tumi

Chic luggage and travel accessories company Tumi has partnered with Hg2, the Hedonist series of travel guides, on a distinctive, stylized set of guidebooks in a bespoke case. Eight customized Hg2 guides – for Paris, London, Milan, Tokyo, Berlin, New York, Buenos Aires and Dubai – come sheathed in Tumi's signature ballistic nylon.

To evoke the theme of travel, the open case has a handle and luggage tag. Infused with the Tumi lifestyle, the colorful customized guides, known for their lavish photography, contain original content and serve as a passport to the best each city has to offer.

Each chapter is segmented with sections dedicated to, Work, Rest and Play. For the complete immersion in a particular destination, the guides include a comprehensive address book of key contacts for everything from gyms and hair stylists to florists and more.

With a retail value of $125 as an added bonus each purchase will be accompanied by a complimentary one-year membership to Hg2.com with updates and extras.

[via JustLuxe]

A laptop case needn't make you look like a Star Trek enthusiast or some sort of overgrown schoolchild, yet most such designs leave a lot to be desired aesthetically. That's especially true when it comes to sheathing the larger sort of laptop such as the Apple MacBook Pro 17". A stylish machine like that deserves an equally stylish case, however. Chic luggage and travel accessories company Tumi has come to the rescue with the Villa 17" Computer Brief (above). Made from the finest Italian texture coated canvas with luxurious vachetta leather trim and polished, nickel hardware, it features a padded laptop compartment, interior organizer pockets, and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap.The case complements the rest of Tumi's refined, elegant and classic Villa Collection, targeted to the sophisticated professional, featuring a range of designs for every requirement.

Stylish luggage and travel accessories company Tumi has just come out with its most luxurious designs yet: two new additions to its exclusive Townhouse collection finished in the world's finest alligator skin. Slim and sleek, the Parliament Brief (above) bears slender retractable handles and zip top closure and is priced at $13,000. A signature polished nickel clasp closure secures the Windsor Envelope, which is priced at $12,000. The two pieces together cost $25,000. Starting in the fall the cases will be available by special order only. Handmade in Italy, each piece is constructed from the finest alligator skins and lined in supple tan suede. As we reported earlier this year, President Obama carries a black Tumi briefcase.

[via JustLuxe]

No matter how hard to shop for, any valentine appreciates a heartfelt gesture -- from a savory meal to a classic sterling key ring with a set of keys to your place. Ideas in the gallery range from classic corkscrews from Hermes (perfect for a romantic, secluded picnic) to everyday luxuries that will keep you in mind and heart. And each choice should inspire you to do even more -- find the perfect wine to go along with the corkscrew, pack up that stylish weekender bag for a surprise getaway.

The slick leather briefcase our new Chief Executive has been spotted with lately is this Tumi Alpha Leather Expandable Brief. Made from rich, glove-tanned leather designed to burnish to a beautiful patina over time, the rugged yet stylish case features a removable computer sleeve, numerous organizer pockets, and plenty of room for papers, files and extra white bow ties. We're not sure when and where President Obama acquired the bag, but it retails for $550. The briefcase is part of Tumi's Alpha Collection, inspired by aeronautics, automotives and sports,which features several stylish pieces for business and travel including everything from toiletry kits to golf bags. It also comes in ballistic nylon for $350.

[via JustLuxe]

We're only a month and change into winter, but here on the East Coast it's been a tough one so far. I've been daydreaming about a vacation, but my luggage is not travel-ready -- it's old and drab. Looking for something with more panache, I came upon Tumi's Townhouse Collection.

My favorite piece is the Groom Train Case. Traveling with this would make me feel as if I were one of the ladies boarding a ship for a cross-Atlantic journey many years ago, when wealthy travelers seemed to pack their whole houses into trunks and then have their staff move them on and off the ship at every port of call.

The Townhouse Collection features 38 styles that range from the $6,995 Wardrobe Trunk to the $150 Constitution Tie Case. All styles are offered only in black (I would love to have seen some brighter colors), and are made from leather or fabric. The collection has two sub-sets: Travel and Business, which include trunks, wheeled cases, hand-held briefcases, satchels, a garment case, duffels, messenger/body bags, clutches and small zipped cases.

Check out the gallery for a look at a few of the styles.

Earlier this year we told you about chic designer David Chu's revamp of travel brand Tumi, including new high-end luggage lines and ad campaigns featuring supermodel Shalom Harlow. Now Chu, who also has a bespoke men's clothing shop in New York City, is branching out into fine gentlemen's accessories under the Tumi label, a first for the company. Chu has designed two pieces in Makassar ebony: a suede-line watch chest (above), for $1,800, and a humidor for $2,000.

"In keeping with our heritage of providing the best cases and bags for travel, these elegant, luxurious ebony chests provide Tumi customers not only with a statement piece to be displayed and admired in the home, but help in protecting their personal possessions," Chu says. The limited edition, handcrafted pieces will be available in select Tumi stores.

[via JustLuxe]

Last month we wrote about the timeless appeal of classic men's tailoring as epitomized by Savile Row, especially during times of economic uncertainty. There's no need to travel all the way to London however to indulge in custom-tailoring of the highest quality and style that transcends trends and fads, if you know where to look. In New York City, David Chu, founder of the Nautica brand who has since gone on to revitalize luggage maker Tumi, operates an ultra-chic Bespoke shop at his gorgeous Townhouse in Gramercy Park.

The Bespoke shop (above) is located in the penthouse of the Townhouse, which is home to Chu's design studio and other businesses. Ebonized and limestone floors, marble fixtures and a collection of contemporary artwork and Chinese antiquities create an elegant, polished and modern atmosphere. French doors open out from the shop onto a landscaped roof deck with captivating city and park views. "The bespoke experience is about understated elegance," Chu tells Luxist. "It's more for yourself. You put it on, it feels great, and that's the most important thing."

David Chu Bespoke "blends the best of Savile Row and Neapolitan tailoring, marrying craftsmanship with modernity." Garments are hand-cut and stitched by a master tailor based in Naples. A gentleman can order anything he requires to be custom made, from suits, overcoats, tuxedos, and sport jackets to trousers, shoes, scarves, and 12-fold ties. The emphasis is on classic, luxurious fabrics such as super 150's wool, worsted spun cashmere and vicuna sourced from the world's best mills.

With his newly-released Fall 2008 collections for Tumi, Nautica founder David Chu is continuing the revitalization of the travel brand begun when he was named its creative director last year. Since his appointment, Chu has launched various new collections including the Alpha, using Tumi's signature black ballistic nylon, and the upscale Townhouse Collection for men. He has given the company an image makeover as well with new high-style ad campaigns featuring supermodel Shalom Harlow and an array of classic sportscars (see above).

For Fall 2008, Chu has made an appropriately seasonal modification to the spring Townhouse line, which featured khaki cotton twill and saddle leather. The Fall collection is rendered in a gray covert cloth that's a hallmark of classic British tailoring. As a counterpart, he has introduced new designs for women as well. We're also big fans of Chu's eponymous luxury menswear line, which he started after VF Corp. acquired Nautica for $585 million in 2004. Obviously Chu, who personally made over $100 million on the deal, could have just retired then and there, but we're definitely glad he decided to keep working.

After several years of scrambling after hot new faces, a slew of the world's top fashion houses have decided to take a more classic approach for Spring/Summer '08, showcasing supermodels who ruled the Earth in the 1990s in their latest ad campaigns. The top indicator that the supes are back in town is artist Richard Prince's new campaign for the Louis Vuitton bags he designed, starring a gaggle of semi-retired stars: Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Eva Herzigova, all sprawled on the hood of a kandy-kolored muscle car.

This season, Schiffer also appears in ads for Salvatore Ferragamo as well as Chanel, along with Christy Turlington, who's now also the face of Escada. Herzigova also stars in the new Roberto Cavalli and Chopard campaigns, while Shalom Harlow meanwhile does the honors for Valentino, Tumi and Jones New York.

With a western saddle bag vibe, this tote is roomy and looks oh-so comfortable. With adjustable, rolled-leather shoulder straps and pockets galore, this bag is perfect for every-day running around. About those pockets - this bag sports exterior magnetic flap pockets on either side, a hidden exterior zip pocket and interior flap, zip and cell-phone pockets. With the inclusion of protective metal feet, this bag has everything you need and good looks, too. Also available in black, brandy and truffle. $450.

Like Ducati bikes? Now you can get the luggage to match. The motorcycle maker has become the latest brand to license their name to a luggage line. The Ducati Collection by Tumi is a line of eight red and black bags with the Ducati logo. The line ranges from a $35 key ring to the $435 carry-on shown here. Love the red and black and the rounded handle but is the big white logo on the side really necessary?

Tired of all your luggage blending in? If you have the misfortune of traveling on commercial airlines you know the monotony of the black roll-aboards. TUMI has a remedy for us who want style but aren't ready to flash the LV Monogram around. Available in 2 colors, Graphite and Flame, this carry-on rocks legendary TUMI quality and edgy style. It's the perfect size for the quick getaway or 2 day business jaunt. If you want a whole suite of orange luggage, TUMI has many other styles and sizes within the T-Tech line. But you better get yours quick, who knows, orange may be the new black.