The Best Versions of Rimowa’s Aluminum Suitcases Are Also Its Most Affordable

Fans of Rimowa suitcases know that the iconic aluminum luggage always looks best once it’s been beaten up a little.

Scratches, dents and dings are worn like badges of honor by world travelers eager to show off the scars their pricey luggage has picked up on its many travels. As this very publication once rhetorically asked, “Is there anything as beautiful as a beat-up Rimowa?“

Many would argue that a significant portion of that beauty is derived from a beat-up Rimowa suitcase’s specific journey. Every scar and acquired sticker tells a story and unlocks a memory for its owner. But what if you were able to pick up such a storied piece of luggage without putting in the requisite years (or even decades) of legwork?

Well, now you can. Beginning tomorrow, Rimowa will begin offering a collection of pre-owned aluminum suitcases complete with all the dents, scratches and stickers travelers crave — all at prices that are significantly lower than the brand’s usual offerings.

Rimowa

Rimowa Re-Crafted

I’m sure some will argue against the unearned status of buying a pre-owned Rimowa suitcase, but is it really so different from buying a pair of distressed jeans? Or, for an even more apt comparison, a vintage watch?

Every watch collector would love to own a Rolex Mil-Sub that saw action in Vietnam or an Omega Speedmaster that’s been to outer space. It matters not that the buyer didn’t live those events firsthand — the watches themselves hold a tangible connection to the experiences. I feel the same way about Rimowa’s Re-Crafted luggage.

And I’m not the only one. Rimowa has already rolled out the Re-Crafted program in Germany, South Korea and Japan, and in each case, the suitcases sold out within a few hours at most — sometimes selling out in mere minutes.

Photo by Evan Malachosky for Gear Patrol

The way it works is as follows: Rimowa buys back used suitcases from customers for $300 each in the form of a voucher. The only qualifier is the suitcase needs to have at least two wheels. Rimowa then refurbishes the luggage to ensure it’s in perfect working order, while purposefully leaving the exteriors alone to preserve the aged look and whatever stories the suitcases hold. I again am reminded of vintage watches, where movements are overhauled but unpolished cases are preferred by collectors.

“If you’re a romantic, you might imagine all the things this suitcase has seen,” Rimowa VP of product and marketing Emelie De Vitis told Fast Company. “Did it get its first scratch on a wild trip through a safari?”

Rimowa

The suitcases range from rare vintage models sought after by collectors to more recent offerings, and all are priced between $600 and $1,000, according to Fast Company, offering significant savings over a brand-new Rimowa, whose grooved aluminum carry-ons start at over $1,400.

The Re-Crafted program will hit Rimowa’s U.S. website on March 25. To get a head start on its offerings, you can sign up here to be notified by the brand whenever new, err, old luggage hits the site.

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