HENRY SEUNGYUN YANG: I came to Singapore two years ago, after Samsonite offered an opportunity for us to move from Hong Kong.
ESQUIRE SINGAPORE: Why? Did you not like Hong Kong?
HSY: I loved it. It’s a wonderful city that’s geographically close to every other country somehow. It’s closer to Korea than Singapore, which made it easy to fly back home from. There are Samsonite factories in China and they are now also looking to Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam—so here I am. But my family is happy in Singapore, and if they are happy, I’m happy.
ESQ: Are you going back for the holidays?
HSY: I just got back from Hong Kong actually. I go to Korea only once a year because flying with a baby [sighs loudly] for six hours can drive anyone crazy. Now, I do love my kids, but they can be quite naughty and don’t like sitting still for six hours.
ESQ: They are girls, yes? Do you have any preference for the gender of your children?
HSY: I don’t have a preference. The second girl was delivered in Singapore, while the first one was born in Hong Kong.
ESQ: When did you start wanting to be a designer?
HSY: Honestly, I never thought much about design back then. I was like any other kid, who loves going outside to play. I think every designer and artist starts out the same way: by drawing something and then finding out that they’re having fun doing it. My parents didn’t really say anything to dissuade me so I kept on drawing.
ESQ: That’s cool.
HSY: Yeah. If you know Korean parents you’ll know they aren’t usually this liberal. They will be like: you’ve got to be a doctor; you have to be a lawyer; study hard. But I was lucky that my parents were open to what I could do. I did study hard, mind you, but I didn’t go out of my way to be a scholar.
ESQ: Did you attend art school instead?
HSY: A couple of my friends suggested I should go to art school or something. When I got into university and it came time to select a major, I thought I would be a painter. I spoke with my art teacher at the time and she said, why don’t you be a designer because they earn more money? It’s hard to survive as an artist. So, I took her advice and studied industrial design. I eventually got a job in Hong Kong.
ESQ: What did you work on?
HSY: Back then, I designed phones, conference systems, cameras... it was fun.
ESQ: Do you still paint?
HSY: Well, I’m a bit busy with my kids these days. I do draw for them though, and that’s actually really fun.
ESQ: Are you guided by some sort of design philosophy?
HSY: I honestly don’t know. I’m not a super designer. I’m just normal. I don’t have any deep philosophical insight into this. However, the environment at Samsonite is such that we gather a lot of feedback from the market because our main aim is to design for people who travel. And when you focus on the people who use our luggage and bags, you push yourself to deliver user-centric design. I guess that is the key to how I work.
ESQ: Is getting feedback from marketing conducive to what you do?
HSY: We have regional offices across the globe. So, here at the Asian office we design for people in this region. Similarly, the US and Europe offices design for their respective demographics. We design separately simply because people’s lifestyles and travel habits are different around the world.
ESQ: Can you give us an example?
HSY: The European luggage and bags are more colourful and sporty. Even the businessmen in Europe tend to go for more casual bags, more colourful bags. The design vibe is expressive. But in Asia, consumers prefer minimalist designs. Colourwise, they go for black or navy or something neutral. In the US, they like luggage that’s more feature-driven. It’s utility over appearance for them. I’m talking broadly about the majority of the consumer base now. We handle a wide range of Samsonite products.
ESQ: Do you also have to talk to the department behind the tech?
HSY: Of course. That’s actually very important. We have to be updated on the latest tech all the time. That’s why we have a strong product development team on site and they will brief us on the advancements. The marketing team, design team, the product development team will sit together to discuss what models will be released. Marketing can talk about upcoming trends and results of market feedback; the PD team wants to reveal a certain feature or new material. And we, the design team take all that data and come up with designs.
ESQ: Do you like that sort of restriction?
HSY: Every designer needs to work with limitations. Without limitations, that’s art. So, sometimes when someone gives me carte blanche to do whatever, I’ll be like, I don’t know what to do. It’s always good to have a guideline, a limitation. I prefer to have that. It makes it more interesting. You need the input and whole mindset of others to make the job successful.
ESQ: You designed the Unimax Spinner and it won the Red Dot Design Award.
HSY: I’ve no idea why we won it—I didn’t get to talk to the judges so I don’t know [laughs]. But like I’ve said, this is one of our visions at Samsonite in terms of brand image and DNA. Samsonite has all kinds of designs—minimalist, explicit, fun, colourful... we have everything, but what is Samsonite’s DNA? That is the starting point.
We had a line called EVOA—same texture, no groove, very clean design. It was very successful. We believe Asian people prefer minimalist design. So we start with that, and then we say let’s improve on it. [Takes a Unimax Spinner; points to features] We put in more features like a front opening; a brake system; the Aero Trac Whirl Suspension Wheel... Normally, you’d have the logo on the front of the luggage but we’ve added the logo on the aluminium corner protector instead, where you can still see it when you look down.
At the time, in order to get a seamless design [that has curves], you’d need to mill and bend the piece, and this was an expensive process. We decided to postpone it until we managed to create that aluminium bar and corner protector. For our future product line, we’ve now managed to overcome the limitations and found a way to mill and bend multi-directionally. I think only Samsonite can do this.
ESQ: Is there a particular product you’ve done that you’re proud of?
HSY: [Points to the Unimax Spinner] This would be it. ESQ: What about something that’s not Samsonite?
HSY: Before I joined Samsonite, I worked for a company called Kohler.
ESQ: Ah, okay.
HSY: There was this toilet called Numi. I quite like this product. Very proud of it, in fact. The initial brief was: what if we can make a supercar version of a toilet? Like a Ferrari. It sounded funny but I was quite ambitious. Ok, let’s make something cool. So, the Numi was given voice control, a lot of lighting options, seat temperature, sensors that know if it’s you or someone else...
ESQ: Oh? Does it have bespoke settings for individual users?
HSY: Oh yeah! You can set it up for five or six people. When you enter the bathroom, the Numi will make a sound and light up, the seat cover rises and you sit on it. So, your pre-programmed temperature and wand position are adjusted for you.
ESQ: How does it know it’s you?
HSY: It knows you by your height and weight. There’s a sensor there. And if you want to flush, you can just say, hey, Numi, flush. When it plays music, the lighting changes... it was quite a crazy project but our team loved working on it.
Funny thing is even, though the design is done, the project remained stalled when I left. They were still working on fixing the features and that was done with a year ago. I worked on Numi for three years and left Kohler about six years ago, and it went on for another five years but they launched it. Outside of Samsonite, I feel really proud of Numi.
ESQ: Is music part of your process?
HSY: That’s a good question. Music is part of culture, am I right? So, I believe it does help. But you’ll need to experience the culture that the music is from to actually see something different.
ESQ: What is this lens that you peer through?
HSY: Even though I’m way past teenage, I still like listening to rap and hip-hop. My wife is always laughing at me, oh, you’re not a child any more, you know? Why don’t you listen to classical music or something like that?
ESQ: The luxury market is trying to infuse street culture into its products and marketing.
HSY: I feel quite weird about that because the hip-hop that I was into back then was kind of niche. Back in the day, no one really followed hip-hop. A lot of Korean parents didn’t really like it, but it appealed to me. Now, hip-hop has become super popular and every brand is doing streetwear, and promoting their wares with modern music that feature hip-hop elements.
ESQ: It’s gone mainstream.
HSY: That is why it’s hard to say that I’m into hip-hop music now, because I don’t want to be part of this mainstream. If I tell people that I’m into hip-hop, they’d think I’m just following a trend, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
ESQ: What is that one piece of design that you wish you had done?
HSY: I like Fukasawa Naoto. He’s an industrial designer who did work with Muji. I like his philosophy. One of the things he said that really impressed me was that a product doesn’t need to stand out. It needs to harmonise with your life because you see it every day. That’s why his design is very minimalist. That’s a pretty strong message as an industrial designer.
Of course, I don’t really do it that way. I still like colours but I respect what he has built during his design life. I like Virgil Abloh as well. He’s gone now, sadly, but what he’d done for the fashion industry was quite amazing. He started as an architect but he’s done awesome stuff for Nike and Louis Vuitton.
(Salehe) Bembury is another designer I like. He also started out as an industrial designer. Ah, Errolson Hugh as well. He’s crazy good. I wish I could meet him one day.
ESQ: How do you stay creative?
HSY: One of the best ways is meeting people, eating good food, having fun, travel.
ESQ: That’s basically, just living.
HSY: [Laughs] Yes. Can I show you something? [Takes out a Streamlite Neo model] You see the clean design, right? But if you looked inside... [shows a vintage pattern], I found the design from the Samsonite archives. We have a black variant of the pattern as well.
ESQ: So, this and the EvoaZ and Major Lite are the next models we can expect from Samsonite?
HSY: We are still in discussion but we need to cater to different opinions. It’s up to marketing. I’ve no idea. This takes time but this is how we work. I’m ok with it. No harm waiting, we’ll see what happens. But if the project stalls too long, then we’ll lose the chance to launch it.
ESQ: Like the Numi.
HSY: That’s right. [laughs]
ESQ: What’s the next big thing in design?
HSY: Sustainability.
ESQ: That’s every company’s buzzword.
HSY: Yes, but we need to figure it out. Using recycled material, do you think that’s sustainability? I don’t think so. I think it’s more than that. It’s about the cycle. Using recycled material in the product is the easy part but that doesn’t tackle the root problem. There’s something more to this and I can’t put my finger on it just yet.
Oh, but this is too serious. Maybe, the next big thing is luggage for space travel, who knows? Maybe it’ll be a combination with a drone so you don’t need to carry your luggage.
ESQ: Or you can attach the drone to your bag and you can carry it so you can fly. Like Doraemon.
HSY: Yeah. Exactly. That would be fun. There are already people out there who can ride on motorised luggage. I’m not sure when a drone version would happen, but I look forward to seeing it.
Straight out of the '80s, the Ray-Ban Wings sunglasses were favoured by pilots due to the look and quality. The brand has since brought back the style in a number of iterations, with this latest one being a combination of the original and the Wings II. It maintains the squarish frame of the latter with an elongated taper that extends slightly towards the sides for more coverage. The brow bar remains a key fixture, making the style ever-enduring.
Pharrell Williams has a penchant for softness in Louis Vuitton’s bags. His Soul Trunk East West bag is a new supple take on the Maison’s trunk-making heritage; featuring reinforced corners and a duo of straps for maximum versatility of wear. The main compartment is secured with a zipper but there’s also a magnetic closure (fashioned to look like a trunk’s clasp) for quick reach into the interior while keeping the bag closed.
The sleek appearance of the second-generation EVOA Z is a Trojan horse for the top-tier functionality that the Samsonite luggage is known for. Some of the nifty design elements: a small but mighty hanging hook is integrated right below the pull handles to hang light items, zipper pullers are fixed with magnets so that they bind together to prevent theft, and the wheels glide with maximum smoothness and manoeuvrability.
The signature embroidered Pony logo of Polo Ralph Lauren makes for a subtle statement. It calls to mind the preppy aesthetic steeped in the brand’s history. Created using precisely 982 individual stitches, the logo sits front and centre on this BetterCotton twill cap. We don’t have to tell you just how indispensable a good cap is but just know that with this particular piece, the pairings are almost limitless.
Listen, we get that the Dyson Zone headphones (you know, the one with the air purifier attachment) seemed like a joke. And to be fair, perhaps Dyson knew that too. The brand’s latest audio device removes the extraneous feature and focuses solely on the audio quality and ANC. What we got: the Dyson OnTrac that's customisable wth a range of colours for its caps and cushions.
The Reverso is a revolutionary icon that stood the test of time. This latest iteration is a throwback to earlier models including a classic chemin de fer, applied hour markers and dauphine hands. Both sides of the timepiece feature a sunray dial—one lacquered in blue and the other in silver—for a classically elegant look whichever way you choose to turn to.
The Zegna Triple Stitch is a definite winner in our books. Already traipsing the line between casual and dressy, the brand takes it up a notch with an iteration that is tailored for more outdoor pursuits. The Triple Stitch Monte (Italian for “mount”) is fitted with Vibram soles for increased traction, all the while retaining the look and silhouette of the original.
For better or worse, the Dior Sauvage has quite the reputation—you either love it or don’t quite fancy it. The Dior Sauvage Eau Forte however, would easily satisfy both camps. The essence of Sauvage is still present but reimagined in an alcohol-free formula that’s light and fresh while having the intensity of a parfum. In other words, you probably won’t be assaulting anyone’s nose with this.
The distinctive Bone ring, a reincarnation of Elsa Peretti’s iconic 1970 Bone cuff design, has to be experienced first-hand to be appreciated. Its sinewy contours make for a subtle statement, but it is also sculpted to conform to one’s finger or knuckle. There is no restriction of motion despite its size and fits comfortably like second skin.
Everyone needs a throw-all duffel in their arsenal. This collaboration piece between Montblanc and football legend Zinédine Zidane runs high on the list of the perfect duffels. For starters, it’s incredibly roomy yet lightweight at the same time. The inside is thoughtfully designed with organisation compartments and loops, and of course, the exterior is as handsome as they come with Montblanc’s subtle Extreme 3.0 motif.
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Styling: Asri Jasman
Photography Assistants: Aliy Alam and Nowo Kasturi
With a mission to provide superior products that enhance travel experiences, Samsonite Singapore will be assisting Team Singapore athletes on their "journey to glory" at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Samsonite has collaborated with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) as the Official Luggage sponsor for athletes participating in the Games. This partnership represents a major milestone for both organisations in their joint effort to promote and support local sports and athletes.
The luggage that will be accompanying the Singapore's medal hopefuls is Samsonite's EVOA Z. Sleek and minimalist in design, the luggage is undoubtedly sophisticated in appearance, highlighted by a seamlessly integrated aluminium logo bar right at the top. But striking good looks aside, the EVOA Z boasts remarkable functionality with a cleverly hidden hook embedded in the trolley housing. With a simple motion, the hook can be unfolded to hang things such as a garment bag, coat or other essentials to free hands while having the items within easy reach.
The Ivory Gold EVOA Z has been exclusively crafted for Team Singapore—complete with the Singapore emblem and the Olympic rings—and will not be available in stores. It's tailored for the athletes who appreciate effortless travel and enduring elegance, and most importantly, adds that added level of confidence as they represent the nation on the global stage.
Father's Day is coming up on Sunday, 16 June 2024. There's still time to figure out how to express the enduring love you have for Dad but here's an idea: a luggage. Not just any luggage though, but the Samsonite Proxis™.
The Samsonite Proxis™ is what great travel luggage should be. It's incredibly lightweight yet has a strong exterior at the same time, thanks to Samsonite's Roxkin™ material. The innovative multi-layered material is resilient and is made to withstand shocks and knocks—it essentially bounces back into shape.
Gifting the Samsonite Proxis™ is symbolic in more ways than one. The tough and resilient exterior is a stereotypically father-figure trait but a luggage can also represent possibilities of the future. Travelling opens the door to endless experiences and having the right accessory aids in that quest of making whatever tomorrow a reality. It's a way of thanking him for all that he's done and offering him a tool for all his tomorrows—much like how he's provided them for you.
Each Samsonite Proxis™ is designed with the same functionality; the only difference is in its colour and hence, the inherent personality of its eventual owner. We break down the four colours and three sizes within the collection and the travel personalities that they're best suited for so that you know you're making the right decision this Father's Day. Tomorrow is here and there's no time to waste in getting that head start.
He's a cross between Bear Grylls and Aaron Taylor-Johnson—he won't be sequestering himself out in the wilderness like the former, but rather, enjoys the thrill of being one with nature for a considerable amount of time. His idea of fun includes hiking up a mountain in the middle of the night just so that he makes it to the peak at the crack of dawn, taking in the splendour of Mother Nature.
A luggage makes zero sense in the wilderness, no matter how tough and lightweight like the Samsonite Proxis™ is designed to be. But he's also not a regular outdoor-loving dad; he enjoys the luxuries that he's worked so hard to afford. He'll bring along the Proxis™ Spinner 75/28—the largest in the collection—to check into a luxury lodge, and switch it for a robust outdoor backpack that fits nicely into its roomy interior. He loves the outdoors, yes, but he's no savage.
A man as dashingly foxy as Oscar Isaac and Patrick Dempsey deserves a travel companion that reflects the sophisticated charm he's honed through years of experience. The Proxis™ in Silver makes perfect sense for someone with such a discerning taste, yet knows he doesn't need to try hard at all to appear put together. After all, this is someone who guided you through your first cigar, and that one night he sneaked in a shot of whisky for you to try when Mom wasn't home—all for a lesson in good taste.
The Spinner 69/25 size is a conscious decision. It's the mid-sized luggage in the collection and fits quite a lot. He doesn't need much but only because he's the kind of organised traveller who already has his outfits coordinated in his mind and packs only those combinations. He knows what he wants and needs; everything else is unnecessary.
You're often reminded countless times that he only looks as old as he feels. And according to him, he's only at his prime—just like Gong Yoo and Idris Elba. He's an early adopter of all things trendy and cool, long before you've even heard that digicams are back in style or that the AirPods Max are for the aesthetics. But most importantly, he's a kid at heart, fiddling with his Nintendo Switch as a way of kicking back after a long day at work.
A youthful disposition such as his is matched only by the Proxis™ in Lime. It's unapologetically bold and stands out from the crowd just like he does—which is great because he does get distracted sometimes while waiting for his luggage to make its way on the conveyor belt.
He's every bit like Jason Momoa—super chill, marches to the beat of his own drum, and most importantly, loves the beach. He loves the water and is typically the first one to run towards it every chance he gets. He's also the reason why you're able to swim pretty decently, thanks to all those weekends spent on swimming lessons. You cursed under your breath every Saturday morning because you'd rather stay in watching cartoons, but hey, you're now treading water like it's second nature.
Like every true-blue beach lover, he needs very little for his beach vacations. The Proxis™ Spinner 55/20 in Petrol Blue (what else, really) is the perfect size to fit the essentials—a pair of swim shorts, sandals, some shirts and even his very own packable yoga mat for those zen mornings.
The Samsonite Proxis™ collection is now available at all Samsonite stores (excluding factory outlet stores) and online at samsonite.com.sg.
Travel is no longer about getting to a destination. It's become an extension of one's personality and lifestyle. For some, it's a hobby; some find it to be an essential part of living—travelling and experiencing different cultures and ways of life only make us more in touch with being human. And with all things personal, there's an increasing inclination to want accompaniments that fit in with that lifestyle.
Let's face it: we all want things that are aesthetically pleasing and work well at the same time. We invest on quality that lasts for as long as possible with the added boon of aesthetics.
The BOSS | Samsonite capsule collection is the latest entry in this no-compromise balance of style and function. Combining the sophisticated style leanings that German fashion brand BOSS is known for with the already trusted combination of form and function by Samsonite, the collection is a sleek offering of luggage meant to make one look, well, boss throughout every journey.
The base of BOSS | Samsonite is the latter's premium aluminium hardcase luggage. Rendered in an all-black exterior, it is then dressed with a subtle, tone-on-tone BOSS monogram that beautifully complements the architectural ridges of each luggage's body. An anodised finish ensures that the look stays locked in for as long as possible, especially through the many different immigration points that a piece will be subjected to throughout its lifespan.
Each piece is made to be tough on the outside, but on the inside, there's a softness brought about by a luxurious quality and feel. A soft-textured lining envelopes the interior of each BOSS | Samsonite piece, done in the former's signature camel colour. The interior is spacious with the addition of zipped compartments (removable if one has no need for them) helping to make organisation a breeze. Adjustable webbing straps help to hold everything in place with the added touch of co-branded leather handles to tie in the sophistication of every element together.
There are four sizes to choose from, each designed for different lengths as well as intensity of travel. The smallest is the cabin-sized Spinner 55 that measures 40 x 55 x 23 cm, two check-in sizes, and the Trunk that's a taller, more oblong-shape and boasts a roomy dimension of 41 x 80 x 37 cm. But whichever one ends up with, there's no denying that they all are extensions of a sophisticated, well-travelled individual.
The BOSS | Samsonite luggage capsule collection is now available in selected Samsonite stores as well as online.
Sustainability is the name of the game at Samsonite’s new Suntec City outlet. We are in an unprecedented moment where more action is needed to combat the urgent climate crisis. Consumers are looking for more eco-friendly alternatives to their products. For Samsonite, its key products—luggages—aren't the only area for the brand's commit to sustainability. Samsonite decided to tackle the project of making its latest outlet as an example of its promise to sustainability.
At Samsonite’s new store, Balau wood sculptures frame the space. It goes beyond infusing the store with a touch of elegance though as it also tells the story of rebirth. Each piece spent at least 30 years in shipyards at Tuas. Then it's recrafted and given a second life, further adding to the store’s timeless charm.
Similarly, the store’s external facade was fabricated from recycled aluminium. Plastic waste are cleaned, shredded into flakes, and then reformed into a new cashier counter. The shelves are made from recycled plastics that were intentionally crafted to look identical to glass and laminate sheets.
“We are not just creating luggage, we aim to shape the industry to be more sustainable, one journey at a time,” Satish Peerubandi, Vice-President of Samsonite SEA, declared. This new outlet is a testament to the brand's commitment to lead the sustainable transformation of the lifestyle bag and travel luggage industry.
Besides increasing the use of sustainable materials in its products and packaging, Samsonite is also moving towards a future where this practise will be the norm. Their Magnum EcoTM line is crafted with recycled yoghurt cups for its shells. And the interior lining is made from repurposed PET bottles.
Additionally, until 28 April, Samsonite opens its annual Luggage Trade-in campaign. All brands, sizes, and conditions of luggage are welcome, with materials of pre-loved luggage being recycled and repurposed into eco travel memorabilia. Trade-ins at any Samsonite store will nab you 30 per cent off on Samsonite’s Myton and Magnum EcoTM collections. Samsonite will also donate SGD10 to the WWF-Singapore Earth Hour campaign for every trade-in. In further commitment to the cause, all non-essential lights in all Samsonite stores will be turned off on 23 March 2024, Saturday, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm to coincide with the Earth Hour Switch Off.
After almost two months since Walter Chiapponi's swansong at Tod's for its Spring/Summer 2024 women's runway show, the Italian brand has announced a successor. Matteo Tamburini has been given the creative reins and is set to make his debut in February to showcase Tod's Autumn/Winter 2024 women's collection. Tamburini comes from Bottega Veneta, where he has been working since 2017, first under the creative directorship of Tomas Maier.
And hours before Tod's made its announcement, Givenchy made public its decision to end its partnership with creative director Matthew M. Williams after three years. Williams is set to officially step down effective 1 January 2024, with his final efforts for the fashion house—the Pre-Autumn 2024 collections for both menswear and womenswear—scheduled to be unveiled this month. Expectedly, no successor has been named yet. The in-house design team is said to be filling in while a new creative head is officially confirmed. Williams joined Givenchy in 2020, succeeding Riccardo Tisci's 12-year run.
It's Maison Kitsuné's Parisian-meets-Japanese aesthetics combined with Samsonite's practical and functional travel companions. The Maison Kitsuné x Samsonite collection plays on the former's signature Camo Fox motif in two monochromatic renditions across a range of lifestyle and travel accessories. Highlights include a reworked version of Samsonite's Spinner 68 luggage—perfect for long trips—and a compact Crossbody bag made to be an indispensable daily accessory. Every piece in the collection also comes with a detachable charm.
The Maison Kitsuné x Samsonite collection is now available in Samsonite stores and online at samsonite.com.sg.
Ahead of the launch of the Spring/Summer 2024 collection by Kenzo, comes a special capsule collection with Japanese artist Verdy. A longtime friend of creative director Nigo, Verdy added his artistic, graphic expressions to the main Spring/Summer 2024 collection. The Kenzo x Verdy collection serves as a precursor with motifs—a number of Kenzo-branding reworked in Verdy's style—taken from the aforementioned collection and translated across a range of easy-to-wear staples rendered in muted colours.
The Kenzo x Verdy collection is now available on kenzo.com and in Kenzo boutiques from 4 December 2023.
...Dior Men. Just before Louis Vuitton held its first-ever runway show in Hong Kong this week, Dior Men made the announcement of its Fall 2024 runway location in the same city. The fashion house has already been making destination runway shows a constant endeavour, especially for its pre-collections with the latest held in Cairo in view of the Great Pyramids.
Everyone is familiar with Samsonite. The luggage brand that's founded in Denver, Colorado is a juggernaut in the industry, having been around for 113 years now and with a presence in over 130 countries. If you're counting, that's an expansion into more than one country per year since its founding. Impressive.
Samsonite has achieved this by successfully striking a balance between style and functionality. It's one thing to survive any journey, but doing that while being easily recognisable on the baggage claim conveyor belt and looking like a luxurious piece of accessory is no meant feat.
In celebration of the brand's achievements thus far in the luggage space and beyond, Samsonite unveils Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time. The Asia Pacific exhibition lands in Singapore for a limited time and promises to be an immersive experience in discovering the inner workings of the brand as well as its century-long heritage. With innovation constantly on the brand's horizon, Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time also gives glimpses to what's next for Samsonite.
To understand Samsonite's values and how it has evolved with time, it only makes sense to revisit its heritage. Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time features a number of archive pieces that date back to the 1930s, groundbreaking icons the like of the Streamlite, Silhouette, Oyster and 4-Wheel Spinner as well as present-day pieces such as the C-Lite, Proxis, and Evoa—all meant to serve as representations of Samsonite's evolution from luggage manufacturer to a creator of smart travel solutions. Innovation is key and visitors will discover that Samsonite has got it in spades.
Three thematic installations serve to highlight Samsonite's continued commitment to quality. The use of superior materials not only ensures that each Samsonite piece looks great and functions seamlessly, but also built to last. At "Zero Gravity", the Attrix and C-Lite models will be suspended to showcase their lightweight make—thanks to Roxkin™ and Curv® materials respectively—while "Discover Durability" invites visitors to put Samsonite luggage through a tumble test in order to view first-hand how they withstand force and pressure. Then there's "Abstract Terrains" where Samsonite wheels are tested on their durability and manoeuvrability over different terrains.
Through it all, the future is where Samsonite is constantly looking towards. Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time ends with the introduction of the next stage of Samsonite's evolution through three new releases: the Evoa Z, SBL Major-Lite and New Streamlite. The Evoa Z is an evolution of one of the brand's best-selling models Evoa, with a new minimal and modern design. The SBL Major-Lite is crafted from the lightweight Curv® material and is designed especially for the modern traveller. A limited-edition collection, the New Streamlite is inspired by Samsonite's heritage Streamlite collection, combining modern stylings with timeless design.
Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time opens to the public from 1 – 4 November 2023 at 72-13 Gallery, Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 239007. Sign up online to visit the exhibition.
So you like to travel, big whoop. The thing is; we all have different travel styles, and take vacations for different purposes. Whether you take exploring seriously, or are the kind to lament about another overseas conference you have to attend whilst secretly rejoicing at the business class tickets (oddly specific, we know), Samsonite is your best bet when it comes to what you need. A name practically synonymous with luggage, it has a selection offering remarkable durability, impeccable style and a limited 10-year global warranty. Take your pick.
You think the countries your peers visit are overrated. You consider travel half your millennial personality, and would rather spend on experiencing the world than saving up for a house. Then you'll need the remarkable resilience of an outer shells made from RoxkinTM, a proprietary multi-layered material developed by the brand to withstand a little roughing up. Made in Europe, it has that top-notch functionality with expandable capacity and TSA® lock with kissing sliders.
A fan of short getaways and inevitable work outposts, you're the type to flood Instagram stories with shots at the airport or on the plane. The perfect cabin companion here would be one that features a 360-degree multidirectional Aero-TracTM️ II Suspension Wheel System. With shock-absorbing suspension and built-in ball bearings mechanism, you get that seamless manoeuvrability alongside reduced noise and vibration. For eco-warriors, RECYCLEXTM️ material technology is used for the interior lining.
You enjoy traveling in style. Which is also a nice way of saying you're a high-maintenance traveler, but that's probably why you seek the best with Samsonite. Literally Best of the Best winner by RedDot Award, the timeless, minimalist design comes with corner protectors, Microban®️ antimicrobial technology, and anti-theft zipper with magnetic zipper puller. Besides a laptop compartment in the front for check-in sizes, the flat top opening construction and expander maximise packing space. And get this; the Aero-TracTM️ Whirl Suspension Wheel System's brake function allows it to halt easily even when heavily loaded.
Samsonite PROXIS, MINTER and UNIMAX are available online and in select stores.
