Rimowa
Grooved aluminum suitcases, Cologne manufacture since 1898
Since the LVMH acquisition in 2016, prices have doubled without proportional quality improvement. The Essentials line (polycarbonate) divides opinion, uneven QC reported among enthusiasts. The third-party repair network was dismantled by LVMH, weakening the historic after-sales service. The Original aluminum remains a beautiful object, but value for money is no longer what it was in the family era.
Philosophy
German house founded in 1898 in Cologne, famous for its aluminum suitcases with parallel grooves. Three family generations, acquired by LVMH in 2016. Production maintained in Cologne. Lifetime warranty.
History
Founded in 1898 in Cologne by Paul Morszeck, Rimowa innovated through the century: first aluminum suitcase (1937), iconic parallel grooves, polycarbonate (2000). Three generations of Morszecks built the legend. Then LVMH arrived in 2016, Alexandre Arnault took the helm. Prices doubled. The network of independent German repair shops, sometimes more skilled than in-house workshops, was cut off. On les passionnés, opinions diverge: some love the object and accept the luxury price, others decry a 'status symbol' hollowed of its functional substance. The aluminum suitcase remains heavy and dents easily, but that's precisely the charm. Every dent tells a journey. The real question: are you paying for German engineering or the LVMH logo?