Luxury luggage brand RIMOWA celebrated the opening of their first New York City location at 535 Madison Avenue. This store marks the brands seventh free standing location in North America.”New York isn’t just a city; this international metropolis is a way of life. Similarly, RIMOWA suitcases are more than just luggage – they’re a statement, which is why we feel right at home in the Big Apple and are proud to be opening our very own store here.
Rimowa NYC store opening event – Jared Leto, Alessandra Ambrosio, Dieter Morszeck
Rimowa NYC store opening event
Our JU52 aircraft has already flown over this magnificent city and now we have our own store in one of New York’s best locations,” says Dieter Morszeck, RIMOWA’s CEO & President. Guests included: Jared Leto, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jeremy Piven, Johannes Huebl, Melissa George, Shala Monroque, Charlotte Ronson, Derek Blassberg, Aaron Young, Alex Lundqvist
Rimowa NYC store opening event – Jared Leto
During the evening a special collaboration by notable artist and curator, Neville Wakefield, was unveiled. RIMOWA handpicked the author, creative director, curator and commentator of contemporary art and culture, and has been an admirer of the RIMOWA aluminum cases. He has created a special edition of the Topas series: the Silver cases with Matte Black elements have been polished to produce a mirror finish to reflect the world around them. A limited 40 sets are available for purchase, each consisting of a cabin case and a size 73 cm suitcase. The special edition Neville cases are built for life’s journeys, recording little scratches, dents, patinas, and memories along the way.
Rimowa NYC store opening event – Alex Lundqvist
“I’ve always been a fan of RIMOWA, which to me, represents one of those rare convergences where design, functionality and aesthetics come together in a single entity,” says Wakefield. “I knew from the outset that I didn’t want to create something that was merely decorative. One of the things I like most about the RIMOWA cases is that, with use, they start to bear the history, scars, dings and other records of travel. To me these war wounds are badges of honor that turn every case into a ready-made canvas.”
Rimowa NYC store opening event
To act out a dialog of cultural exchange between North and South America, a fraction of the cases will be sent to seven Brazilian artists after the New York event. Without altering the fundamental design, each artist will fill a suitcase as to narrate ideas of creativity, travel and design. An expedition that starts in New York, travels to Brazil and returns to America carrying the contents of an exhibition. To continue the company’s support for people in Brazil, some of the proceeds from this project will be donated to Escola de Vidigal, a school focused on art and technology that offers tuition-free classes to children in Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the journey, the suitcases will be displayed at the RIMOWA store opening in Miami during Art Basel.
