Carry-On! Luggage: Globetrotter

These Italian made bags debuted in Fall 1986 and had an issue devoted to them by name, the Fall 1986 Update “Carry On!” catalogue. They replaced the Italian made Linea Viaggio line.

“To create our new luggage, we went to Italy, where we found our fabric–tightly woven, water-repellent Belgian linen–at the factory that’s used it for 40 years to make bags for the Italian army. To ensure that our cowhide trim would reflect years and miles with an honest patina, we opted for pure and simple tanning with water and tannin. And we finished each piece with real brass hardware. The results surpassed even our stiff criteria. But would they please as discerning a critic and traveler as Paul Therous? We shipped off a set and awaited his dispatch.”

Spoiler alert: Theroux was a fan.

Globetrotter

From the catalogue: “A capacious carryall that seems to expand and contract by magic. Really it’s just cleverly designed, with fold-out top opening for easy access and a 2-inch wide buckled leather strap to cinch everything down. A most adaptable traveler.”