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
-
The Lighthouse draws on Bauhaus principles to create a new-era workspace campusThe Lighthouse, a Los Angeles office space by Warkentin Associates, brings together Bauhaus, brutalism and contemporary workspace design trends
-
Extreme Cashmere reimagines retail with its new Amsterdam store: ‘You want to take your shoes off and stay’Wallpaper* takes a tour of Extreme Cashmere’s new Amsterdam store, a space which reflects the label’s famed hospitality and unconventional approach to knitwear
-
Titanium watches are strong, light and enduring: here are some of the bestBrands including Bremont, Christopher Ward and Grand Seiko are exploring the possibilities of titanium watches
-
Nature sets the pace for Alex Monroe’s first sculpture exhibitionThe British designer hops from jewellery to sculpture for his new exhibition at the Garden Museum, London. Here, he tells us why nature should be at the forefront of design
-
On the Isle of Man, the secret history of designer Archibald Knox is revealedThe mysterious life and works of local designer Archibald Knox is celebrated in a retrospective at Manx Museum, spanning silverware, furniture, clocks and more
-
Wedgwood’s AI tool lets the public reimagine Jasperware for its 250th anniversaryTo celebrate 250 years of Jasperware, Wedgwood debuts an AI tool that opens up the design process to the public for the first time
-
A new London show explores material magic with medieval melancholyInspired by deconsecrated monasteries, interior designer and curator Jermaine Gallacher takes us on a journey through time and mood in a London exhibition at The Ragged School
-
William Morris mania meets the design industry’s darker side in a new London show‘Morris Mania’ at the William Morris Gallery explores the British designer’s complicated legacy in an ever-more commodified world
-
Reimagining remembrance: Urn Studios introduces artistic urns to the UKBridging the gap between art and memory, Urn Studios offers contemporary, handcrafted funeral urns designed to be proudly displayed
-
Wallpaper* takes a turn around Somerset House for Collect 2025Our round-up of the highlights from the 21st edition of the collectible craft and design fair in London
-
‘It’s a museum-like jewel box’: L’Objet marks 20 years of elegant design with a new London flagshipOpening on 12 March 2025, L’Objet’s new London boutique is rich in chocolate colours and velvet detailing
