line of Ready-To-Wear clothing, but in July 2001 Tom Ford persuaded Gucci Group to buy Bottega Veneta.Ford moved Deacon to Gucci womenswear, and German-born designer Tomas Maier took over at Bottega Veneta. With Gucci's support, Bottega Veneta has reclaimed its leading position in the luxury leather goods market.

Burberry was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry, a former draper's apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.By 1870, the business had established itself by focusing on the development of outdoors attire.In 1880, Burberry invented gabardine, a hardwearing, water-resistant yet breathable fabric, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving.The Gabardine was patented in 1888.In 1911 they became the outfitters for Roald Amundsen,the first man to reach the South Pole, and Ernest Shackleton, who led a 1914 expedition to cross Antarctica.In 1914 Burberry was commissioned by the War Office to adapt its officer's coat to suit the conditions of contemporary warfare, resulting in the "trench coat". After the war, the trench coat became popular with civilians. The iconic Burberry check was created in the 1920s and used as a lining in its trench coats.

1952. Chloé is founded by Gaby Aghion, a Parisian of Egyptian origin. She and her partner, Jacques Lenoir, were among the first to become aware of the raising demand for collections that could merge the strict requirements of haute couture and those of ready-to-wear. 1966. Karl Lagerfeld is the main designer and Chloé becomes one of the symbolic brands of the 70's. Among its customers : Jackie Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot, Maria Callas and Grace Kelly. 1971. The first Chloé boutique opens at the 3 rue Gribeauval in Paris. 1985. The company is acquired by the Richemont group.1997. Stella McCartney brings in a new direction, feminine, romantic and impertinent. 2001. Phoebe Philo adds a personal and sensual touch. Kirsten Dunst, Natalie Portman, and Lou Doillon become customers. 2002. Chloé launches a line of bags, small leather goods and shoes. The Paddington bag will become the first of the 'it-bags'. 2006. Paulo Melim Andersson brings in a staggered and modern style. 2008. After a close collaboration with the brand for the launch of the fragrance, Hannah MacGibbon is named artistic director and introduces her first collection in March at the Spring-Summer 2009 runway.

Christian Dior (21 January 1905, Granville, Manche – 23 October 1957), was an influential French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior

Dolce&Gabbana (spelled without spaces, unlike the name of the company) specializes in luxury items influenced more by designers and is more formal and 'timeless', responding to long-term trends rather than seasonal changes. It also sells sunglasses and corrective eyewear, purses, and watches. In February 2010, it was announced that American singer Madonna would design a collection of sunglasses set to be released in May of that year. They also have a set of fragrances for men and women.

Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand.

The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter. It is owned by luxury goods behemoth LVMH and in 1993 achieved a total sales worth of $176 million, making it the second largest apparel division after Dior.

Hermes is one of the grandest houses in the lexicon of luxury goods. Established in 1837 by Thierry Hermes as a fine harness-making business and today world-renowned for its handcrafted, exceptionally desirable (and expensive) leather goods, most notably its Kelly and Birkin handbags, in recent years Hermes has also become a major player in ready-to-wear fashion. Since 2004, Jean Paul Gaultier has designed the brand's womenswear collections (he succeeded Martin Margiela, who was appointed in 1998) while Hermes' mens wear designer Veronique Nichanian has designed sophisticated 'clothing objects' for the company since 1988. The company first created clothing in the '20s: sportswear that was intended to complement the accessories. However it wasn't until the '50s that Hermes won a wider male audience for its clothes, when it first launched its printed silk ties.

Dato' Jimmy Choo OBE, born Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat, (Chinese: 周仰杰) is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its hand-made women's shoes.

Started by Alphonse Lancel and his wife Angele in 1876 in French, Lancel original was a family busniess that deals in smoking paraphernalia. Until the early 1900s the company began to cater to women’s Lancel Handbags and accessories. It was in the 1920s that Lancel started expanding its boutiques and grew to become one of the most recognized high-end leather product makers worldwide. Lancel today is a home among the oldest and most luxurious in the French leather fashion world.

1971: Roger Saul and his mother found Mulberry. 1997: Mulberry opens the Charlton House Hotel in its home town of Shepton Mallet. 1999: Mulberry strikes a license and partnership agreement with Kravet and with Toray Industries in Japan. 2000: Mulberry sells 42 percent of its business to Challice, owned by the Ongs. 2002: Godfrey Davis becomes chairman and chief executive officer of Mulberry. 2003: Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong purchase the company through Challice; Saul leaves. 2004: The company opens its first U.S. store. 2005: Mulberry signs agreements with Mitsui and Co. and Sanki Shoji Co. for wholesale distribution to selected Japanese stores.

Prada, S.p.A. is a high-end Italian fashion label designed by Miuccia Prada, specializing in luxury goods for men and women (ready-to-wear, leather accessories, shoes, and luggage and hats), founded by Mario Prada in 1913. Prada is considered one of the most influential clothing designers in the fashion industry. The label is synonymous with opulence and quality, and is widely regarded as a status symbol. Like numerous other luxury brands, Prada battles against counterfeiting and ensures authenticity only from its official boutiques (found globally) and online store. First opened as a leathergoods shop in Milan in 1913, the Prada label was taken in by designer Miuccia Prada in 1989 and transformed into the luxury goods, fashion house recognized today.

Valentino includes the following brands: Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma e RED Valentino. It operates in the upper end of the fashion and luxury market, offering exclusive products in the couture, ready-to-wear, designer, diffusion and bridge segments.

Gianni Versace (December 2, 1946 in Reggio Calabria – July 15, 1997) was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Elton John, Sting, and Diana, Princess of Wales among many others. Openly gay, Versace and his partner Antonio D'Amico were regulars on the international party scene.

Yves Saint Laurent was born in Oran, French Algeria. He left for Paris after secondary school to pursue a fashion career and at 17 was hired as Christian Dior's assistant. When Dior died four years later, he was named head of the House of Dior. In 1962, he opened his own fashion house and quickly emerged as one of the world's most influential designers.

Phillip Lim (born 1973 in Thailand) is a Cambodian-American fashion designer of Chinese ancestry.[2] He was awarded the 2007 Council of Fashion Designers of America Emerging Talent in Womenswear award for his work as creative director of 3.1 Phillip Lim.[3] He worked at the label Development from 2000 to 2004, and has been the head of 3.1 Phillip Lim which launched in the fall of 2005 to present.

Alexander Wang is a Chinese-American fashion designer who was born in 1984. At age 18, he moved to New York to attend the prestigious, Parsons The New School for Design to study fashion design. After dropping out in his sophomore year, he launched his first women’s ready-to-wear collection in 2007. The label embodies casually cool downtown style, drawing inspiration from the nineties, French chic, and rock grunge—always finished off with a slouchy, rolled-out-of-bed edge. Wang launched a diffusion line of pre-weathered cotton tees, tanks, and T-shirt dresses in spring 2009, T by Alexander Wang, as well as a footwear collection of towering platform sandals.

Tod's Group is an Italian company which produces shoes and other leather goods, and is presided over by businessman Diego Della Valle.Tod's has numerous stores around the world, including large flagship stores in Singapore.Hong Kong and United States.

Proenza Schouler is a New York based modern luxury womenswear and accessories label, founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. After meeting at Parson’s School of Design in 1998, the duo collaborated on their senior thesis collection, which was bought in its entirety by Barneys New York. McCollough and Hernandez worked with Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors respectively, then partnered on their graduation project.

Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese fashion company, known primarily for their popular handbags. It was founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada, the current CEO and president.

Furla - An Italian luxury label that spans a heritage of more than 80 years, FURLA is recognized globally for its value-for-quality leather goods and wide range of accessories. The beauty of FURLA designs captivates the imagination of the contemporary woman with its witty mix of classic elegance, stylish functionality and chic details.