Paris shoemaker who painted the red sole; expanded into bags slowly and reluctantly.
Christian Louboutin opened his first store on rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Paris in 1991. The red lacquered sole — applied to a sample in 1992 with a friend's nail polish — became the defining trademark of luxury shoes for the next three decades.
Louboutin expanded into bags in 2003 with the Loubitown. The brand has been deliberately slow to grow the bag category, preferring to focus on its shoe core.
Founded 1991.
Christian Louboutin had apprenticed at Charles Jourdan, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent before opening his own shoe atelier in 1991. The first store, on a quiet Paris side street, sold custom shoes to a small clientele of Parisian women including Catherine Deneuve and Mireille Mathieu.
Louboutin was working on a sample of his 'Pensée' shoe in 1992 and felt something was missing. His assistant was painting her nails Chanel Rouge Noir red. He grabbed the nail polish and painted the sole. The Pensée shipped with the red sole and every Louboutin sole since has been the same colour (Pantone 18-1663 TCX). The red sole was trademarked in 2008.
Louboutin launched his first handbag line in 2003 with the Loubitown. The brand has been deliberately measured in expanding the bag category — preferring to stay shoe-centric rather than chase the maximalist bag economics of comparable Paris luxury houses.
1 era of creative direction.
Thirty-four years at the helm. Louboutin designs every shoe and bag personally. The brand remains private and family-controlled.
5 icons. Each one a scene; each scene a gallery.
Studded tote variant.
Recent compact crossbody.
Top-handle with stud detail.
Crossbody with chain detail.
Compact crossbody.