Suitcases from Europe provide fashion as well as function.
Suitcases can double as fashion statements that convey a message of luxury. Several European manufacturers of suitcases take pride in their products for their craftsmanship and fine detail. European luxury brands have generally been around much longer than American brands, and they often take their elegance from understated but exquisite details. Brands like Longchamp and Rimowa have become well-known in the United States.
Chesterford
Chesterford makes its cases by hand, and the British brand is as well-crafted as it is expensive. One individual suitcase retails for f1,600 -- or close to $2,000. Swaine Adeney manufactures this brand, enlisting classic fabrication techniques. A single craftsman makes each piece of luggage. The suitcase features hand-finished traditional English bridle leather, tanned with natural plant products and with environmental consciousness. A custom steel frame and brass hardware complete the refined look.
Chiarugi
Remo Chiarugi founded the talian brand Chiarugi in the late 1960s as he pursued excellent Florentine leather workmanship. Many of their products retail at around $1,000. One such suitcase, the Prato Carry On, was crafted in Tuscany. It includes a dust bag and roller wheels. Their Vercellli Pilot Briefcase boasts a high number of pockets, brass hardware and a top leather carry handle. It is marketed to businesspeople on the go.
Longchamp
Longchamp, the famous French luxury mark, features a number of excellent suitcases and briefcases. Le Pliage, for instance, is highly functional. It folds easily, making storage a breeze. Another suitcase, in the Veau Foulonn style, is made from small-grained, supple leather. Boxford, a hard suitcase, features rolling wheels and includes a garment bag.
Rimowa
The German brand Rimowa is the country's oldest manufacturer of luggage. They have earned a reputation for producing the world's lightest suitcases, constructed from either aluminum or polycarbonate.You can tell a a Rimowa suitcase by the trademark grooves that appear on its side. Many models also feature ergonomically designed handles and TSA combination locks. Rimowa suitcases have established a presence in American entertainment, appearing in such programs as CSI and The Price is Right.
Tags: brass hardware, suitcase features, their products
