We all carry luggage. What sort defines us. We are judged by the way we handle it. Overhead, under seat and in the hold.
What you have by your side and what you choose to trundle is vital for the image and if you want to give the right impression. ''Travelware-upmanship'' is a game all travellers play.
Travellers are brand conscious. They are as loyal to their luggage brand as the car they choose to drive and airline they choose to fly by. It matters what wheels they choose to have under them.
“My seat in Business Class on a plane to a very important meeting is waiting”, “I am on my way to an extended and very luxurious vacation that few people could ever afford” and “ I buy my carry on in Mayfair” are impressions we all like to create.
It starts in the airport car park when we take longer than necessary unpacking so everyone can admire our super lightweight, bought from London’s Burlington Arcade Globe Trotter four-wheel spinner grey/caramel new check-in case which screams “ Just out!”
When we stow the case, we make sure everyone gets a good look at our made in Hertfordshire polycarbonate, the stylish multi-directional wheels and tasteful push button telescopic handle. When we disembark we let the case pose and speak for itself to passers by.
A high capacity, 5,5kg £2095 Globe-Trotter Centenary with the price label left on sees off all the competition. Even a Briggs & Riley ballistic nylon baseline spinner four-wheel Wardrobe trolley with zippered shoe pockets. It is the essential travelling companion.
In the race to the check-in desk , it sees off all the inferior softside Osprey Meridieans , dented and scuffed Eagle Creeks, detachable backpacks, rolling duffels and battered Eagle Creeks.
It turns more heads than an Expandable Victorinox. Even those of the girls at check-in who have known to upgrade couples on the strength of their Silver Crest Strollers and denied an upgrade with those with a grubby travel cot. And have seen more “Let Our Journey Enrich Life” Lojels and Rimowa Hybrid hard-siders than they have had in-flight dinners.
A Globe Trotter carries off all the spoils. It has right of way around the world.
Security personnel at X ray machines will pause to admire the spacious canvas internal lining of your latest four-wheel Globe Trotter and be transfixed by the organizational space dividers and , as you make your way towards the departures lounge, everyone will stand aside to give priority to the frequent flyer with the select chromatic composition, patented vulcanized fibreboard and craftmanship that goes back to Saxony in 1897.
Overnight stays, weekenders, short break and patent package holidays luggage is overshadowed by the robust locks and sombre sophistication beloved by the likes of Captain Scott, Sir Winston Churchill and the Queen.
Globe Trotter cabin carry-ons carry the same cachet. Especially the 4.2kg leather-cornered “Safari” with its refined colourways, the clean-lined Not Time To Die or playfully-coloured Golf le Fleur. Beside their chic, even a Pacific Blue Tumi V3 International Slim is cheap and bland.
What everyone wants is to be seen standing next to in airports and hotel lobbies is an elegant Globe Trotter.
Kristyna Jandova speaks to Tarja Rantanen and her daughter, CEO Matilda Morelius, about building a brand that has remained true to its values for four decades, navigating the unique dynamic of a family business, and designing wardrobes that transcend seasons.
With maximalism quietly seeping into the sartorial sphere, there’s never been a better time to trade in the dainty pieces for head-turning gems and accessories.
In this edition of Women Who Launch, Menzies talks about making the jump from a career in the nightlife industry, how she continues to innovate while staying true to her brand ethos, and her favourite milestones from the past 15 years.
There are some places that manage to delight every generation of a family at once. Blenheim Palace, nestled amongst the rolling Oxfordshire countryside, is one of them.
Perhaps one of the most evocative stays in Shanghai, Capella Shanghai captures the city’s layered identity in a way few hotels can. Set within the last remaining cluster of traditional Shikumen architecture, the property offers something far beyond a place to stay - it is a living narrative of Shanghai’s past, reimagined for the present.
At The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, luxury reveals itself in the most personal of ways - quietly, intuitively, and without ever needing to be asked for. Every detail feels considered, every gesture intentional, turning a stay into something deeply individual. It’s not just about being well looked after, but about feeling unmistakably known.
