When thinking up a practical gift for that someone special, you may turn to luggage. The post-holiday season getaway may include a ski trip or island hopping and why not arrive with new gear.
The industry is continually making strides in style and material, making our getaways all the more enjoyable by taking away part of the hassle of getting there. With new ideas come new players and our old trusted brands evolving to stay ahead of the game. But how to decide if you try a new brand or stick to your old faithful? Mira Vista has complied the research to bring you the shortlist of this year’s most coveted luggage.
We selected four popular brands based on their priority to develop chic, easy to use, sturdy gear. Whether you’re looking for a new travel tool or looking to make a statement, we believe all four options fit the bill in one way or another.
Away: Away Travel has probably crossed your Instagram feed a time or two as the young company touted better than competitor Tumi by Business Insider. The female-founded Away product is best known for its sleek style while remaining both lightweight and an economical choice, read- for those tough on luggage, this one is for you. If you’re also into companies that give back Away has been partnered with Peace Direct, a nonprofit that builds peace in areas of conflict. Both business and global good-minded it is the epidemy of a millennial brand.
Along with promising to give back Away promises, your suitcase will be with you for life. They note their quality material is the same as the big guy, but by selling direct to the customer, they avoid extra markup. In the act of transparency, they do admit to having a markup, see- profit margin, but it isn’t quite as high as “others.” The Away line is very comprehensive, offering carryon to full-size luggage with a wide array of bags as well. The quirkiest being the Mini, a case ideally suited for toiletry items. Each cabin, mid, and large size case is customizable from tasteful monogramming, Vogue touted, to an optional battery. With plenty of style and color to choose from, you’ll no doubt, enjoy using your Away travel.
Delsey: Delsey is a Parisian highbred of brands DELAHAYE and SEYNHAEVE who came together in 1946 to innovate the luggage industry earning 70 awards and patents. If you are a luggage coinsure, you may know them as the brand that first brought forth the hard-shell case, and while they don’t claim to be the first to throw a set of wheels on your suitcase, they were part of that wave. Today, Delsey uses its keen eye for elegance and modernity paired with innovative practicality giving their bags that je ne sais quoi.
The company strives to continually work with lighter weight materials that remain durable while being eco-friendly. Delsey’s two key pledges are reducing plastic waste pollution and supporting fair Travel. Since 2013 the company has integrated 30% recycled materials and has taken steps to remove excess from its luggage. This year the company introduced minimalist, resource-efficient luggage and 100% R-Pet range. R-PET, commonly known as recycled PET, is a material made from a combination of water and crushed drink bottles. The result of using R-PET is a lower greenhouse effect during production, and up to 15 plastic bottles begin a new life. If you care to take a stand with your carryon then Delsey Paris is for you.
Tumi: Tumi has practically been the must-have for corporate travel attire since its founding in 1975. The New Jersey originated brand is known for durable goods that go the distance and then keep going thanks to a stellar warranty program. It makes sense considering Tumi was named after a Peruvian ceremonial knife used in sacrifices. While Tumi probably gave way to the meme of everyone traveling with a black suitcase, the company has stepped up its style game in recent years with various looks and fabric now available.
In March of 2016, Tumi was purchased by Samsonite for $1.8 billion, its largest-ever acquisition. But long before that Tumi made waves as leaders, they’re the makers of the “add a bag,” scenario where a clever small bag may attach via hook to the front of your larger suitcase. Through the years, Tumi has groundbreaking crafter ideas like the shock-absorbing, soft shell briefcase and introduced the tri-fold garment bag. In addition to knowing how to travel, they know how to get lost. Tumi designed the slick code you find on many high-end suitcases that allow you to recover lost or stolen bags. Tumi has long been the brand of the no-nonsense traveler and business mogul, and there is no sign of this company slowing down.
Rimowa: We’ve all seen these bags, the giant ones that parade through the international terminals, but there’s a reason to give Rimowa a second glance for any size case. The Rimowa suitcase is typically hard shell in nature with a groove pattern, stout, and yet lightweight. The first bags were made of solid wood and, now, through innovation, are of a high-tech polycarbonate component. Known for creating a product for the expert traveler, they were the first to design an aluminum suitcase. Rimowa has a slew of other introductions under its name and has positioned itself as a low-key designer brand.
Rimowa cases come in a multitude of eye-catching colors, and thanks to a Dior collaboration, patterns. You can even customize your case. Online or instore customers can select a cabin size bag, then pick from eight colors to elevate the suitcase accents, including a luggage tag, wheels, and handles. Post-purchase regret on not customizing? Rimowa offers a collection of sticker sets to add a touch of personalization or to document a fun memory from each trip. Another stand out point for Rimowa is the bag size options. The company offers everything from small carryon cases for the daily commuters to large trunk cases for heavy travelers or those with professional gear that needs safekeeping. Newly stylish, Rimowa is forever durable.
Louis Vuitton: As one of the world’s top-rated luxury brands, it needs no introduction. Louis Vuitton was Louis Vuitton Malletier, a Parisian with a dream to better the cargo trunk for the traveling wealthy class. A brand first focused on chests, Louis Vuitton became LVMH after Moët et Chandon and Hennessy merged with Vuitton in 1987. Under the direction of Marc Jacobs in the late nineties, the brand introduced a line of men and women’s clothing. Evolving again as a new century awoke, Louis Vuitton became a jewelry brand as well in 2001. With many additions to its look-book, Louis Vuitton is genuinely an anything deluxe company.
Vuitton was the first to introduce the flat top trunk made of canvas. Until 1854 trunks were made with rounded lids as they were exposed on the outside of carriages and needed the ability to have weather elements slide off the top rather than collect. As times and travel changes, Vuitton realizes that a flat top allows for stacking and condenses the space needed. His starting price for innovation at the turn of the century was over $10,000, and the rest is history. Louis Vuitton offers small to large bags, cases, and trunks in durable soft- and hard-shell cases, each in its signature LV monogram and solid color options. It is known for long having attempted to allude duplication, its best to buy these bags directly from stand-alone stores to ensure the authenticity of the handmade luggage.