In February, we set off once again for Offenbach, Germany, to attend the international ILM trade fair for travel luggage and leather goods. The fair takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn. It is where collections for the upcoming season and new prototypes are presented, and relationships between suppliers are strengthened.
The journey to Offenbach is long, but it goes by quite quickly on the German motorways. We always travel in a group of three: Roman, myself, and our Tobík. We survived the eight-hour drive full of stops and checked into our favorite hotel.
We covered as much as we could on the first day
On Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast and walking Tobík, we headed to ILM. It is about three kilometers from the hotel, so it was a nice morning walk. We chose the Heys Portal SmartBusiness Case as our carry-on luggage. From experience, we know that a business briefcase is a necessity, so we combined business with pleasure and gave the case a proper test. We used to carry all the leaflets and catalogs in a bag, but it is much more comfortable with a business briefcase, not to mention that your back doesn't hurt afterwards. That day, we planned to visit the BG Berlin, Check.in, CabinZero, and March stands at ILM. First, however, we walked around the entire four-story pavilion to see where each brand was located.
After scouting the terrain, we headed to our first supplier, BG Berlin. At the stand, a brand representative welcomed us and showed us the new Tricolor suitcases in a simple design with beautiful pastel colors, available in a total of six color variants and three sizes. The suitcases are hardshell, made of high-quality ABS material, feature durable polypropylene wheels with a rubber layer, and the essential TSA lock. They should be available sometime during the summer. Another group of novelties included accessories. They showed us luggage straps in the most popular designs, packing organizers, and new capsule umbrellas. We don't know exactly when these new items will be available, hopefully in the summer as well.
Our next stop was CabinZero. The British manufacturer of backpacks that meet carry-on luggage requirements showed us new color variants and showcased their backpacks in general. They are truly handy travel companions for people who don't want to waste time checking in suitcases at the airport and just need one backpack - carry-on luggage. This brand has also expanded its offer with packing organizers for their luggage; hopefully, we will see them by Christmas!
Then we had a pleasant chat at Check.in. We exchanged a few business words, but I kept an eye on the beautiful vanity cases displayed in the row above me. They had lots of cheerful colors, but I fell in love with the white version. It was love at first sight, so I have it at home now and it brings me joy. I have already taken it on a trip, so you can look forward to a review once I have tested it more.
After a short walk around the area, we visited the March stand. Here, as every year, the brand owner welcomed us and quickly showed us many new products. He started by introducing new colors of the luxury Cosmopolitan suitcases; metallic shades of Metal red, Metal blue, and Metal kashmir have been added. A new small accessory for the suitcases are Mini Cases – small boxes for small items you don't want to break. In the first wave, they are available in two colors: brushed gold and silver.
That concluded our first day at the fair. After arriving at our room, we took Tobík for another walk and went for dinner together at a Dutch restaurant. It was a demanding day, so we didn't stay up late.
On Sunday, we visited other partners
On Sunday, we had visits scheduled to the Heys, Reisenthel, Mywalit, Ciak Roncato, Totto, Titan, and Travelite stands.
We had an appointment at Heys at eleven o'clock. They showed us the new products, and there were so many! The luxury polycarbonate suitcases from Heys are typical for their beautiful colorful prints, so the new items were also predominantly in this area. Existing patterns were joined by a leopard print, beautiful blue ocean, black-and-white and wine-red ombre, zebra skin, black-and-white polka dots, and a cashmere pattern.
At the stand of the German women's accessories brand Reisenthel, there were a lot of people, and no one could attend to us. We at least looked at and photographed the new color motifs.
Next was a visit to the Mywalit stand, a manufacturer of hand-stitched soft leather wallets. They were presenting new color combinations, and our eyes were just popping. They are masters of color combination, and their wallets are precisely and lovingly stitched. You can choose from a wide range of sizes and colors.
This was followed by a short stop at the Ciak Roncato stand and a pleasant meeting with the heiress of this Italian travel luggage manufacturer.
We still had a little time left, which we used to go and check out the new color patterns of student backpacks at the stand of the Latin American brand Totto.
We had appointments at the Titan and Travelite stands, so we knew both company representatives would have time for us. We gradually walked through their entire large stand and looked at the new products. We had the opportunity to see some of the new products at the Styl and Kabo fair in Brno. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the new Titan Prior, which has improved locks and an overall design. It will be available in four color variants - red, petrol, silver, and black. A big novelty is the Titan Mono suitcase, a modern hardshell suitcase with innovative closing on four wheels. This suitcase does not have a zipper closure, but three large latches with a built-in TSA lock.
The Travelite brand also has many new products this season. We were interested in the Travelite Meteor, a textile suitcase with an expander and a distinctive lining color. The suitcases will be available in two-wheel and four-wheel versions and in three colors. Another novelty is the clever Travelite Crosslite, which we already saw in Brno at Kabo. The new Travelite Uptown is an extremely durable and ultra-light polypropylene suitcase on four wheels. We simply saw a lot of new products, so you have plenty to look forward to!
Well-deserved rest followed
The last day of the fair was relaxing; we walked through the entire exhibition area again, admired many colorful handbags, umbrellas, and other accessories. I am always most attracted to the Desigual stand, which is full of colors, beautiful patterns, and amazing handbags. Sometimes they give away simple bags, but I wasn't lucky this year and didn't take any home.
We set off on our return journey the next day, but we took a detour through Geneva, Lucerne, and Lake Constance, where we took a small vacation. Tobík was restless after staying in the hotel room, which motivated us to take walks in nature. The weather changed several times during our journey. It rained all day in Geneva, twenty centimeters of snow fell upon our departure, and then the sun was shining at Lake Constance. So, we actually experienced all four seasons in a short time. :)
We are heading to the next ILM in September, and I am already looking forward to the new products the next fair will bring!
