It all began with wood. In 1898, two Germans Paul Morszeck and Heinrich Görtz built a suitcase that could withstand the pounding of 19th-century travel, even in horse-drawn carriages and rickety locomotives. Aluminium came later—39 years after the wooden suitcase to be exact.
By this time, Morszeck’s son Richard had joined the company. He also came up with the brand name Rimowa, an abbreviation of his full name.
Ironically, a disaster gave birth to a legacy. A factory fire in the 1930s burned all its wooden materials, leaving only the aluminium. As a result, Richard created the company’s first metal trunk in 1937. It was more than a decade later that the iconic grooves emerged. He wanted to pay homage to the world’s first all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J1. It featured corrugated metal sheets and inspired many, including the Ford Motor Company, to copy its design.
A Selection From The Never Still Collection
The Nylon Flap Backpack in Petal. 
The Rimowa Flat Pouch in Arctic Blue. 
The Nylon Flap Backpack in Arctic Blue.
Other material innovations followed in the subsequent decades. There were waterproof cases in 1976, polycarbonate luggage at the beginning of the 21st century, signature colours in 2008, and more. Despite this, its ethos remained the same. Its luggage carries a lifetime warranty and commands premium prices for good reason. Even 125 years after its founding, Rimowa insists on sticking to its handcrafted production process for customisation and quality control.
Then, it caught the attention of LVMH head honcho Bernard Arnault, who bought an 80 percent stake in the parent company in 2016.
From 2017, Rimowa began collaborating with a wide variety of partners, such as Supreme, Off-White, and Dior, to produce limited capsule collections. These partnerships boosted its cultural cache and cemented it as the luxury travel brand du jour.
We don’t travel in horse-drawn carriages anymore while trains have become either dirtier or more romantic affairs, depending on where you are in the world.
To reflect this, Rimowa launched the Never Still collection in 2020. It signified the changing tastes of today’s digital nomads. The range does not include luggage. Rather, it’s a series of mobility essentials made for commuting daily. Among the selection are backpacks, tote bags, weekenders, a briefcase, and a flat pouch. They all share the same characteristic: Rimowa’s signature grooves.
Never Still embodies the concept of limitless exploration, unlike luggage, which evokes images of distant lands. There is nothing standing in your way, and everything you wear and carry has been made for ease of movement. The inaugural campaign featured global icons who have maintained a constant state of motion throughout their lives. From basketball star LeBron James and tennis legend Roger Federer to ageless musician Patti Smith, all refused to stay in one place. They continuously expanded their talents and horizons.
Similarly, in typical Rimowa fashion, the brand expands the Never Still collection annually with fresh products, colours, and styles. This year, it introduced a new material: nylon. The lightwight water-repellent fabric has a subtle sheen reminiscent of the Rimowa aluminium suitcase while offering more freedom to explore.
The large flap backpack best represents this vision. In black or slate, the daily beater has padded webbing straps that easily fit on top of Rimowa luggage, and a leather-made reinforced bottom for durability and protection from everyday use. Inside are two phone pockets, a zipped pocket, and a compartment that holds a laptop up to 16 inches.
The Rimowa treatment extends to AirPods Pro cases as well. However, to talk only about the products is to miss the point of Never Still and misunderstand Rimowa. Over a century ago, it started with a wooden trunk. As the world evolved, so did the company. Through luggage and its new products, it has become a nomadic leader, inspiring young and old alike to expand their horizons.
Naturally, with Rimowa products in tow.
