Luggage

After returning from a trip last night i wanted to share my thoughts on luggage.

The current set of security restrictions on hand luggage show no signs of going away and for those of us who must fly commercial (soon it will be private of course) the problem of finding attractive but checked and capable luggage isn't going away either.

Of course one can purchase perfectly acceptable ballistic nylon luggage from companies like Tumi or say Samsonite. The only problem with these for instance is that they've been so successful that after some flights every bag on the carousel is black ballistic nylon, and there are men who like to show a bit more originality if only to higher the likli-hood of arriving home with their own clothes.

Tucked into a storefront in London's Burlington Arcade is a company called Globe-Trotter Luggage. Globe-Trotter has been making wood framed cases with a proprietary resin product called Vulcan Fibre since the nineteenth century. They're used by well-dressed men like Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, but it's visibility that we're primarily looking for today. And indeed, Globe-Trotter cases are available in just about any imaginable color.

In addition to standing out on the carousel, Globe-Trotter cases are dent resistant and easy to clean. Airport dirt wipes off with a damp cloth. Just try that with leather luggage.

I also appreciate how comparing Globe-Trotter to say- Vuitton makes the prices seem relatively affordable. They're not of course. A three or four piece set will set a man back five figures in depreciated dollars at Nieman Marcus, which carries the line in the United States. The price is another reason they won't be too common on baggage carousels. And that's the point.