Steamline
Why we love: Golden age glamour for the modern traveller
StreamLine offers gives modern travellers a touch of old-world glamour. The retro-luggage company was by Sara Banks who, after years of travel and fantasising about creating her ideal carry-on bag, launched SteamLine in 2005. While retro in style, the wide range of colours, styles and travel sets are modernised for the 2023 traveller – relatively lightweight (compared to other trunk and retro-luggage companies) and built to withstand wear and tear. Collections are named after types of travellers, such as ‘The Entrepreneur’, and ‘The Starlet’ – in everything from aluminium black to pink and floral. We particularly love the nostalgic hatboxes – a formerly obsolete travel accessory now seeing a resurgence thanks to a demand for stylish sun hats.
Rimowa
Why we love: A lifetime guarantee with complimentary repairs anywhere in the world
German-born brand Rimowa is one of the most coveted luggage brands for travel on the planet – and for good reason. Not only are their designs super slick and modern – but they’re extremely functional. Cases have separate removable compartments, and unlike many luggage brands that opt for materials like plastic, use premium materials like aluminium and polycarbonate. In fact, Rimowa is so confident in the quality of their cases that all bags come with a free lifetime warranty – just go to any store in the world and they will repair your Rimowa for you free of charge. Along with having stores in the UAE, Rimowa also ships to the UAE and GCC.
Away Travel
Why we love: Lightweight, super durable design and a removable battery pack
Away is a luggage brand revered for its lightweight and durable polycarbonate hard cases, which are scratch resistant, easy to manoeuvre and fit an impressively large amount of stuff into their compartments. While they’re tough wearing and perfect for modern travellers, they’re also pretty stylish, and, they ship to the UAE. Away’s range of travel luggage includes suitcases, packing cubes, duffels and backpacks – but the brand is probably best known for its carry-on cases with removable battery packs (so you can charge your phone or devices while travelling). All new cases also come with a handy XL water-resistant laundry bag.
Globe-Trotter
Why we love: Esquisite and timeless designs and a constant stream of new ultra-luxury collections
Alongside the likes of Louis Vuitton, Globe-Trotter was one of the OGs of glamorous, hardshell luggage, founded in 1897, and therefore, a symbol in themselves of the Golden Age of travel. The brand’s range of suitcases and travel luggage are still made using many of the same production methods and machinery used in the Victorian era, ensuring exceptional attention to detail, while prioritising modern techniques to make their cases as lightweight and strong, as they are stylish. The brand regularly collaborates with iconic houses like Hermes, Gucci, Tiffany & Co, Aston Martin and even British icon, 007 – with each collection paying homage to its collaborator or theme. The latest collection Palm Springs is inspired by midcentury aesthetics of the Calorifgnian city’ design and the colours of the desert – think blues, creams and pops of ochre. Most cases are made to order, and there’s also a charming collection of vanity and shoulder cases.
Delsey Paris
Why we love: Approchable price point and super lightweight protective design
Delsey prides itself on being one of the lightest, if not the lightest, luggage brands for travel in the market. The company’s roots are traced back to 1911, and in 1970 Delsey was the first brand to provide tough, hard shell suitcases to protect travellers’ belongings. In 1972, they were the first to put wheels on their cases. The range today features suitcases, vanities and backpacks, offering practical, attractive, spacious and lightweight cases in polycarbonate with metallic finishes and reinforced security. To sum up, if you’re looking at affordable, attractive and functional luggage brands for travel, you can’t go wrong with Delsey.
