If you’ve walked through an airport with a Globe-Trotter suitcase, you’ll know this scene: heads turn, whispers swirl, inevitably someone will come up and ask, “Where did you get that fabulous suitcase?”
Globe-Trotter’s signature case is from its Centenary collection, launched in 1997 to mark 100 years since the company’s founding. It may not be as famous as a Louis Vuitton monogram trunk or industrial Rimowa number, but it is close to the platonic ideal of a suitcase – a children’s illustration luxuriously realized, with handcrafted leather straps, corners, and handles, and an old-fashioned double-lock system that opens with a satisfying click-clunk.
It is close to the platonic ideal of a suitcase – a children’s illustration luxuriously realized
Globe-Trotter dates back to 1897, when British inventor David Nelken patented a compressed paper material that claimed to be lightweight yet as strong as aluminum: Vulcanized Fiberboard. Today, the company continues to make the bulk of its Vulcanized Fiberboard luggage by hand, employing craft techniques and machinery that predate the company itself. The rivets are hand-applied and placed by eye, and a Victorian-era guillotine is used to cut the material – albeit alongside more modern equipment.
Because while Globe-Trotter is a proudly British heritage brand, it is not one to stay stuck in the past. This is predominantly expressed through its collaborations, which are as impressive as they are varied, ranging from Disney to Tiffany & Co., Wallpaper* magazine, the artist David Shrigley, Gucci, The Vampire’s Wife, and rapper Tyler, the Creator under his GOLF le FLEUR* label. There’s also the ongoing series of 007 limited-edition cases, introduced on screen and in stores for the 2012 film Skyfall. Bond alumnus Daniel Craig is quoted as personally “only ever using Globe-Trotter luggage,” and other A-list fans include Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, David Beckham, and Kylie Jenner (she owns several Tiffany & Co. cases). Oh, and Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, and Sir Edmund Hillary, back in the day.
The latest launch from Globe-Trotter harks back to the era of exploration that Sir Edmund and his ilk would have been at the forefront of. The Restoration Edit is a two-part scheme that sees the Globe-Trotter’s craftspeople lovingly restore archive pieces. This means each case is a true one-of-a-kind with surprise color combinations and linings, decorated with authentic vintage travel stickers. Nearly every single piece from the inaugural collection has sold out, but a second batch will drop later this year. So, prepare to pounce – and enjoy the admiring stares on your next vacation.
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