8 Best Luxury Luggage Brands Compared

Cologne · 1898 · Aluminium pioneer

Rimowa turned the aluminium suitcase from industrial object into status symbol. The grooved exterior, inspired by early aircraft fuselages, is now unmistakable on airport carousels from Frankfurt to Tokyo. Owned by LVMH since 2016, Rimowa balances German engineering with fashion collaborations — yet its real strength remains the light, dent-prone, instantly recognisable shell that frequent flyers either love or accept as part of the character.

London · 1897 · Vulcanised fibre

Globe-Trotter makes luggage the old way: vulcanised fibre, formed under heat and pressure, reinforced with leather corners and leather straps. The result is lighter than it looks and tougher than it has any right to be. Queen Elizabeth II used it as a young princess; the brand still supplies the British royal household. For travellers who want heritage without shouting, Globe-Trotter is the quiet English choice.

New Jersey · 1975 · Functional luxury

Tumi built its reputation on ballistic nylon — fabric tough enough for military use, refined into business-travel cases with obsessive internal organisation. The Alpha and Tegra-Lite lines are the choice of consultants and road warriors who value pockets, wheels and repairability over runway drama. Tumi's global service network and Tracer product-recovery programme add practical value that many heritage houses cannot match.

Paris · 1853 · Trunk-maker to aristocrats

Goyard is older than the Eiffel Tower and more discreet than its Parisian rivals. The hand-painted Goyardine canvas, the made-to-order trunks and the refusal to advertise all reinforce an old-world exclusivity. A Goyard tote or rolling case does not need a logo to be recognised — the chevron pattern and the absence of marketing do the talking. It is luggage for people who already know.

Paris · 1854 · The original travel house

Louis Vuitton began as a trunk-maker, and travel remains the spiritual core of the house. The Horizon rolling luggage, Pegase trolley and vintage steamer trunks all descend from the flat-topped canvas cases that revolutionised 19th-century travel. A modern Vuitton suitcase is as much a statement as a container — bought for the monogram, the leather trim and the knowledge that the house invented this category.

Paris · 1837 · Leather as art

Hermès luggage is leather luggage, full stop. The Roulis, Victoria and various bespoke travel pieces are cut, stitched and finished by artisans trained for years before they touch a hide. Prices reflect this: an Hermès suitcase costs more than many first-class tickets. But the materials, the smell of untreated leather and the lifetime repair service justify the premium for a small clientele that treats travel as another form of collecting.

Milan · 1952 · Italian elegance at scale

Bric's proves that Italian design can survive baggage handlers. The Life collection in woven polypropylene and the Bellagio line in polycarbonate with leather trim offer a lighter, more affordable entry into luxury luggage while keeping a recognisably Milanese silhouette. For travellers who want European style without the fragility of aluminium or the price of a trunk-maker, Bric's is the practical Italian choice.

Milan · 1946 · Design-forward engineering

Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano, known as FPM, has supplied luggage to airlines and grand hotels for decades. Under recent creative direction it has become the designer's suitcase: bold colours, bank-vault aluminium shells and details like leather pull-tabs that feel considered rather than decorative. FPM is smaller than Rimowa and less famous than Vuitton — which is precisely why some travellers choose it.

Luggage retailer · Affiliate partner · Multi-brand

Not a luggage maker, but a practical place to buy one. Case Luggage is a specialist retailer stocking suitcases, carry-ons and travel bags from established brands, making it easy to compare sizes and shells side by side before you commit. Partner link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you.