Rimowa is bringing back the vanity case, only its version is designed to safeguard jewelry, and not makeup, like the lap-friendly, top-handle models popular in the early to mid-1900s.
It’s one of three striking designs for the German luggage firm’s collaboration with Tiffany & Co. that are dropping Sept. 26 in select Rimowa stores, on rimowa.com, at the Tiffany Landmark store in New York City and on tiffany.com in Greater China via WeChat.
In exclusive interviews with WWD, Rimowa and Tiffany executives trumpeted common values.
“Collaborations offer us the opportunity to innovate and bring in the expertise of brands that value craftsmanship in the same way we do,” said Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert, chief executive officer of Rimowa. “The result is one-of-a-kind pieces that resonate with both our loyal clientele and our partners.’”
The strictly carry-on cabin and vanity cases gleam in brushed aluminum that has been given a shiny, beveled surface, suggesting the facets of a diamond. Rimowa, recognizable by its grooved aluminum luggage, calls it a “rock cut.”
A roller suitcase from the Rimowa x Tiffany & Co. collaboration.
Steve Harries
Handles, wheels and interiors are done up in signature Tiffany Blue. The vanity case offers three blue trays, the topmost sealed, with compartments to hold rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
Meanwhile, Rimowa’s popular hard-shell cross-body bag comes in a Tiffany Blue rendition of its polycarbonate material, with six jewelry compartments inside.
Retail prices range from 1,800 euros for the cross-body case up to 3,900 euros for the top-handle jewelry case.
A personal jewelry case from the Rimowa x Tiffany & Co. collaboration.
Steve Harries
Since LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton acquired the premium luggage-maker in 2017, it has unfurled buzzy collaborations with Dior, Off-White, Supreme, Fendi, Moncler, Daniel Arsham and many others.
“The idea came to mind shortly after joining Tiffany,” said Alexandre Arnault, the American jeweler’s executive vice president of product and communication, who was previously CEO of Rimowa. “The union of the two maisons felt natural as they both represent powerhouses in their respective industries. Each piece in the collaboration is reflective of our legacy of exceptional design and our standards of bringing the best quality and utmost commitment to our craft.”
Arnault noted that Tiffany & Co. has offered unique jewelry boxes for decades, including ones by Elsa Peretti. “We will continue to explore product categories that complement and expand from our traditional jewelry designs.”
Arnault explained that his interest in Rimowa began before LVMH acquired the brand, and he recognized its potential. “During my time there, we used a focused approach to reposition the house and it has been exciting to see its continued success.”
Rimowa has a traveling exhibition for its 125th anniversary that has already touched down in Tokyo and New York City, and it includes a vanity case from its archive.
Bonnet-Masimbert noted that vanity cases were an essential back in the day and “this case, among others from our extensive archives, are a source of inspiration for us as we continue to observe the changing world around us and what travel entails.
“Most recently, the iconic pilot case made a comeback,” he noted.
A vanity case for jewelry from the Rimowa x Tiffany & Co. collaboration.
Steve Harries
