Louis Vuitton began as a luggage company in 1854 creating luxury trunks for the wealthy. The Speedy, originally named the 'Express', was released in 1930 as the Speedy 30. The number relates to the width of the bag, so the Speedy 30 measures 30cm across the width of the base. The bag was first released in plain canvas, until around a year later when it was then reimagined in Monogram. The Monogram design was developed, ironically, as a means of combatting counterfeitting, by Georges Vuitton in 1896 (son of Louis Vuitton, who replaced his father and took over the company upon his death in 1892). The Speedy was an homage to the travel era and based upon the aesthetics of it's predecesser, the Keepall. The Keepall was first introduced in 1924 and originally crafted from cotton canvas. The bags are of a rounded shape with two tubulor leather handles and a durable exterior. Both the Speedy and the Keepall were created to be roomy on the inside, yet maleable enough to fold down and be packed into a suitcase for travel. Their ductile composition means that they can be unpacked and reshaped with little effort, thus ready for use with haste.

The Speedy rose to fame in 1965 when Audrey Hepburn commissioned the Speedy 25 in monogram canvas. Hepburn requested the smaller piece as she wanted a mini version of the keepall, and a smaller piece than the Speedy 30, that she could easily carry daily.

Subsequently to the piece being commissioned, Louis Vuitton released the Speedy 25 into general sale, and it quickly became one of the most popular sizes. Not only this, it also became the iconic luxury staple that it is today. Hepburn was often seen wearing her Speedy 25, and after the success of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961 she was a sought after actress and a role model for fashionistas; everybody wanted to copy her style, including the infamous Speedy. At the time, air travel was becoming popular amongst the rich and famous, and the elite were often on the go. The Speedy was therefore the perfect hold-all piece for this lifestyle. The Speedy was also available in sizes 30, 35 and 40 at the time.

Louis Vuitton introduced its first leather line in 1985, when Epi Leather was created and became the brand's first permanent collection of Leather bags, giving way to the Speedy Epi, which is now discontinued. An interesting fact about the Epi Leather version is that the bags are about 2cm wider than the classic Speedy. A Speedy 30 Epi will measure 32cm wide, rather than 30cm.

We have seen many variations of the infamous Speedy, as it has grown and developed over time, and each new Creative Director has introduced their own interpretations of the piece. Whilst the iconic shape has remained a constant, the design and size have moved with the times. In 2011, under the Artistic Directorship of Marc Jacobs, the Speedy Bandoulière was created (also referred to as the 'Speedy B'). Featuring a detatchable shoulder strap for cross-body and over-the-shoulder carrying, offering practicality and hands free wear. Also featuring a two-way zipper and available in Monogram, Damier Ebene, Damier Azur and Empreinte leather, the Bandoulière became just as popular as the classic Speedy.

In 2017 the Speedy Epi Leather was re-released, however with a couple of changes. The grain of the leather was changed to run diagnally as opposed to horisontally, and more excitingly, it was realeased as a Bandoulière, meaning that it could be carried on the shoulder or as a cross body.



For the SS 2018 collection the Speedy Doctor bag was introduced, which has now been discontinued

The year many argue the Speedy, and the Keepall, were driven into an era of modernity and spectacle, this was the year Virgil Abloh was appointed the role of Creative Director ... 2018! Abloh, with his extensive creations incorporating unique designs, featuring bright colours and even revealing a shearling adourned Speedy B 30, he surely has given the iconic piece a futuristic twist.

Although, arguably even more contentious, Abloh has completely re-imagined the Keepall. With the introduction of the Keepall XS in his technical Pre Spring 2021 collection, Abloh unveiled a much smaller iteration of the iconic bag. The signature silhouette has been transformed into a minature size for daily wear. Measuring 21 x 12 x 9 cm, the XS is much more reminiscent of a Nano Speedy than it is the Keepall. Abloh didn't stop there when reimagining the iconic travel bag, he also unveiled the City Keepall, measuring 27 x 17 x 13 cm, although missing the classic top handles, the size certainly reminds us more of a Speedy B 30 than the Keepall as we once knew it.

Currently the Speedy is offered in multiple designs, including the classic Monogram, Damier Ebene and Damier Azur, the Game On collection, Since 1854, LV x UF, Crafty, My LV World Tour and more ... plus an array of sizes.

The Speedy has been released in many Limited Edition versions, including those by Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Yayoi Kusama and Kansai Yamamoto.

Some seasonal variations include; Damier Cubic, Cerise Monogram, Damier Facette, Fleur De Jais, Graffiti, Jungle Dots, Limited Edition Space, Stephen Sprouse Leopard, Patches, Perforated, Summer Trunks, Mini Lin, Monogram Denim, Monogram Ink and Multi Colore Monogram. Some examples of which can be seen below...

Do you love the ever changing designs of the Speedy ... and the Keepall? Or are there so many that it has removed some of the iconic and classic stature of the pieces? Do you like the new Speedy-sized-Keepalls, or do you think that it has blurred the lines between the two pieces, and that they should have remained completely separate?

Have your say down below in the comments section ... we love to hear your thoughts!

Pictures via nicolajanecouture.com, louisvuitton.com/eng-gb, google.com