Private Air & Private AirMart | Old Bag, New Tricks

SIGN-UP | LOGIN | MY ACCOUNT

Keywords:
Landing Gear

Article
Carry-On : Old Bag, New Tricks

The luggage of the golden age of travel returns — now better than ever.

By: Nick Kolakowski
May/June 2007 , Page 100

The trolley case has long been the stately accoutrement for the flying man of means. It’s the type of trunk Winston Churchill might have packed before heading off to Yalta, or Bogart before he fled Casablanca: elegant, high-class and durable enough to survive a very bouncy trip in the hold of a Douglas DC-3. But no matter how refined or solid the construction (or perhaps because of it), your typical old-school trolley case had a weight issue — one that high-end London-based baggagemaker Uppercase has solved with typical British aplomb in the form of the new Distinguished Trolley Case (18-by-13-inch: $640; 27-by-15-inch: $995).

To wit: Underneath the fine semi-aniline leather reside flexible panels that not only make the case lighter but also absorb blows that would ordinarily leave a dent. “Our vision was to bring an element of glam and elegance, something you’d expect to see in yesteryear,” says Kit Chu, one of the line’s founders. “We wanted to bring that back but also fit modern travelers’ requirements.” Other refinements include leather straps with old-school metal buckles that hold the expandable lid securely in place, a well-pocketed interior large enough to keep even your three-piece Armani crumple-free and a waterproof bag that can be zipped around the exterior should your friendly skies suddenly turn unaccommodating. Hand-crafted in Shanghai, it’s a case of modern elegance that’s ready for a long-haul trip to the other side of the globe — one Bogie wouldn’t even have to give up his cigarette habit in order to lift.