Lifestyle / Travel

Wraith Luggage: Rolls-Royce Makes Case for Luxury

The Wraith Luggage collection, designed by Rolls-Royce to fit perfectly in the booth of its Wraith model, is a thing of precise beauty.

May 02, 2016 | By Staff Writer

The Wraith Luggage collection, designed by Rolls-Royce to fit perfectly in the booth of its Wraith model, will make people wonder why such a thing is even necessary. Of course, this is besides the point. The British automotive legend attempts to make perfect cars, by its own standards. In keeping with such a lofty ideal, Rolls-Royce applies intense standards of craftsmanship to its automobiles. This rigorous approach has also been applied to the Wraith Luggage collection, which was created by Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer Michael Bryden, with a little help from the head of automotive design Giles Taylor.

According to Rolls-Royce, the idea was to come up with something that matched the quality of a Rolls-Royce car, which could probably never be built without the firm’s input. The collection consists of six items, all of which can easily fit in the aforementioned Wraith – two Grand Tourer valises, three Long Weekender bags and one garment carrier.

“The latest technologies and materials are blended with traditional crafts and techniques, leading to an elegantly executed and thoroughly contemporary luggage collection,” said Bryden, who took pains to reinforce the message that each element of the collection had to be faithful to the design aesthetics of Rolls-Royce.

Wraith Luggage Collection in booth

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Take for example the wheels on the cases. Just like on Rolls-Royce cars, these are self-righting, with the famous RR badge never changing position. We found it particularly interesting to discover that each handle was designed and redesigned until it perfectly distributed the bag’s weight when carried. This is the kind of detail that one might overlook when one handles the actual luggage and reminds us of the kinds of measures a watchmaker like A. Lange & Sohne might undertake.

Speaking of techniques from other industries, invisible stitching, a technique associated with the world’s most exclusive garment makers, has been adopted. Again, the idea here is a practical one. If a case or bag comes into contact with the owner’s body, there is nothing to snag or catch clothing on because the stitching is hidden.

Apparently, outside experts were involved with the Wraith Luggage collection. Before embarking on the design process, Rolls-Royce sought out advice and guidance from head butlers at a number of the world’s most exclusive hotels. We wonder who makes such phone calls and what the first spoken words are…

Wraith Luggage Valise

Of course, some advantages are native to the auto industry, such as material inventiveness. To ensure strength without adding weight, the Grand Tourer cases are in carbon fiber and each element of the collection is wrapped in the same premium leather hide found inside every Rolls-Royce. The collection can be hand-stitched in a thread color to match a client’s car and is available in mono or two-tone leather finish.

The collection is available to order now from Rolls-Royce dealerships and is priced at £24,248 in the UK, €28,984 in Europe and $45,854 in the US.


 
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