A one-of-a-kind suitcase developed out of a transparent polycarbonate complimented with black detailing on the handles, wheels and corners, was presented during OFF-WHITE’s men’s fashion show in Paris and was received with rave reviews.
A brushed metal finish is used on the extendable handle bars with the clear body to provide a modern look. The luxury piece is topped off with the luggage tag featuring OFF-WHITE’s trademark diagonal zebra stripes, making it unmistakably crafted by its founder, Virgil Abloh. Inside the case are internal black pouches with OFF-WHITE’s ironically styled quotations, this time labelled “MISCELLANEOUS”. On the exterior side of the internal pouches, the OFF-WHITE “X” arrow logo displays prominently through the handle-side of the case. With the clear luggage body, the possibilities of showcasing luxury possessions in your case are endless. An additional transparent mini-case that houses an additional set of wheels in OFF-WHITE wheels in its trademark orange colorway.
This shift in the company culture is spearheaded by Alexandre Arnault, the new 26 yr old co-CEO of RIMOWA, who is leading the company into a new era targeting the millennial market while still incorporating a professional aesthetic for their more mature clientele. The results have been remarkable, with collaborations featuring Fendi, Anti-Social Social Club, and Supreme as well. Now with OFF-WHITE in that same portfolio, there seems to be no end in sight for the resurgence of the luggage titan.
As the newest member of the LVMH family, RIMOWA was always destined for a collaboration with a member of the luxury empire. Who else than Louis Vuitton’s artistic director Virgil Abloh? Robust, clean, and unforgivably eye-catching, the piece illustrates the dichotomy of OFF-WHITE’s ironic take on anti-culture and RIMOWA’s functional approach to products. By creating something that seamlessly blends both Abloh’s avant-garde influence and RIMOWA’s design, this is further proof that the lines between luxury and street style are continually being blurred.
With the main focus of the case drawn to its transparent nature, Abloh stated that the collaboration
“was an experimentation where we studied travelling and one’s emotional connection to their own personal belongings”.
The case is truly unique and goes beyond the physical aspects of a luggage piece, with the transparent design of the shell symbolizing transparency of the user, representing someone that has nothing to hide. It is customization in the purest sense, as you exhibit your closest possessions to the public as a reflection of who you are. The piece is a balancing act of aesthetic & practicality, raw & refined, and Abloh has executed it beautifully, as agreed unanimously by other media outlets as well.
Already available from June 25 online as well as select European boutiques, the luggage piece will officially launch in U.S. and China on July 2nd. For the price of nearly $1,200 USD (€850), you certainly won’t be travelling light with this piece. Please Pack Accordingly.
