RIMOWA’s new leather line of carriers is as distinctly functional as it is luxurious. [Still: Pierre Soulages, Peinture 324 x 181 cm, 19 janvier 1997, oil on canvas © Adagp, Paris, 2023]
Travellers, old and new, are undoubtedly familiar with the dignified reputation of RIMOWA and its commitment to crafting well-engineered luggage. Its latest launch turns back the hands of time, returning to a material used in its early days. A staple in the world of luxury — leather. Why? Perhaps to prove just that — leather is pre-eminent.
Where seasoned patrons of the brand have grown familiar with the hard aluminium exteriors of its present range of luggage, variety comes in the form of a new tactile experience. Integrating the supple pebbled haptic that premium leather offers into the bag’s exterior, the RIMOWA Distinct is a signifier of elegance as it is hardiness. Just as the RIMOWA brand has become synonymous with durability, leather has equally been referred to as a multi-generation-spanning material. Finding an intersection between the two through the Distinct line is a move that makes sense.
Suited with an aluminium logo badge and corners, and protective bumping on the back end — RIMOWA does not sacrifice its marked reliability or design in the reinvention. Instead, it melds material retrospection with the promise of modern engineering. Its signature paralleled grooves are as present as ever, ensuring that even to the untrained eye, the Distinct is recognizably RIMOWA.
Coming in two genderless iterations, black and navy, the Distinct luggage line is also subject to the brand’s consistently astute design choices. Featuring a flex divider, zipped compartment and gusseted flap pocket, the interior is notably utilitarian and refined. Embellished with leather trimmings and embossed with the RIMOWA monogram in jacquard, the details of the Distinct can only be described as polished in nature. 
In commemorating the launch of the Distinct, RIMOWA made history as the first brand to represent its line amongst the art of esteemed painter, Pierre Soulages in the Musée Soulages in Rodez, France. Acclaimed for his distinguishing use of black tones and pronounced texture work, RIMOWA pays homage to Soulages’ craftsmanship and artistry through the campaign. Set against the backdrop of Soulages pieces, the Distinct luggage looks all at once sleek, contemporary and inspired.
[Still: Pierre Soulages, Peinture 324 x 181 cm, 19 janvier 1997, oil on canvas © Adagp, Paris, 2023]
Distinct will be available in RIMOWA boutiques and online at RIMOWA.com from November 2. Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our October 2023 issue.
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