Rimowa GmbH (), often stylized as RIMOWA, is a high-quality
luggage
Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveler's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveler can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip ...
manufacturer. The company was founded in 1898, in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
RIMOWA suitcases are widely known for their parallel
aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...
grooves, which have become characteristic of the brand. The company's headquarters and production have been located in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
for 120 years.
In October 2016, RIMOWA joined
LVMH
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (), commonly known as LVMH, is a French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods, headquartered in Paris. The company was formed in 1987 through the merger of fashion house ...
, becoming the group's first German company. From 2017 to 2021, the company was managed by Alexandre Arnault. Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert took over as CEO in 2021.
History
1898: Paul Morszeck Koffer-und Lederwaren-Fabrik
In 1898, Paul Morszeck and Heinrich Görtz founded the company under the name Görtz & Morszeck. By 1900, Paul Morszeck remained as the only director of the company.
1931: Registered RIMOWA as a trademark
In 1931, his son, Richard Morszeck, became involved in the company and registered the trademark RIMOWA at the
Reich Patent Office in Berlin. "Rimowa" is an
acronym
An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...
for Richard Morszeck Warenzeichen (with ''Warenzeichen'' meaning ''trademark'').
1937: First suitcase in Aluminium
In the 1930s, a fire in their factory burned most of their materials, leaving only
aluminum
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...
. As a result, the company used metal for cases.
2000: First suitcase in Polycarbonate
In 2000, the company introduced
polycarbonate
Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily work ...
in box construction.
RIMOWA produces its products in its own factories in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
, and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. In 2013, 5,800 cases were produced daily.
2016: RIMOWA joined LVMH Group & Product Expansion
In October 2016, RIMOWA joined the
LVMH
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (), commonly known as LVMH, is a French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods, headquartered in Paris. The company was formed in 1987 through the merger of fashion house ...
Group and became its first German subsidiary, with Alexandre Arnault becoming CEO of the company. LVMH acquired an 80% stake for 640 million euros. Chief Brand Officer Hector Muelas and London branding design studio Commission created a new visual identity. In January 2021, Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert became CEO,
coinciding with the launch of the brand's first line of backpacks and travel bags.
RIMOWA identity evolution: 1898 - Today
RIMOWA identity 1898.png, Identity 1898 - 1937
RIMOWA identity 1937.png, Identity 1937 - 1950
RIMOWA identity 1950.png, Identity 1950 - 1981
RIMOWA identity 1981.png, Identity 1981 - 2018
RIMOWA identity 2018.png, Identity 2018 - Today
Product Features
RIMOWA suitcases currently in production include the following features:
* The Multiwheel System first patented by RIMOWA in 2001.
* TSA-approved locks first introduced in 2006 for global airport security compliance.
* Telescopic handles with stage-free adjustment.
* Interior compartment equipped with two height-adjustable Flex Dividers that secure the contents of each suitcase.
Collaborations
RIMOWA has established several partnerships with well-known German brands, such as
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
since 1998 for the brand's centenary, or with
Porsche
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, usually shortened to Porsche (; see #Pronunciation, below), is a German automobile manufacturer specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans, headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany ...
since 1999. As part of the partnership with Porsche, RIMOWA regularly produces special series of its suitcases with specific colours or designs. Nevertheless, since 2017, RIMOWA has made major changes in its strategy, moving from a product placement strategy to a strategy of close collaborations and long-term partnerships such as
Fendi
Fendi () is an Italian high-end luxury fashion house producing fur, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in Rome in 1925, Fendi is known for its fur, fur accessories, and leather goods.
...
, Monocle,
Moncler
Moncler S.p.A. is an Italian luxury fashion house specialized in ready-to-wear outerwear headquartered in Milan, Italy. Since its start as a down jacket boutique, Moncler has expanded to design vests, raincoats, windbreakers, knitwear, leather ...
,
Supreme,
Off-White
Shades of white are colors that differ only slightly from pure white. Variations of white include what are commonly termed off-white colors, which may be considered part of a neutral color scheme or yellow that looks like brown.
In color theo ...
,
Daniel Arsham
Daniel Arsham (born 1980) is an American artist. He lives and works in New York City.
Early life and education
Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Miami, Florida, Arsham was 12 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed his childhood home. This trau ...
,
Anti Social Social Club
Anti Social Social Club (sometimes stylized as ASSC and AntiSocialSocialClub) is a Los Angeles-based streetwear brand founded by Andrew Buenaflor, who goes by the pseudonym Neek Lurk. As of May 2022, the brand is wholly owned by Marquee Brands.
A ...
, and the artist
Alex Israel
Alex Israel (born October 1982) is an American multimedia artist, writer, and eyewear designer from Los Angeles. His work includes large, colorful airbrushed paintings of abstract gradients and Los Angeles skies, his self-portraits, painted on s ...
.
Supreme
In 2018, New York skateboarding brand
Supreme (brand)
Supreme is an American clothing and skateboarding lifestyle brand established in New York City in April 1994.
The brand aims to appeal to youth culture in general as well as the skateboarding and hip hop scenes specifically. The company makes ...
and RIMOWA teamed up to create custom versions of the Original suitcase emblazoned with the Supreme logo. Made exclusively for Supreme, the limited-edition suitcase were available in Red and Black. In 2019, a second product drop was released, this time featuring Supreme's spider web design anodized into the aluminium surface of the RIMOWA Original cases. Available in Cabin Plus and Check-In L sizes, the collaboration included a co-branded black leather luggage tag, custom lining, and matching drawstring shoe bag featuring the Supreme logo.
Off-White
In 2018, RIMOWA collaborated with streetwear label
Off-White (company)
Off-White (stylized as Off-White™ or OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH) is an Italian luxury fashion label founded by American designer Virgil Abloh. The company was incorporated in Milan in 2012.
The label has collaborated with Nike, Levi's, Jimmy ...
and its founder
Virgil Abloh
Virgil Abloh (; September 30, 1980 – November 28, 2021) was an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection beginning in 2018, and was given increased creative responsibilitie ...
, also acting as Artistic Director of
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French high-end Luxury goods, luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton (designer), Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its produc ...
menswear. The capsule collection included a completely transparent Polycarbonate suitcase based on the Essential, titled "See Through", and an all-black Original case labelled with the words "Personal Belongings" in Off-White's signature block lettering and branded luggage belt. Due to its transparent design the "See Through" case forgoes interior lining and instead includes the Flex Divider system in black in addition to customised bags and an extra wheel set included in the product release.
Dior
In 2019, RIMOWA partnered with luxury fashion house
Dior
Christian Dior SE (), commonly known as Dior (stylized DIOR), is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house controlled and chaired by French businessman Bernard Arnault, who also heads LVMH, the world's largest luxury group. Dior itself holds ...
, and its Artistic Director of menswear
Kim Jones (designer)
Kim Niklas Jones (born 11 September 1979) is an English fashion designer. He is a graduate of Central St Martins College of Art and Design.
Early life and education
Born in London, Jones spent his childhood in Ecuador, the Caribbean, and Afr ...
, to develop a joint capsule collection of exclusive luggage items. The collection includes custom versions of the RIMOWA Original Cabin and Original Trunk suitcases featuring the Dior Oblique design, a signature motif of the iconic house dating back to 1967. Also included in the collection was a revival of an archive piece - the RIMOWA and Dior Hand Case modelled on the RIMOWA "Piccolo" case of the 1990s - along with an all-new design called the RIMOWA Personal offering a portable size and cross-body strap. Another highlight of the collection was the Dior and RIMOWA Champagne case. The capsule collected debuted on the runway of the Dior's Men's Summer 2020 fashion show in Paris.
Daniel Arsham
In 2019, contemporary artist
Daniel Arsham
Daniel Arsham (born 1980) is an American artist. He lives and works in New York City.
Early life and education
Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Miami, Florida, Arsham was 12 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed his childhood home. This trau ...
and RIMOWA collaborated on a special-edition art project. Drawing inspiration from the RIMOWA brand archives in Cologne, Germany. Arsham created a numbered "eroded suitcase" series based on a vintage RIMOWA Attaché briefcase. Similar to ARSHAM's "Future Relic" series (2013 - 2018) where he imagines a variety everyday objects as archaeological discoveries from a future, dystopian world. In May 2019, the number 008/500 of this special edition was sold for US$14,000 at auction house Sotheby's in New York city.
Ambassadors
For the ‘Never Still’ global brand campaign, RIMOWA enlisted a series ambassadors to promote their new brand identity.
Ambassadors featured in the ‘Never Still’ brand campaign include:
*
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest pl ...
, American professional basketball player for the
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...
.
*
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the ...
,
Barbadian singer, actress, fashion designer, and businesswoman.
*
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946)
is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album '' Horses''.
Called the "punk poe ...
,
American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet.
*
Kim Jones (designer)
Kim Niklas Jones (born 11 September 1979) is an English fashion designer. He is a graduate of Central St Martins College of Art and Design.
Early life and education
Born in London, Jones spent his childhood in Ecuador, the Caribbean, and Afr ...
, English fashion designer, Creative Director of
Dior
Christian Dior SE (), commonly known as Dior (stylized DIOR), is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house controlled and chaired by French businessman Bernard Arnault, who also heads LVMH, the world's largest luxury group. Dior itself holds ...
Men.
*
Yuja Wang
Yuja Wang (; born February 10, 1987) is a Chinese classical pianist. She was born in Beijing, began studying piano there at age six, and went on to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Curtis Institute of Music in Phila ...
, Chinese professional classical pianist.
*
Roger Federer
Roger Federer (; born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss former professional tennis player. He was ranked List of ATP number 1 ranked singles tennis players#Weeks at No. 1, world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 310 weeks, in ...
, Swiss professional
tennis player
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball cove ...
, he has won 20
Grand Slam (tennis)
The Grand Slam in tennis is the achievement of winning all four major championships in one discipline in a calendar year, also referred to as the "Calendar-year Grand Slam" or "Calendar Slam". In doubles, a team may accomplish the Grand Slam p ...
singles titles.
*
Virgil Abloh
Virgil Abloh (; September 30, 1980 – November 28, 2021) was an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection beginning in 2018, and was given increased creative responsibilitie ...
, American fashion designer, entrepreneur, artist, artistic director of
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French high-end Luxury goods, luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton (designer), Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its produc ...
's men's wear collection.
*
Adwoa Aboah
Adwoa Caitlin Maria Aboah (born 18 May 1992) is a British fashion model. In December 2017 she appeared on the cover of British ''Vogue''. She has also been on the cover of ''American Vogue'', ''Vogue Italia'', '' Vogue Poland'', and '' i-D''. I ...
, British fashion model.
* Yoon Ahn, Korean-American designer, founder of AMBUSH® and
Dior
Christian Dior SE (), commonly known as Dior (stylized DIOR), is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house controlled and chaired by French businessman Bernard Arnault, who also heads LVMH, the world's largest luxury group. Dior itself holds ...
Men Director of jewelry.
*
Nobu Matsuhisa
Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa (松久 信幸 ''Matsuhisa Nobuyuki''; born March 10, 1949) is a Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur known for his fusion cuisine blending traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients. His signature dish ...
,
Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur.
Awards
References
External links
Official website
{{expand section, date=February 2020
Luggage brands
Manufacturing companies established in 1898
Luggage manufacturers
German brands
Manufacturing companies based in Cologne
1898 establishments in Germany
LVMH brands
Luxury brands
German subsidiaries of foreign companies