Anyone who has ever traveled by air knows and admires them: the unmistakable grooved aluminum suitcases from Rimowa. For more than seventy years, they have been considered a design icon, representing durability, craftsmanship, and a distinctly contemporary set of values.
When Richard Morszeck, the son of the founder of the Paul Morszeck suitcase factory, introduced the first aluminum suitcase with parallel folded grooves in 1950, he likely had no idea that he was creating a design classic that would quickly become a coveted object and a luxury item. In essence, he simply continued what his father had begun in 1898 at his workshop in Cologne: building cases that were extremely robust yet lightweight.
At the end of the nineteenth century, this meant using plywood, cardboard, and leather. In the technology-driven 1920s, the company introduced aluminum for the first time. A pressed honeycomb structure gave stability to the thin metal sheets of the early aluminum cases from Cologne, which were marketed under the name “Richard Morszeck Warenzeichen,” later shortened to Rimowa.
The aluminum suitcase with the characteristic grooved design, which became the brand’s hallmark in 1950, combined technical precision, rugged construction, and timeless design – a product built for longevity. The company drew its inspiration from the early days of passenger flights, when new generations of suitcases were in demand and Hugo Junkers used a grooved structure to stabilize the outer skin of his revolutionary all-metal aircraft. The unique suitcases quickly became a symbol of the international jet set. Even if this jet set initially floated towards St. Tropez in propeller-driven airliners such as the gleaming aluminum Lockheed Super Constellation.
Today, zeitgeist, uniqueness, and naturally also their premium price point contribute to the special appeal of these luggage pieces. Yet the truly defining feature remains the timeless design, with an unmistakable recognition factor of nearly one hundred percent. Designers at Rimowa, now part of the luxury group LVMH, have skillfully extended the iconic form language into a wide range of other product categories. The evolution began in 1976, when Dieter Morszeck introduced the first water- and dust-resistant camera case. Today, the portfolio ranges from handbags, watch cases, and smartphone covers to cosmetic cases and many other accessories, all featuring the signature grooved design. While the classic aluminum finish remains iconic, modern Rimowa products come in nearly every imaginable color. A great deal has also changed in terms of materials. Since 2000, Rimowa has embraced the motto “handcrafted meets high-tech,” manufacturing suitcases not only from aluminum but also from polycarbonate. Throughout all of these developments, one principle has endured: professional travelers need professional travel solutions.
When an Original Cabin suitcase leaves the production line, its story is only just beginning. Over time, it acquires scratches, dents, and stickers that reflect a life of travel – visible traces of its journeys and the memories associated with them. And should a wheel or a lock ever fail, Rimowa’s lifetime guarantee provides repair and restoration services even for older suitcases. In this sense, the company was fulfilling the idea of sustainability long before the word became a global imperative.
The new RIMOWA monogram echoes the rounded design language of the classic aluminum suitcases. Its double peak references the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral, paying homage to the brand’s German heritage.
© Photo: Heorshe (AdobeStock)
right top: RIMOWA extends its signature grooved design to additional product lines. The distinctive tote bag illustrates how the brand’s iconic visual language translates seamlessly into modern lifestyle accessories.
© Photo: Arno Senoner (Unsplash)
below: The aluminum suitcase featuring the characteristic grooved design – Rimowa’s hallmark since 1950 – embodies technical precision, robust construction, and timeless form. A true original, built for longevity.
© Photo: Valentin Valkov (AdobeStock)
RIMOWA
Rimowa has successfully completed its transformation into a true luxury brand. Since 2017, the company has been part of the world’s largest luxury goods group, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, or LVMH. Special-edition suitcases created in collaboration with luxury labels such as Tiffany, Supreme, Fendi, or Dior sell for several thousand euros and in some cases approach five-figure prices. Porsche has also been among Rimowa’s collaboration partners. Until 2022, Rimowa served for many years as the exclusive luggage partner of Lufthansa.
In 2014, the company equipped a particularly successful travel group: the German national football team traveled to and throughout Brazil for the FIFA World Cup with specially designed suitcases in “Victory Red” – and returned home with the World Cup trophy in their luggage.