While other brands have popped up over the years with their own versions, Rimowa remains the originator of the aluminum suitcase. When most people think of aluminum luggage, it’s Rimowa that comes to mind, and most would agree that the German luxury brand still makes the best.
There’s no question that a pristine Rimowa case, with its trademark grooved aluminum exterior, is a thing of beauty. But we’ve long maintained that the suitcases actually look better once they get a little beat up, wearing their traveling battle scars proudly as a reminder of all the places they’ve been. Rimowa seems to recognize this, too, as the brand’s latest luggage comes pre-dinged from the factory. Well, sort of.
Hammerschlag = Hammer Hit
Here’s what Rimowa did not do: The brand didn’t just take a sledgehammer to its luggage willy-nilly. This is still a luxury lifestyle brand, which means we should expect products with precise, well-thought-out designs. And that’s what we’ve got with the new Hammerschlag collection.
Hammerschlag is German for “hammer hit,” and the pieces in the new collection have had their typical grooved exterior replaced with a hammered aluminum shell. The design doesn’t look randomly worn like a used Rimowa, but that’s not what the brand is going for. Instead, the luggage features a textured, scaly exterior that suggests hand-craftsmanship and luxury, arguably even more so than your average Rimowa case.
