Rimowa diversifies offer, reinventing travel with tradition and innovation.
Expanding beyond travel to more lifestyle products.
Throughout the twentieth century and into the present day, Rimowa has always met revolutions in transportation with a pragmatic, industrial, and resolutely modern approach. From turn-of-the-century trunks, the adoption of lightweight aluminium into its manufacture in 1937 and the creation of the first-ever polycarbonate luggage in 2000, to the now- emblematic grooved design and collaborations with cult brands like Supreme, Dior, Off-White, Porsche, and Fendi, RIMOWA’s expansion represents functional approach to modern luxury.
In a world where travel has become increasingly restricted, premium luggage leader RIMOWA did not wait for the health crisis to diversify its product offering. The new book RIMOWA: An Archive, Since 1898 published by Rizzoli recounts how the German house has for over 120 years relentlessly pioneered products that meet the changing needs of travelers with a perfect balance of innovation and tradition.
Founded in 1898, RIMOWA has been renowned for its lightweight aluminum luggage since 1937, followed in 2000 by groundbreaking polycarbonate suitcases, earning the Maison a loyal following among purposeful globetrotters. These mainstays are now joined by an exciting range of products that transform travel into a lifestyle, transcending the simple act of getting from point A to point B. iPhone cases inspired by the iconic RIMOWA groove made their debut in 2019, followed by a line of sunglasses last June, enabling travelers with a longing for the road to find new outlets for escapades.
Among the upcoming launches is the much-anticipated RIMOWA Personal, for those who know how to travel light.
The initial version of this mini suitcase – worn crossbody or carried in the hand – was unveiled during the Dior Men’s Spring-Summer 2020 runway show as part of a limited-edition capsule collection collaboration with Kim Jones, Creative Director of Dior Menswear. Four models in polycarbonate will be available this winter, in Black and White for the permanent collection, along with seasonal cases in Desert Rose and Cactus to match the RIMOWA Essential collections inspired by the Mojave Desert. These miniature versions feature the same light weight, durability and style as the bigger versions.
For its holiday campaign titled ‘Gifts for the journey ahead’, RIMOWA invites customers to imagine future escapades. The campaign comprises a series of short videos shot by Santos Bacana exploring dreams and memories involving travel companions. The films feature in particular the new Original Cabin suitcase in a camouflage pattern in Green or Pink, drawing RIMOWA’s technical mastery to lock the pigments into the aluminum alloy for a vibrant call to adventure.
And before setting off for the four corners of the globe, travelers can embark on an interior journey as they wander through the pages of RIMOWA: An Archive, Since 1898, available since November 17 from Éditions Rizzoli or the RIMOWA website.
RIMOWA: An Archive, Since 1898 examines how pioneering materials like aluminium and polycarbonate have shaped not only the brand but, in fact, trace the history of travel itself since the nineteenth century. In a foreword by Wallpaper* founder and editor-in-chief of Monocle, Tyler Brûlé, the personal histories of these iconic cases are unpacked.