When strength and style matter
Once you’re bound for a new adventure, the fun is in the anticipation: the exciting destination, planning an itinerary and deciding what to take along with you. What you decide to pack — clothes, toiletries and other travel essentials — can spell the difference between a carefree sojourn or a trip where you regret not bringing aqua shoes and even basic meds. Naturally, what you use to bring these items along matters just as much.
Your luggage contains curated pieces of your life that best express you. Accompanying you on your journeys, your luggage must protect your favorite clothes, your precious keepsakes and hard-earned purchases. In this suitcase you take what you need, hopefully leaving space for surprises. It soon becomes clear that a strong piece of luggage is of utmost importance, and because so many mementos are fragile, you need a hard case that can ensconce memories — seashells, coffee mugs — which encapsulate so much more than what they are worth. If your luggage is durable and happens to have carousel appeal, meaning that it stands out on the luggage carousel, that’s even better.
The leader worldwide in travel bags, luggage and accessories that are both durable and appealing on the carousel is, hands down, Samsonite. This 115-year-old American brand has built a reputation for both style and superior technology. Strength is what defines the label Samsonite, taking its name from the Biblical character Samson. This was the guy who couldn’t disentangle himself from his love life, getting into scrapes yet able to redeem himself in the end through his sheer physical strength. The Samsonite brand was so confident of its ability to withstand the most extreme of circumstances that it subjected a piece of luggage to a drop from space at 130,000 feet, as reported by Travel + Leisure. The luggage landed wheels first in a mountainside in Las Vegas, Nevada, and suffered no damage.
Good Housekeeping, an American institution famous for testing a wide range of products, ranked Samsonite number one this year for strength, ease of use, price and its wide assortment of luggage that suits every need, from business to vacation. Both the hard and soft-side suitcases have continuously proven to be of high quality.
But in addition to superior strength, Samsonite came up with a premium line called Black Label in 2005 to emphasize style and luxury. Samsonite Black Label is a collection of craftsman-made bags and luggage that combines design and technology across their core areas of Retro and Classic, Fashion-forward and Business. There are innovations like the Unimax, whose opening is on top and is suitable for cities with small hotel rooms such as Japan.
The new Samsonite Black Label is located at the Shoppes at Solaire, alongside other luxury design shops. I recently visited the store to see their new collections that were presented in a novel way, through a pairing with food to symbolize three of the Pinoy traveler’s dream destinations: Paris, London and Tokyo.
The Samsonite Metanova has an anodized aluminum shell and double wheels offer smooth mobility, while the personalization tag enables you to customize your case. The Metanova features genuine leather wrapped carry handles and trolley handles for an elegant touch. It’s perfect for the casual traveler, and was presented before a serving of pear salad and a croissant to make one think of an aperitif in Paris.
The Streamlite is a throwback to vintage travel, featuring classic styling, a TSA frame lock with one-touch control, trademark Aero-Trac Whirl Suspension Wheels and welcome extras such as jacquard packing cubes, a leather luggage tag and a monogrammable personalized tag. The TSA lock stands for the Transportation Security Lock which allows security agents to inspect your luggage without damaging the lock or your belongings. The wheels allow you to simply glide over bumps. The collection was presented alongside a serving of strawberry mousse, to evoke a nightcap in Tokyo.
The Richmond II is an elevated version of a brand favorite that is enhanced by a durable polycarbonate shell, diagonal groove detailing, anti-theft zippers and contrasting leather trimmings. It also includes the Aero-Trac II wheels, a shoe pouch and a garment sleeve. During the event, the luggage was presented with a tasting of smoked salmon sandwiches and Earl Grey, a reference to afternoon tea in London.
Travelers who want something lightweight combined with strength can go for the Lite-box which has a durable Curv shell, reinforced corners, premium soft fabric interiors, double wheels and the TSA lock. For frequent flyers, the Proxis has a resilient, ultra-light proprietary material that bounces back into shape. This is the luggage they dropped from space without a scratch! It has smooth double wheels, hidden expandability, a USB port for cabin sizes, a monogrammable tag and spacious, organized interiors.
To bring the brand forward in terms of design, Samsonite has partnered over the years with collaborations with designers like Marc Newson who introduced the futuristic Scope series; Matthew Williamson; and avant-garde fashion designer Alexander McQueen. In 2008 there was a tribute to Jesse Shwayder’s original 1910 trunk, adorned with Swarovski crystals. They have also collaborated with Viktor and Rolf, and even a partnership with McLaren Formula 1 which fused luxury with high performance engineering.
In a world of travel, Samsonite has always been known as the sturdy choice, but now, with its Black Label line, it’s also the stylish choice of the discerning traveler, an accessory that protects what you take with you, and what you bring back home.
