19 EAST

After last month’s West Coast visit to Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (W*212), Tumi’s 19 Degree US architour continues.

Gehry’s 8 Spruce Street, or New York by Gehry, is the next stopover, the building’s stainless steel cladding echoed in the fluid linearity of the 19 Degree suitcase’s elegantly sculpted exterior. With its modern, brushed aluminium design and a cascade of angled ripples, the case is a striking combination of luxury and innovation.

Contemporary travel is about function and efficiency as well as fantasy and glamour. Whether it’s crossing countries or continents, Tumi’s latest production – the New Jersey-based brand’s first-ever aluminum suitcase – brings both utility and style to every journey. The 19 Degree’s modern silhouette nods to the worlds of fashion, art and design. Its undulating curves are inspired by the lines present in both architecture and nature. But the valise’s pioneering ethos continues well beyond a durable exterior.

A sturdy frame-case design with snap closures and reinforced corner caps provides plenty of protection. The interior is lined to bespoke tailoring standards, while compartments can be removed according to individual needs. From the satisfyingly tactile locking mechanism to the diamond pattern subtly embossed onto the interior, no detail has been overlooked.

‘19 Degree represents the art of intelligent design,’ explains Tumi’s global creative director. ‘When conceiving the collection, we asked, “How can we make our design less elementary and more elevated than what is already on the market?” We felt our customer deserved a better design and an overall better product that not only performs, but looks cool while performing.’