rimowa

Sleek but boxy, streamlined but still tough, RIMOWA is one of the oldest and most sought-after luxury luggage brands in the world. The company has evolved much since its founding in the late 19th century, transitioning from wood luggage to the jet-inspired hard-shell grooved aluminum and polycarbonate cases now seen at airports around the world today. It’s a heritage brand with a uniquely modern look, making RIMOWA the perfect collaborator for forward-thinking streetwear brands like Supreme, Anti Social Social Club, and OFF-WHITE. Although they’ve been around for over a 100 years, it’s those recent collaborations with the hottest streetwear brands that’s brought a whole new level of visibility to RIMOWA, and with that, a younger market obsessed with collecting luxury goods. For RIMOWA, the brand, along with its signature luggage, keeps rolling forward. How do you clean RIMOWA luggage? Aluminum and polycarbonate cased luggage is tough, but it’s easily susceptible to scratches, abrasions, and scuffs—not a good look for a sleek suitcase that can cost upwards of $1,000. To clean RIMOWA luggage, its best to wipe down the piece with a dry cloth to remove any top-line dirt. Once wiped down and dusted, use a wet microfiber cloth and dabs of Isopropanol to clean the luggage. Do not use window-cleaning agents, vinegar-based solutions, detergents, or abrasive cloths on a RIMOWA, as that can remove the luggage piece’s wonderful shine. RIMOWA also sells its own polish and repair paste, and when used in combination with Isopropanol, every dirt mark, scratch, scuff, or gooey spot with buff right out into a clean, shiny finish. Which RIMOWA carry on is best for travel? RIMOWA sells an entire line of carry on luggage called the “Cabin” designed to meet airline size specifications. They sell both polycarbonate, aluminum, and hybrid versions of the cabin with different hardware and size choices to meet a range of price points, starting from $540 and going up to $1,250. Each buyer has a different preferences and purchasing power, but the RIMOWA Lite Essential Cabin may be the best pick of the lot, as it’s the lightest-ever suitcase RIMOWA’s ever made and comes in on the lower end of pricing at $575. There aren’t any luxury touches like leather straps or or high gloss corners, but it’s special polycarbonate shell is less than half the weight of RIMOWA’s traditional polycarbonate or aluminum pieces. What’s the concept behind RIMOWA x OFF-WHITE luggage? RIMOWA and OFF-WHITE have now collaborated on a couple of suitcases—all sporting an all-around transparent case that allows anyone to see-through the piece and actually catch a look at what’s inside. It’s strips the traveler of the traditional notions of privacy regarding baggage, putting their belongings—which are individual statements in and of themselves—on full display. OFF-WHITE founder Virgil Abloh explained the full concept to The Business of Fashion: “It’s like 3.0 of personalization. It’s not just putting your initials on it, but allowing another layer to come in play. There’s an emotional component to owning [the suitcase] and you become a performance art piece just by using the thing. It’s like putting your items on display and rethinking the premise of a product.” RIMOWA Timeline 1898 — Paul Morszeck and Heinrich Görtz start the company under the name Görtz & Morszeck. Within two years, however, Görtz leaves the company, putting Morszeck in full-control. They make wooden luggage, know then (and now) for its lightweight construction and durability. 1931 — Morszeck’s son Richard becomes involved in the company and changes its name at the patent office in Berlin to RIMOWA, which is an acronym for Richard Morszeck Warenzeichen—Richard’s full-name plus the German word Warenzeichen, meaning “trademark.” 1937 — A factory fire destroys most of the company’s materials, except for aluminum. Making due with what they have left, RIMOWA pivots to aluminum trunks. 1950 — Inspired by all-metal jets, RIMOWA luggage receives its signature parallel grooved surface for the first time. 1976 — RIMOWA produces its first waterproof cases for film and photography professionals looking to protect their sensitive gear while working in harsh, wet climates, like the tropics or the arctic. 2000 — The company releases its first line of polycarbonate luggage, marking a new frontier in its design history. The new material is temperature resistant and a lighter weight than previous models. 2009 — RIMOWA collaborates with Berlin-based sneaker store Solebox to create its first transparent case designed to show-off a traveler’s packed sneakers. 2010 — RIMOWA collaborates with BAPE for the first time, creating an all-gold and an all-silver case with BAPE’s classic camo print. 2016 — LVMH, the luxury brand behemoth, acquires an 80 percent stake in RIMOWA. 2017 — RIMOWA does collaborations with Anti Social Social Club and UNITED ARROWS. 2018 — Collaborates with OFF-WHITE for the first time, creating a one-of-a-kind transparent design. RIMOWA also collaborates with Supreme, selling out of the bags within 16 seconds upon its online release. RIMOWA Related Articles The Best RIMOWA Products, As Picked by Highsnobiety Every RIMOWA Collaboration You Need to Know About