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The luggage brand of choice for Her Majesty The Queen, the late explorer Edmund Hilary and none other than James Bond himself, Globe-Trotter has achieved much in its 125-year-long manufacturing history.
And yet, despite its illustrious standing, in 2020 the company experienced one of its most challenging 12-month periods to date. As with many travel-adjacent businesses, Globe-Trotter (which was acquired by investment group Oakley International in the same month that the world went into lockdown) struggled as international movement stuttered and the need for beautiful luggage – jazzy steamer trunks and show-off suitcases – all but stalled.
Now, under the aegis of nascent executive chairman Vicente Castellano (who has previous at both Hackett and Coach), the company is embracing a bright new feature. With the recent launch of the British-inspired Albion connection, an appearance in the forthcoming 007 film
British Airways Partners Globe-Trotter for 150 Handmade BOAC Speedbird Suitcases
(14 Jan 2021) To mark the retirement of its Boeing 747 fleet, British Airways has partnered with Globe-Trotter to create a limited-edition range of carry-on suitcases which celebrate the spirit of the jumbo jet age.
Taking inspiration from the airline’s BOAC livery, which also adorned the final British Airways aircraft to retire in December 2020, the BOAC Speedbird suitcases have been handmade in England and incorporate the iconic ‘Gold Speedbird’ insignia and a fragment from a retired British Airways 747 aircraft.
To officially launch the range, two of the suitcases are being auctioned via online auction platform
ANL / Shutterstock
While we may not be able to travel right now, many of us are already dreaming of our next adventure. So the new luggage collection and charity auction from British Airways and Globe-Trotter couldn’t have come along at a better moment; guaranteed to make that long-awaited trip a suitably glamorous one.
BOAC Speedbird Suitcase by Globe Trotter
Oli Smith / British Airways
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On 13 January, BA announced the news of an auction of two of the special, limited-edition range of carry-on suitcases, created to honour the retirement of its 747 fleet. Globe-Trotter has been a favourite of travel connoisseurs since its establishment in 1897, with the new collection marking a pairing of two legendary British brands. Indeed BA and Globe-Trotter have long been closely associated, with the luggage manufacturer becoming the go-to for BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) crew in the 1960s.