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Samsonite
American luggage manufacturer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Samsonite International S.A. is an American[4] luggage manufacturer and retailer of suitcases, small toiletries bags, briefcases and backpacks. The company was founded in 1910 in Denver, Colorado, United States.
Its registered office is in Luxembourg and it is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.[5]
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History
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The company was founded in Denver, Colorado, on March 10, 1910, by Black Hawk, Colorado-born luggage salesman Jesse Shwayder (1882–1970) as the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company.[6][7][8][9] A religious man, Shwayder named one of his initial cases Samson, after the Biblical strongman, and began using the trademark "Samsonite" in 1941 for its tapered vulcanized fiber suitcase, introduced in 1939.[10] In 1965, after the Samsonite suitcase became its best-selling product, the company changed its name to SAMSONITE. For many years the subsidiary SAMSONITE Furniture Co. made folding chairs and card tables in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The Shwayder family sold the company to Beatrice Foods in 1973.[7] The Samsonite Swirl logo was introduced, its four leaves standing for design, development, market research and publicity and also highlighting Samsonite’s then presence on four continents.In 1974, the company released the brand's first wheeled suitcase as part of the Silhouette product line, representing a revolution in comfort and convenience for travelers.
In 1986 Samsonite launched the award-winning Oyster, a hardside suitcase with an injection-molded plastic frame rather than a metal frame, making it Samsonite’s lightest case yet.
Samsonite operated with relative independence within Beatrice until 1986, when Samsonite was sold to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. in the 1980s and into the 1990s, Samsonite went through multiple ownership changes. Forbes Magazine states that "the company spent most of the 1980s and 1990s in turmoil amidst multiple handoffs."[11] First, Samsonite was spun off from KKR as part of E-II, which came under the control of Fortune Brands.[10] E-II went through bankruptcy and was renamed Astrum International.
In 1993, Astrum purchased American Tourister luggage.[12] In 1995, Astrum split, and an independent Samsonite (now including American Tourister) was once again headquartered in Denver.[10] The Denver factory, which employed 4,000 people at its peak, closed in May 2001.
In 1997 Samsonite introduced the Ultra Transporter, the first upright case with a balanced four-wheel system that allowed the traveler to push or pull their luggage. In 1998 they brought the first aluminium product, Xylem™. In 2000 four-wheel Samsonite Spinners were introduced, improving mobility and convenience for travelers. In 2005 the first suitcase with a multi-point lock system was launched.
After a change of ownership in May 2005, Samsonite's headquarters moved from Denver to Mansfield, Massachusetts. Effective September 1, 2005, Samsonite moved its U.S. marketing and sales offices from Warren, Rhode Island, to Mansfield, Massachusetts.
In 2005, the company was acquired by Marcello Bottoli, former CEO of Louis Vuitton, to pull it out of a long slump.[11] Bottoli left the company in 2009.[13]
In July 2007, private equity firm CVC Capital Partners took over Samsonite for $1.7 billion.[14] CVC Capital Partners Ltd. became Samsonite's fifth owner in 21 years.[15][16]
In 2008 the Cosmolite collection was launched. Made of the innovative Curv® material. Resulting in the strongest and lightest Samsonite suitcase ever.
On September 2, 2009, Samsonite Company Store LLC (U.S. retail division), formally known as Samsonite Company Stores Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[17] It planned to close up to 50% of its stores and discontinue the "Black Label" brand in the United States.[18][19]
In June 2011, Samsonite raised $1.25 billion in an initial public offering in Hong Kong.[20]
In August 2012 Samsonite acquired the High Sierra and Hartmann brands. High Sierra's products are targeted at active lifestyle consumers including outdoor enthusiasts, skiers and snowboarders, adventure travelers and students. The Hartmann brand, founded in 1877, is recognized as a mark of quality among American luxury consumers and its products appeals to business and leisure consumers alike.
In June 2014 Samsonite acquired three brands: Lipault, a French luggage brand known for its functional and fashionable products, aimed at women; Speck, a U.S. company which designs and distributes slim protective cases for personal electronic devices; and Gregory, a leading provider of premium technical backpacking, mountaineering, and trail running products and accessories. Founded in 1977, Gregory is a pioneer in its field, well-known for setting performance standards in terms of the innovative design, ergonomics, high quality and durability of its products. The Speck brand was divested in 2021.
In March 2016, Samsonite bought Tumi Inc. for $1.8 billion in its largest ever acquisition.[21]
In April 2017, Samsonite acquired eBags.com for $105 million in cash.[22][23]
Samsonite marked its 110th anniversary with the launch of “Our Responsible Journey”, a new global sustainable strategy to become the most sustainable lifestyle bag and travel luggage company in the world. As well as continuing to design products that last, they are also committed to the increasing use of recycled materials; reducing their impact on the planet; and protecting and enriching their people, partners and the communities that help make their business such a great success.
In 2020 they launched the PROXIS™ hard-shell suitcase collection. This is the first travel collection utilizing Roxkin™[24] – an innovative, patented luggage material that is remarkably strong and light, and is also recyclable.
In 2023, Samsonite was rated the best overall luggage for travelers by Good Housekeeping Magazine.[25]
In September 2023, Bloomberg reported that Samsonite was exploring the possibility of a second listing in the U.S..[26]
In 2025 Samsonite pushing the boundaries with two new Circular[27] collections featuring the brand’s first Digital Product Passports, contributing to redefining sustainability efforts in the luggage industry. The Digital Product Passport is a true breakthrough in enhancing transparency across the product lifecycle and providing access to key details about how we’ve incorporated more sustainable solutions, materials origin, and regulatory compliance.
Due to tariffs in the United States imposed by President Donald Trump taking effect on August 1, 2025, a factory in Shwepyitha Township, Yangon,Myanmar that produced bags for Samsonite and Callaway Golf Company shut down.[28]
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Production
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Beginning in 1961, Samsonite manufactured and distributed Lego building toys for the North American market under license from the Lego Group. A licensing dispute ended the arrangement in the U.S. in 1972, but Samsonite remained the distributor in Canada until 1986. Albert H. Reckler, then head of military and export sales for the luggage division, brought the idea of manufacturing and selling Lego in the U.S. to Samsonite. He and Stan A. Clamage were instrumental in establishing the Lego brand in the United States. This was part of an overall company expansion into toy manufacturing[29] in the 1960s that was abandoned in the 1970s.
In 2008, 40% of all Samsonite hard luggage was manufactured at its plant in Nashik, India.[30]
Samsonite has two assembly plants in Hungary.[31]
In 2022, Samsonite announced plans to move production to Japan.[9]
In April 2023, Samsonite announced plans to expand its manufacturing in Nashik as the demand for travel has increased.[32] Samsonite India plans to invest ₹1,100,000,000 –1,150,000,000 to enhance its hard luggage manufacturing capacity from 500,000 pieces a month to 750,000 pieces by the end of the following year. The expansion will include 180,000 square feet of land for the plant to expand on.[32]
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Collaborations
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Frida Kahlo
Samsonite introduced a new capsule collection inspired by Frida Kahlo in 2025, one of the world’s most iconic cultural figures. Appealing to both art enthusiasts and culturally minded travellers, the Frida Kahlo x Samsonite collection is a striking fusion of function and artistry. Through this exciting collaboration, Samsonite continues to connect the world of Art and Travel in an iconic way. This new capsule collection features a backpack and suitcases available in two sizes, reflecting the vibrant colours and floral motifs that define Frida’s world, bringing an artistic and expressive touch to every journey.
Vexx
In 2025, Samsonite announced a collaboration with internationally recognized visual artist Vexx. The partnership resulted in a limited-edition luggage collection featuring two distinct designs in 55 cm and 75 cm sizes. The collection includes a white "Daylight" edition, characterized by Vexx’s colorful and whimsical doodle-style artwork, and a black "Nightfall" edition, which presents a more subdued and atmospheric interpretation. The designs reflect Vexx’s signature style and thematic exploration of contrast between light and shadow.
Kenny Scharf
In 2024, Samsonite launched a collection in collaboration with pop surrealist artist Kenny Scharf. The collection integrates Scharf's distinctive visual style—characterized by vibrant colors, surreal imagery, and anthropomorphic forms—into the design of Samsonite’s C-Lite suitcase. The collaboration aimed to merge the worlds of contemporary art and travel, using Scharf's playful, pop-culture-infused aesthetic to create a visually striking travel accessory.
BOSS
In 2024, Samsonite and BOSS co-created a capsule luggage collection emphasizing premium quality, innovation, and timeless design. The BOSS | Samsonite collection features suitcases crafted from high-quality aluminum and is distinguished by an anodized tone-on-tone black BOSS monogram pattern. This finishing technique embeds the motif directly into the aluminum shell, resulting in a durable and distinctive aesthetic.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
In 2023, Samsonite released a limited-edition collaboration with the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, integrating the artist’s iconic neo-expressionist style into its C-Lite luggage series. The collection features two distinct designs: Pez Dispenser, which depicts a crowned dinosaur on a minimalist white background referencing the American candy brand, and Untitled Skull, showcasing a complex, X-ray-like depiction of a human skull. The collaboration aimed to bring Basquiat’s recognizable visual language to a global audience through functional travel accessories.
Diesel
In 2019, Samsonite collaborated with fashion brand Diesel to launch a special edition luggage collection aimed at modern travelers and business commuters. The collection features semi-transparent suitcases with a distinctive gradient design that transitions from a solid black base to increasing transparency. The interiors are lined with bright yellow mesh, creating a striking contrast and a visually distinctive aesthetic.
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Awards
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Group brands
- American Tourister
- eBags
- Gregory Mountain Product
- Hartmann Luggage
- High Sierra
- Kamiliant
- Lipault
- Samsonite
- Tumi Inc.[60]
Competitors
References
External links
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