TUMI and luxury car maker McLaren are co-launching a brand of premium capsule luggage blending highlights from both company’s best products.
By Ramsey Qubein
TUMI is well-known to road warriors and frequent travelers for its high-end, quality luggage and travel accessories.
This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between TUMI and an automotive brand. The McLaren Formula 1 racing team is a familiar name to auto fans around the world.
The nine-piece collection, available via the TUMI website, shows off McLaren’s standard papaya accent hues. Each piece is made with CFX carbon fiber accents.
Roll-aboard, carry-on spinner bags are always popular with travelers, and this new collection has one ideally timed for graduation presents or Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts.
The hard-shell Aero International Expandable 4 Wheel Carry-On is made of Tegris, a durable and protective thermoplastic composite fabric used in the construction of race cars. There is also a molded-fabric panel in the front that is meant to mimic the design of a race car.
Inside the Aero International Expandable 4 Wheel Carry-On, users will find compression straps that keep the contents from moving around and wrinkling. The straps are designed like the six-point racing harnesses found in race cars.
Great for short trips or day use, the Velocity Backpack has a USB port for built-in charging and a padded laptop compartment. Other pieces include the Torque Sling, Orbit Small Packing Cube and Trace Expandable Organizer.
This is not the first automotive partnership for TUMI, which has had brand collaborations with both MINI Cooper and Ducati in 2011. Beyond automotive partnerships, TUMI has co-branded merchandise with sports personalities and fashion names including Russell Westbrook, Anna Sui and KITH.
According to TUMI, this new travel line of luggage is modeled after the durability and dependability that McLaren designers and drivers rely on when racing, but also for when they travel.
Chief commercial officer for McLaren Racing, Mark Waller, says about the collection, “We look forward to seeing our race team use it around the world as we commence the 2021 Formula 1 season.”
Everyday travelers can, too, since the collection is now available for sale on TUMI’s website.
Originally published at Forbes