It's been almost 75 years since the iconic grooves that are now featured in just about every RIMOWA creation was first realised. You'd recognise a RIMOWA design from afar—way before you notice the branded plaque or the monogram—just from the grooves alone.

Save for translating the grooves on a number of different materials throughout the years, including on he Never Still series' nylon as well as the brand's revolutionary polycarbonate designs, RIMOWA hadn't changed the look of the grooves until now.

In a limited-edition release, RIMOWA introduces the Original Cabin Optical. A departure from the clean and straightforward aesthetic that the brand is known for, the Original Cabin Optical disrupts the iconic grooves to create (as its name suggests) an optical illusion throughout the façade. At first glance, it's as if the grooves have been distorted and caused to disappear at parts; but in actuality, they're still present in their original placement. The shimmering effect visible at every single angle tricks the eyes into thinking that the grooves are jumbled up—thanks to alternating brushed and unbrushed finishes on the aluminium.

To mark the significance of this update, RIMOWA isn't restricting itself to just the exterior. The interior of the Original Cabin Optical too receives a new look with the Flex Dividers as well as the lining decorated with a jacquard pattern that mirrors the outside. Also included is a specially designed leather tag in black and featuring the same pattern as a shadowy contrast.

But just how limited is this release? Only 2002 pieces—a palindromic number that's a nod to the idea of perception—are available with each individually numbered and labelled as such. If anything, that tells you how special this release is. And couple with RIMOWA's Lifetime Guarantee, talk about a limited-edition piece for life.

The RIMOWA Original Cabin Optical will be available in stores and online from 7 November 2024.