We regularly attend the International Leather Goods and Travelware Fair in Offenbach, Germany, twice a year. This year, we once again had the opportunity to see many new products and interesting gadgets at our suppliers' stands, which we are excited to share with you. But first, let me reveal a little bit from behind the scenes.
News and big changes
Just like with any trip, preparing for a trade fair visit begins with choosing the right luggage. This time, we planned to extend our stay by a few days to enjoy some relaxation, so it was clear that the Titan Prior in size L had to come with us. Our dog companion also joined the trip, receiving his own bag, and a representative business suitcase was a must. All in all, the whole car was packed to the brim.
The journey to Offenbach was completely smooth, and after a short walk with the dog, we managed to finish preparations for the first day of the fair quite early. We were faced with four floors of exhibition space, full of suitcases, bags, backpacks, and handbags. However, this year's goal was not to arrange cooperation with new suppliers, but rather to strengthen relationships with existing ones. Above all, we wanted to inform our partners about the big changes that have happened in our company over the last few months and those still to come – mainly the relocation of our store and the name change.
First, we visited the stand of the Canadian company Heys. You surely know their high-quality luggage from our offer, which attracts attention at first glance not only thanks to its vibrant colors. We met again with the popular suitcases featuring designs imitating stones as well as the collection by the famous artist Britto, who lent his motifs to suitcases, handbags, and accessories, as well as children's luggage with pictures of frogs, cats, and dogs. The hottest news was the new patterns of popular children's travel sets. To the already known Travel Tots motifs, which include a penguin, ladybug, bumblebee, and parrot, four brand new ones have been added – a panda, an owl, an emperor penguin, and the incomparably cutest elephants. You can look forward to these new products on our e-shop very soon.
Around noon, we moved to the stand of the companies Titan and Travelite. Here, we were met by the company's friendly representative, Nicola, who showed us the news and changes that had occurred in their assortment during the winter. We had already seen most of the new products at the fair in Brno, but we went through everything again just to be sure. A surprise for us was the manufacturers' decision to modify the Titan Prior model and replace the patent locks with a waterproof zipper. This will significantly lower the price, but the material quality will remain above average. This creates a very durable piece of luggage at a pleasant price. A completely new product is the beauty case from the Titan Limit series, which will complement the already known and popular suitcases of this line. We were also impressed by the new designs and shapes of X2 suitcases – you can look forward to new black and white combinations, as well as cheerful solid-color versions.
The Travelite brand, the best-selling in our assortment, boasted a nice number of new products at the fair. From the textile lines, it is Solaris in four color versions – olive green, black, menthol, and red. It is a simple but highly durable textile suitcase on four wheels. The Kick Off bags also underwent a change, receiving new colors and an overall more elegant look. New color variants can also be found in the Kite series, which is newly expanded with black, navy blue, menthol, and gray. Another textile novelty will surely please small travelers, both boys and girls – it is a Travelite children's suitcase in two versions. The line-up of new products was also complemented by a travel bottle for cosmetics in a practical bag in two different colors.
CabinZero is ours!
The first stop of the second day of the fair was the stand of the Dutch suitcase manufacturer March, where we came to see the news again. Among the hard-shell suitcases, it is the new Apollo line made of lightweight Makrolon polycarbonate, which ensures high durability while maintaining the low weight of the luggage. The suitcase will be produced in three color variations – Dark mandarin, Blue/grey, and Black. A slight disappointment for us was the discovery that the production of the very popular Ranger series will be discontinued. Fortunately, we have these stylish and high-quality suitcases in stock in sufficient quantities, so we will certainly cover the high demand. We were also introduced to new products in the form of small textile accessories, such as cabin bags, beauty cases, laptop bags, but also hybrid suitcases combining a hard-shell base and a textile top layer. An interesting feature was a suitcase with built-in straps for safer travel or a special waterproof textile suitcase.
We could not overlook the colorful stand of the Italian brand MyWalit, which produces hand-stitched leather wallets in beautiful bright colors. For this season, they came with a new color combination inspired by Provence and lavender. Beautifully matched shades of purple and light green will surely delight many women. Moreover, MyWalit has expanded its offer with men's wallets and accessories, which will provide style and quality to the other half as well.
An important milestone for us was the British manufacturer of cabin luggage CabinZero, with whom we agreed on the exclusive representation of this brand for the Czech and Slovak market. In addition, their representative showed us new colors and sizes of these universal pieces of luggage, which are popular especially among adventurers who like to travel only with a backpack and a plane ticket. The backpacks are waterproof, durable, and boast a high load capacity. They also feature compression straps and two handles for comfortable carrying in the hand. The 44l volume of the basic model also ensures enough space for all essentials.
Style not just for ladies
We took the third day of the fair a bit more easily. We visited Hedgren, a manufacturer of precisely stitched and design-wise very successful urban and business bags, backpacks, and handbags. Every busy working woman for whom a laptop or tablet is a daily companion will surely choose from the offer. All pockets for electronics are padded with soft fur to protect these devices. For this season, they have also prepared new colors, designs, and shapes.
The very last stop for us was the German company Reisenthel, a master in the production of small accessories for travel and everyday use. You surely know their MiniMaxi bags or shopping baskets. This year, they enriched their offer with a textile laundry basket in several sizes and color versions. Just like MyWalit, Reisenthel also remembered the male part of the population and made some products in a "manly" color design. These are mainly sports bags in various sizes and color combinations, dominated by dark blue or gray. Traditionally, a new limited edition and new designs have also been added.
You will find most of the mentioned novelties very soon on our e-shop or in our brick-and-mortar store in Brno. Another ILM fair awaits us in September, and we are already looking forward to what new things it will bring this time.
