The brand’s creative director shares how they choose brand ambassadors like Lando Norris, and how he finds inspiration in the shophouses of Singapore and the electric energy of Hong Kong
Victor Sanz is a man who’s always on the go, which is nothing if not on brand as the creative director of Tumi. Though widely known for its luggage—in particular its sleek and hardy 19 Degree Aluminum suitcases—Tumi has been steadily expanding its repertoire to include everyday essentials for movers and shakers like Sanz himself.
After all, it takes one to know one.
On a recent trip to Tokyo to celebrate the opening of Tumi’s flagship store in the upscale Omotesando shopping district, Tatler caught up with the New York-based designer to talk about how a new generation of travellers is shaping the brand’s future.
See also: How to achieve effortless style for miles with Tumi
Which cities inspire you?
Tokyo is a city that has always brought me joy and inspiration. It’s always evolving—this is my first trip back in five years, and I’m seeing it shift, with certain neighbourhoods becoming more premium.
Of course, I love New York. It’s always a place of inspiration for me. Another place is Hong Kong. I have a lot of friends there, and it’s got such great energy.
That said, our spring 2024 collection is all about Singapore. It’s not just about the architecture, but the balance they strive for between modernity and protecting their natural resources.
What design elements in the new collection were inspired by Singapore?
Each season, when we’re looking for that one destination, we look beyond just a building or something that’s traditional. We look at the elements that make a destination unique. One such thing for us [in Singapore] was Sentosa Island—not so much the beach, but the sunsets we saw. It led us to create a print that captured the fiery, warm essence of a sunset as it hits the crescent of the sea.
We loved the colours of the neighbourhoods, the shutters of the old shophouses … from a sustainability standpoint, knowing how protective Singapore is of the environment fell directly in line with our sustainable mission as we continue to develop products made from recycled materials.