Suitcases perfect for tropical travel
MANILA, Philippines - While Rimowa’s F13 collection will be rolled out globally next year, the brand offers many lines of aluminum luggage that are already available, like the Topas, the Topas Stealth, and the Classic Flight collections. We found out that these aluminum suitcases were originally designed to withstand tropical conditions, making them perfect in durability and size for Filipino travelers.
PHILIPPINE STAR: Why did you choose aluminum as the main material?
DIETER MORSZECK: As a raw material, aluminum is a very lightweight metal, but it is also very unstable and therefore unsuitable for building structures. In the case of duralumin, other metals such as copper, magnesium and manganese are added to aluminum in order to refine it and lend it other properties such as greater rigidity.
How and why was it originally developed for tropical travel?
My father created the Topas, the first of the Rimowa aluminum suitcases made of duralumin: elegant, suitable for the tropics, protected against the dreaded termites and, above all, light. Like Junkers, he used a corrugated structure on the surface. To this day, that grooved structure from 1950 remains our trademark. The metal sheets are like deluxe chocolate paper — less than one millimeter in thickness.
Why is the trunk size perfect for Filipino travelers?
The Rimowa trunk is amply spaced to fit the contents of both a regular suitcase and a carry-on, with a square base that makes it easy to fit in confined areas. Its book-style opening makes packing and unpacking easier by giving owners one big space to play with, and multiple handles ensure that it’s convenient to bring around. These qualities make it the perfect companion for those who go destination hopping, or anyone visiting countries where limited space is the norm.
The Rimowa trunk also comes with the company standards of durability and quality, as it comes in both the aluminum-and-magnesium metal of the Topas line and the Salsa line’s polycarbonate shell, as well as a five-year international guarantee from the usual hazards of adventure.
