Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Rimowa, a famous brand of German suitcases created in 1898 by Paul Morsczeck and inspired by the Juncker 13 airplane, is currently on show at Jingu Gaien in Tokyo. The Seit 1898 exhibition, celebrating the brand’s 125^th anniversary, runs until June 18.

 

Directly inspired by the Juncker 13, the German luggage manufacturer began using metal in the production of its luggage.It was the son, Paul, who introduced the first models of suitcases in aluminum before they were replaced by plastic to make the luggage lighter. Dieter Morszeck, another member of the family, introduced polycarbonate.

 

The exhibition shows the different applications of the Cologne company’s products, ranging from luggage through protective case for smartphones. Also on show are cases for musical instruments, golf clubs and precious wine bottles.

 

One polycarbonate sample that was not marketed but used in advertising campaigns to show the robustness of the 220 components that make up the suitcase, is marked with the outline of a crocodile jaw. It is called the Salsa Crocodile case and can withstand extreme stress, one of the popular characteristics of the brand.

 

Another model has artwork by Korean Yue Myun Jun on a special edition in polyester and aluminum. And there have been collaborations with the likes of Dior and Porsche, cementing the brand’s status as a high-end product. The manufacturer was bought by the French luxury group LVMH in 2017.