The Coolest Luggage Bag Collabs For A Stylish Getaway
One of the hottest drops right now is Louis Vuitton’s second tie-up with artist Yayoi Kusama
In the fairy-tale Cinderella, a pumpkin is magically turned into a golden carriage. In the world of Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, the pumpkin is a magical object in itself. Along with her signature dots, the bulbous fruit is one of her long-standing motifs, for reasons that might seem inexplicable to most of us.
In Infinity Net: The Autobiography of Yayoi Kusama, she says, “I was enchanted by their charming and winsome form. What appealed to me most was the pumpkin’s generous unpretentiousness… and its solid spiritual balance.”
The first drop of her extensive collaboration with Louis Vuitton occurred in January, the second drop, at the end of March. While the first collection went heavy on dots, Kusama’s idea of infinity in the second stars the pumpkin.
Featuring saturated colours and, yes, dots, the pumpkins are united with Louis Vuitton’s LV Monogram. Large, overlapping ones decorate several of the luxury brand’s travel pieces, including backpacks, trolley bags, duffles, and even trunks. It all sets the stage for an exciting journey — no magical carriage required.
Travel companions
Other new luggage collections that will make excess baggage a delight.
While Louis Vuitton’s latest Yayoi Kusama pieces focus on pumpkins, Tumi’s new collection marking McLaren’s 60th anniversary is distinguished by the papaya. More specifically, the papaya shade that is the signature of the supercar maker and its elite motorsports team.
The vibrant hue and performance automotive materials such as the lightweight composite Tegris characterise the collection, which includes the Torque Sling, Velocity Backpack, and a cabin trolley bag. There are also packing cases and portfolios, all to better serve the needs of business travellers who live life in the fast lane.
As a travel favourite with the fashionable crowd, Rimowa regularly updates its signature pieces in seasonal colours. The German brand’s latest palette comprises Petal and Cedar. The former is a pastel pink that channels all things delicate and the latter, a deep brown with a hint of green. Together, they evoke what the brand describes as “the blossoming trees of spring”.
These colours can be found on the brand’s signature polycarbonate suitcases and cabin trolleys, which feature a monochromatic aesthetic where the hue of small parts such as the handles and wheels are matched to that of the body.
The collaborative collection of Samsonite and New Balance features a new take on coloured suitcases. Rather than solid coloured cases, the pieces are made from semi-transparent polycarbonate in black or white, and come with brightly coloured reversible pouches that give each item a fresh hue.
Aside from suitcases in two different sizes, the collection also features crossbody bags with a similar peekaboo aesthetic. There is a small crossbody bag as well as a larger one that — in an obvious nod to New Balance — can be used as stackable display cases for sneakers.
Text: Lynette Koh/The Peak