Old and New Bond Street are thought to have the highest density of high fashion stores anywhere in the world. Now, the west London microcosm can add luxury German luggage company Rimowa to its list of extravagant residents. The ribbons were cut last night at a star-studded cocktail opening, where VIPs were welcomed into an expansive, 220 sq m, aviation-themed space.
'There has been such demand for Rimowa in London that I have wanted to open a flagship on New Bond Street for a long time,' explains president and CEO Dieter Morszeck. And what a flagship it has turned out to be. The store shares the same design language as the cargo-hold of a plane, except the suitcases on display have more personal space than most passengers. Sections of the walls and ceiling have been covered with arching swathes of aluminium to form a holographic, industrial backdrop, in front of which artful displays of suitcases perch on white, lacquered stages.
Making our way through the fuselage, eyes are drawn to an exclusive showing of the 'Junkers F13 by Rimowa' presentation, which displays Rimowa's reproduction of the legendary Junkers aeroplane – the first all-metal aircraft, created in 1919. Made from an aluminium-alloy called Duralumin, the Junkers F13 was crafted from the same material as the first ever Rimowa suitcase.
Today, Rimowa have swapped Duralumin for a high-end polycarbonate. 'ONYX', a new range launched at the London store, makes use of this lightweight material and impresses with its classic Rimowan groove design, lavishly embedded with leather strips.
The new flagship (or flag-plane?) also marks the sales launch of the Rimowa 'Electronic Tag' system; a pioneering technology that allows luggage to be checked in from home using a smartphone – a frequent flyer's dream.
Morszeck concludes, 'With this concept store, Rimowa marks another milestone as a premium brand. London is one of the most important cities in Europe and we are delighted to be opening this innovative store in such a prestigious location.'
The ribbons were cut last night at a star-studded cocktail opening, where VIPs were welcomed into an expansive, 220 sq m, aviation-themed space
President and CEO Dieter Morszeck explains, ’There has been such demand for Rimowa in London that I have wanted to open a flagship on New Bond Street for a long time’
Sections of the walls and ceiling have been covered with arching swatches of aluminium, to form a hologramic, industrial backdrop, in front of which artful displays of suitcases perch on white, lacquered stages
Eyes are drawn to an exclusive showing of the ’Junkers F13 by Rimowa’ presentation, which displays Rimowa’s reproduction of the legendary Junkers aeroplane. Made from an aluminium-alloy called Duralumin, the Junkers F13 was crafted from the same material as the first ever Rimowa suitcase
’ONYX’, a new range launched at the London store, makes use of a lightweight polycarbonate and impresses with its classic Rimowan groove design, lavishly embedded with leather strips
The opening night saw bespoke floral displays from Les Ephemeres
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Rimowa’s website
Photography courtesy Rimowa
ADDRESS
Rimowa
153A New Bond Street
London, W1S 2TZ
-
A celestial New York exhibition showcases Roman and Williams’ mastery of lightingLauded design studio Roman and Williams is exhibiting 100 variations of its lighting ‘family tree’ inside a historic Tribeca space
-
‘He immortalised the birth of the supermodel’: inside Dior’s career-spanning retrospective of photographer Peter LindberghOlivier Flaviano, curator and head of Paris’ La Galerie Dior, talks us through a new Peter Lindbergh retrospective, which celebrates the seminal German photographer’s longtime relationship with the French house
-
Take a bite: Laila Gohar and The Luxury Collection’s ‘Cakes & Candles’ are a sweet treat for the sensesLaila Gohar’s six cake-inspired candles draw on The Luxury Collection’s hotels around the world – where guests can enjoy matching edible confections
-
One to Watch: Family Project’s ‘furniture friends’ are elegant and humorous with lasting emotional valueFamily Project, founded by Francesco Paini, is a London-based design practice drawn to human connection, creating portraiture through furniture and injecting artful expressions into interior spaces
-
‘There are hidden things out there, we just need to look’: Studiomama's stone animals have quirky charmStudiomama founder's Nina Tolstrup and Jack Mama sieve the sands of Kent hunting down playful animal shaped stones for their latest collection
-
Martino Gamper creates a joyful tapestry of colour, pattern and eras in an immersive showcase'I'm always interested in what is considered kitsch, what is considered contemporary, what is ugly, what is beautiful—it's a subtle line'. Martino Gamper‘ presents 'Before; After & Beyond’
-
Pierre Jeanneret’s Chandigarh furniture meets South Asian diasporic art in an unusual London exhibitionRajan Bijlani opens a show combining Pierre Jeanneret furniture for the Indian city of Chandigarh with works for sale by six artists of South Asian origin – in his own London townhouse
-
Mud celebrates turning 30 with a new Islington storeTo celebrate its 30th anniversary Mud opens a new Islington store, showcasing its Australian ceramics where beautiful design meets utility
-
PAD London’s 16th edition is a blisteringly optimistic case for human achievementAt PAD London, collectible design is more than rarefied furniture; it is a compelling case for the uplifting power of craftsmanship at the dawn of the AI revolution
-
‘Natural gold’ straw weaving by Hanny Newton wins the inaugural QEST Sanderson rising star award'I have been passionate and driven to champion straw embroidery as an exquisite, sustainable “natural gold”’: rising star Hanny Newton on winning the inaugural award
-
Lucienne Day’s lesser-known silk textiles are a splendour of geometry and colour at Margaret HowellMargaret Howell presents British designer Lucienne Day’s 'Silk Mosaics' in a solo exhibition, alongside the launch of the brand's 2025 calendar in homage to Day
