The History of the Humble Suitcase

“I would gladly live out of a suitcase, if it meant i could see the world.”
— Anonymous

At the time of “Around the World in 80 Days”, the suitcase as we know it today did not exist. “We’ll have no trunks, only a carpet bag, with two shirts and three pairs of stockings. We’ll buy our clothes on the way.” Said, Phileas Fogg. Perhaps, if Jules Verne had owned a light weekender and 4 wheeler his hero would have thought differently about this. Modern luggage has been constantly and dramatically reinvented throughout history.

Theodore Anthony, started his business in 1946 and put himself on the map when he custom made bags for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Shown Above). Our Weekender Duffle is a modern version of this T.Anthony classic. A stylish canvas traveling companion with luxurious leather trim.

As trunks went out of style, suitcases took on not just practical but also cultural significance. The history of the suitcase is a story of people in migration. From newly arrived immigrants arriving in the new world on a ship, or traveling across the continent on a train, driving along the interstate or flying across the sea in a jet - how people choose to bring their belongings is about more than functionality.
(Classic Vintage T.Anthony suitcase shown below)

The dawn of Jet Travel ushered in a new era of innovation in luggage. As people worldwide took to the skies, travelers required suitcases that could fit in overhead compartments or be easily lugged around an airport. As we all know all too well at an airport you often need to walk over half a mile.

It was in 1970 that Bernard Sadow invented the wheeled suitcase we know today, even though there are many examples in history. Records from 1153 show the Knights Templar using wheeled cases to transport armor and such. Not until the 70’s did the wheelers that Mr. Sadow invented take off.
(original sketch from the Patent office, shown)

Today’s luggage fits the rough proportions of the trunks that Phileas Fogg preferred to leave at home. A century of evolution in transportation, has brought us back to the useful shape that the first suitcases replaced. Just as we might pack and re-pack our belongings to fit our luggage, we make and re-make our luggage to fit the world we travel.