When planning for your next vacation, consider taking a journey back to the golden age of travel with SteamLine Luggage. Founded by Sara Banks, the Dublin-based brand has brought the vintage look into the modern age with handmade cases that fuse fashion with functionality. With collections such as The Artiste, The Entrepreneur and The Sweetheart there is a collection that will fit the personal style of any woman (or man) who wants to travel in style from their wardrobe to the luggage they bring along for their travels.
Sara founded SteamLine Luggage to fulfill the need of stylish women everywhere, and in just one year after she created her initial designs, SteamLine luggage was made available for purchase, and each collection (with the exception of a collaboration) is designed from start to finish by Sara herself.
In this interview, Sara gives us an inside look into the inspiration behind the brand, the key to a successful collaboration and where she looks forward to traveling to the most once the lockdown is lifted.
You founded SteamLine Luggage in 2005 to provide modern travelers with timeless vintage inspired luggage reminiscent of the golden age of travel. When did you first come up with the idea for the brand and how long did it take before your designs were available to purchase?
SteamLine Luggage was born to make every trip into an elegant voyage for the modern traveler. I traveled a lot for my previous job and spending time at airports all over the world, I would see beautifully dressed women carrying tatty luggage and I wanted to upgrade the luggage options.
It took about one year for my initial designs to be available to purchase, I spent a lot of time developing both the silhouette to make it both stylish and functional while working on the colorways and trims.
What would you say sets SteamLine Luggage apart from other brands on the market?
We strive to provide old world glamour but with modern amenities. The look feels chic, but every big piece like the Carryon, Stowaway and Spinner also comes with TSA locks, silent wheels, protective covers and more.
Each of the luggage cases are handmade and fuse fashion with functionality and each collection features its own unique color for the exterior and eye catching fabric for the interior. Did you select each of the fabrics used in your collections personally?
I personally design every case from start to finish (unless it’s a collaboration collection). I really enjoy using a variety of colors and patterns, to inspire stylish travel in beautiful palettes for everyone.
I love the names of your collections (which include The Artiste, The Botanist, The Editor and The Entrepreneur. During which stage of the design process did you come up with the name for the collection?
Each collection is based on an aspirational character of yesteryear from a different profession, including The Editor, The Diplomat, The Entrepreneur, The Correspondent, The Starlet, The Architect and more. Each name conjures the motion of travel and a personal story that everyone experiences on their different journey.
Two of your collections were collaborations (Alice + Olivia and The Masionette) what is the key to creating a successful collaboration?
I really enjoy the creative process of working with another designer or brand. For me, it’s meeting face to face and sitting down with the inspiration board, leather samples and the cases to really envision how the collaboration will bring both brands to life.
The collaborations are also a great opportunity to introduce SteamLine Luggage to new travelers. Our Maisonette launch was our first kid’s collection, fusing SteamLine Luggage’s chic travel style and craftsmanship with Maisonette’s playful colors and interior patterns, to inspire a wanderlust spirit for the whole family.
Do you have future collaborations in the works?
We are hoping to launch a new collaboration for holiday 2020, but it’s still in the works:)
What do you enjoy the most about seeing customers photos featuring the SteamLine luggage pieces that they take along on their travels?
I love how the cases help them shape their journeys, from the packing to the unpacking, it’s with them for every step of their trip, whether it’s a memorable weekend getaway to a trip of a lifetime across the world. I have always hoped that SteamLine Luggage will inspire customers to travel beautifully.
Which of the SteamLine Luggage collections do you use when you travel?
I am usually traveling with a new case that is in development, so I can try it out, see customer reactions and make any necessary adjustments as I personally travel with it.
Where are some of your favorite places to travel, and where are the few of the locations that you hope to visit once the lockdown is over?
My family and I have been visiting Lamu Island off Kenya for the past two years and have fallen in love with both the destination and the people. One trip requirement is that can send our 3 older boys to school and the Shamba la Shela school on the island is a perfect fit. It’s paradise, no cars, really quiet, miles of untouched, pristine white beaches, amazing local food with fresh seafood and beautiful sunset boat rides.
When you’re not using your luggage for travel, what are some of your favorite ways to use/display it in your home?
We see quite a few of our customers using the cases to store their clothes and belongings at home while not traveling and sparking new interest in closet organization. This has been especially true, during these past few months at home, people have been using the cases to declutter homes and closets and kids love them too!
I hope that by seeing SteamLine Luggage cases in homes, they will inspire some joy and future travel plans when people can one day travel again, hopefully soon!
Shop SteamLine Luggage and follow along via Instagram @steamlineluggage
Images in the post provided by SteamLine Luggage, first image of Sara Banks, by Daphne Youree Photography
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