Rimowa: the suitcase as a travelling object

A suitcase is designed to move, but its surface gradually records where it has been. Rimowa’s aluminium shell makes that relationship between construction and use particularly visible.

The parallel grooves establish a recognisable rhythm before a traveller reaches the handle. Corners, wheels and closures then turn the same shell into an object that has to negotiate floors, luggage racks and repeated handling.

Inside, adjustable dividers organise the contents without requiring a single prescribed arrangement. The exterior’s clear identity is matched by a relatively flexible interior.

That contrast explains why luggage is an interesting design category. Its appearance has to survive contact with practical demands rather than remain untouched on a shelf. Scratches and dents are not proof of unlimited durability, but they can become a visible record of an object’s working life.