Samsonite - My First Luggage Love
My earliest, wonderful travel memories with my Grandparents involve pulling out the hard shelled, green Samsonite Luggage. Cumbersome, no wheels, almost bigger than I was, my heart skipped beats when we pulled it out. The Samsonite luggage represented the excitement of travel - a passion for which I give thanks to my Grandparents.
Days would be spent carefully packing. Maybe repacking. And, each moment with the luggage held the promise of the journey ahead.
Samsonite Sponsor © Flyga Twiga LLC
Time Marchs On
My travel needs changed. New products came out. Trends happened. And, I have to admit to being a bit snobby. I was "beyond" good ole reliable Samsonite.
Upon entering my fifth decade of travel, as a lifestyle and as a business, my checked luggage has become about as Utilitarian as you can get. Giant, black, wheeled international bags, most often purchased at the Military Exchange, get me from one side of the world to the other.
But, when it comes to my carry-on, I am as devoted as they come. I average about a half decade per bag. I only let go when the Next Generation of Carry-ons come out and I am forced by sheer practicality to move on. Although you can rest assured, the old carry-on is never disposed of, but rather “repurposed” in some way. We spent hours upon hours traveling together, often waiting for flights, with my feet propped up on my carry-on, how could I just toss my beloved carry-on aside?
So, last weekend, when touring the 17th Annual Korea International Art Fair, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Samsonite Art Collaboration.
Samsonite Art Collaboration 17th Annual KIAF © Flyga Twiga LLC
Samsonite X Hong Ji Yeun
Art Collaboration Volume 8
I immediately fell in love with Samsonite all over again. It was as if they had channeled me in creating this line. For their 8th Art Collaboration, Samsonite:
“Inspired by the works of Hong Ji-yeun featuring motifs like trees, flowers and birds, the new Samonsite collection is meaningful in that it symbolizes its social contributions activities. Sasmonite’s commitment to protecting the environment by creating forests in deserts and large cities is evident in the 2018 Art Collaboration. The Samsonite travel luggage created through this art collaboration contains our hope that someday flowers will bloom and birds will fly above the trees in the desert.”
Samsonite 2019 Art Collaboration Collection Hong Ji Yeun © Flyga Twiga LLC
“Imagine Their Own Travels Around the World”
The artists statement notes:
The artist Hong Ji-yeun (born in 1972) has worked on promoting harmony between East and West by combining Eastern motifs, such as trees, flowers and birds used in Korean traditional folk painting. Like an alchemist, she creates creates her own unique surrealist landscapes by fusing subject matters taken from East and West and from past and present. The birds and flowers in her work titled “Hwajobonbon 2” create, like “bonbons,” or candies in French, a sweet and splendid fantasy. The different birds from around the world taking a rest above the flower tree in the work titled “Dogamnamu” inspire viewers to imagine their own travels around the world.”
Samsonite Luggage Art Collaboration Booth © Flyga Twiga LLC
The Anticipation Begins
Just as it did when I was a child, Samsonite is once again inspiring me. And, just like the anticipation of travel, I must now wait for the Collaboration Luggage to be released.
The line will be released in 2019. Until then, I will take my current carry-on for some more adventures. Before I return to my first, childhood luggage love.
