Emailed message today from one major US retailer:
Rimowa Departs
Well, it was fun while it lasted, but Kaehler is no longer selling Rimowa luggage. After the purchase of Rimowa by Louis Vuitton’s parent company (LVMH), the German commitment to precise craftsmanship and innovation has apparently been replaced by a glass of wine after lunch and a two-hour nap.
With a some false starts and outmoded products like their e-tag luggage, coupled with a failure to adapt to the most modern, lightweight materials like polypropylene, we can no longer consider Rimowa the gold standard in hardside luggage. Under the new LVMH ownership Rimowa consumers and retailers - without warning or notice - were rewarded for their years of loyalty and support by being misled about the company’s intentions.
Rimowa is now overseen by the son of a top Louis Vuitton executive. Unfortunately, their efforts to construct a new brand image has lead to a dilution in consumer confidence....and a six month pause in production. Yikes.
We hate to lose faith in a storied brand that we and other specialty stores helped to popularize in the US. Thankfully, we maintain strong relatonships with the high-end brands who continue to lead the pack in luggage innovation and concern for their customers. Go ahead and take a peek at our selection below.