TUMI, the leading international brand of premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories, honors its heritage of design excellence, technical innovation and functional superiority with the launch of Alpha 2, the next generation of travel for the global citizen.
Alpha 2 integrates ingenious design infused with iconic style. Tracing back to 1983, TUMI pioneered the use of the highly durable ballistic nylon material for its travel cases, revolutionizing the travel industry by debuting the Alpha Legacy collection. Crafted from this soft, yet highly durable material, Alpha Legacy is a performance-driven collection, serving as a signature element of TUMI’s heritage. Today, TUMI continues to meet the demands of the hyper traveler by combining premium aesthetics with first-class engineering and award-winning designs without compromising the TUMI lineage of offering best-in-class styles.
Over 30 improvements have been implemented into the Alpha 2 travel collection, while boasting more than 14 patents. Alpha 2 is TUMI’s most spacious and lightest ballistic nylon travel collection today. Key upgrades include newly designed 360° wheels, recessed into the body of suitcases to give a lower center of gravity, stable multidirectional navigation and a roomier interior compared to carry-on bags with surface-mounted wheels. To optimize exterior capacity, the patent-pending Durafold™ Construction method folds and reinforces the frames with heavy duty, lightweight stitching and impact-resistant caps which provides superior corner strength and impact resistance.
An update to the handle system offers a solution by implementing three height options into the dual tube, allowing for easier maneuverability and convenience when rolling through the airport. Unique to TUMI is the X-Brace 45® handle housing system. Made from lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum, this special system forms a protective, impact-absorbing structure around the telescoping handle tubes within the case.
Alpha 2 is expanding in new ways with the durable and lightweight Lever Lock™ Expansion System. The easy-to-use feature uses a spring-loaded lever which opens and closes securely to provide two-stages of expansion and up to two and a half extra inches of packing space.
Recognized as the ultimate travel collection for performance and functionality, Alpha 2 will feature refreshing design elements and slimmer styles. Exterior pockets are built to inwardly expand, reducing exterior gusseting and excess space, top and side handles are redesigned to be flat and retractable, and the introduction of a bottom handle offers convenience when picking up suitcases at the baggage carousel. Upgrades to iconic elements, including the signature TUMI luggage tag and monogram patch, reveal new designs. The monogram patch is re-designed with a cleaner, beveled edge detail and is centered on the front exterior pocket. The luggage tag is repositioned on the side of each travel style. Originally developed for the interior of travel and day bags, the TUMI Tracer plate–an exclusive program designed to reunite customers with their lost or stolen items identified by a unique 20-digit number–is now more prominently stamped on the exterior rear of the bag.
When a lost or stolen TUMI Tracer item is found, the finder is encouraged to follow the easy steps to return back to its owner. Upon unzipping each case, a two-toned mesh lining adds interior flair. Tailoring to the needs of the business traveler, a new integrated suitor system is offered in carry-on styles and checked cases come with a removable suitor sleeve to keep garments protected from the airline cabin to the hotel closet.
The spring 2014 collection spotlights three classic neutrals: Black, Espresso and a color blocked Grey/Orange. Alpha 2 will launch globally and on tumi.com March 2014.
Click below to view the TUMI Alpha 2 Collection in more detail