Epi leather has been Louis Vuitton’s most popular leather for over a century.
Inspired by a grained leather that Louis Vuitton first used in trunks in the 1920’s, Epi leather was introduced in 1985 as the first leather in their collection. Amongst LV fans, Epi leather is probably the most identifiable Louis Vuitton material after Monogram and Damier canvases, though it flies under the radar with many handbag lovers. Despite its rigidity, Epi bags actually have a nice, natural stretch which, combined with their structured quality, make for an interesting feel and silhouette. Each Epi leather piece is stamped with a discreet LV logo on the bottom right corner.
The leather is dyed, then printed with Epi’s three-dimensional wave pattern and then painted with a color-matching top coating. You’ll see that Epi leather has a horizontal grain; if you look closely you can see the subtle tonal differences between the rises and grooves of the leather. This special process ensures that colors are vibrant and bright, and makes the leather very resistant to water and wear. There’s a reason Epi bags are so popular on the resale market: they require very little care and can look new for years.
“…modern elegance and timeless luxury. Durable Epi leather is ideal for daily use while still being effortlessly stylish.”
— Louis Vuitton