Rimowa Suitcase

April 21, 2025

I bought this Rimowa Polycarbonate suitcase in 2019 (before they made a 100% polycarbonate suitcase and now call the one I have “hybrid” because it has the aluminum edges around it). I heard a few years ago that Germans are the Japanese of Europe and it kind of stuck with me. Precision engineering and order! I think Rimowa is a good example of that. I didn’t have a larger suitcase, only my beloved Lipault carry-on.

(Lipault has since gotten acquired by Samsonite and the quality has degraded. Ask me how I know — I have two, one Before Samsonite and After Samsonite. And in recent years the design has gotten worse too; probably another cost cutting measure). One time a woman on a plane took my Lipault and so I took hers to exchange them… she thought I was insane for chasing after her, insisting it was her bag… like I can’t believe the company made more than 1 bag??? I think we were both shocked though because they are not very common suitcases. Luckily I have not had that happen with the Rimowa yet, despite Rimowa being way more popular than Lipault.

I liked the lightness of the polycarbonate and unlike aluminum, it could come in white. I knew that I wanted something I could beat up and really show the wear and tear. I guess like how DJs put tour stickers all over their suitcases and make them look like shit, but in a different way lol.

And I have beat it up for sure. The first photo shows the general scuff of the suitcase, while I like the rough marks on the aluminum a lot. A lived in quality is attractive to a lot of people; I think its appeal is its authenticity — you can’t really fake things being beaten up, although jeans and sneaker companies have been trying to forever. But you can just tell. There’s a certain easiness and confidence from something that is worn… to be loved is to be changed!!

I’ve bent the frame multiple times, and even right now I have a small distortion because getting the frame reset by the store is kind of a pain (who wants to lug a huge suitcase wherever?) They’ve replaced wheels too. I think the bonus of going with a Rimowa is that the service is top notch.

I’m not going to lie though, probably 50% of why I bought it was just because I heard “they’re good” (despite the exorbitant price tag). I remember at the time being really disappointed that I just missed the opportunity to get the old logo and got stuck with the new one (in hindsight, the new one is a lot better lol, but I liked the quirk of the original). Unfortunately at the time I didn’t realize they became part of the LMVH family, but show me who hasn’t? In 2022 they introduced a lifetime warranty for all suitcases, so I’m “whatever” about its new-ish evil conglomerate parent.

Here’s a bonus pic of my old roommate/bestie Tahsin in the bag the suitcase came in: