Always On The Move

A good piece of luggage should not only be strictly utilitarian; it should help pave the way for a smooth journey. Tumi’s Alpha 3 is one such case.

- Caroline Suganda

What does one look for in a piece of luggage? Size, weight and external aesthetic aside, you might make a beeline for the details. Functional design is key when choosing luggage that supports your needs. Does it come with zip compartments to keep the odds and ends tidy? How durable is the material it's made from? Will it survive the move (and rough handling) from the plane’s cargo hold to the conveyor belt? Will the wheels hold up to running along uneven pavements and roads?

The basic function of a piece of luggage is to transport your belongings from one place to another, as securely as possible, and in style. At Tumi, the latter is serious business.

Founded in 1975, the travel goods company is relatively young in the game when compared to its seasoned peers, but what it lacks in years, it makes up for in its smart, sustainable design. The original Alpha collection, introduced a decade ago, is one true living case.

The American brand’s creative director, Victor Sanz, has been helming the brand since 2003 (with a one-year hiatus in 2008), and priding the brand on three things: function, features and qualities. And while he understands that the Alpha collection holds much of the heritage of the house, it is also important to reinvigorate its life. “Everyone was quite nervous about [redesigning] it because it is so inherent to the brand,” says Sanz, who has refashioned the Alpha twice. In its entire history since its launch in 1983, the Alpha design has seen four rebirths in design.