The recently relaunched Alpha Bravo collection from Tumi seems to have been a direct response to the pandemic. Its 24 pieces are modular, durable and sustainable, keeping in mind road trips and the changing functionality of travel gear. “Alpha Bravo’s modular concept allows our customers to remain in forward motion while being able to adapt their bags to meet their ever-changing needs,” says Victor Sanz, creative director of Tumi. Sanz, who has collaborated with Anish Kapoor, Dior and Johnnie Walker in the past, has also repurposed his own luggage to suit his needs. He has talked about using them to store shoes for various seasons! But it’s not just him, he says. “I’ve seen people using luggage to haul groceries, deliver clothes to those in need, or even transport their Olympic sports gear… go Alex and Maia Shibutani [the skater sisters].”
Pause to study customers
The design of Alpha Bravo, priced from approximately ₹13,400, has taken into consideration the pandemic-driven changes in travel. “I used the pause in travel to spend additional time studying our customers,” adds Sanz. “I’ve sought to truly understand their behaviours, how the world shifted for them and how we could best address their needs. We looked through their eyes to gain influence from their experiences.”
