Globe-Trotter Luggage

Globe-Trotter is a storied luxury luggage brand originally founded in 1897 by British entrepreneur David Nelken in Saxony, Germany. Despite its German inception, the company moved its headquarters and manufacturing to the United Kingdom in 1932 (though some sources suggest earlier moves for specific operations). Since then, it has become a quintessence of British luxury and craftsmanship, famously synonymous with the 'Golden Age' of travel.

All Globe-Trotter suitcases are handcrafted in Hertfordshire, England, using traditional Victorian-era machinery and a specialized material called Vulcanised Fibreboard—made from 14 layers of bonded paper. This unique process makes the cases incredibly lightweight yet durable, a quality famously demonstrated in 1912 when an elephant stood on a Globe-Trotter case to prove its strength. The brand has been favored by figures such as Sir Winston Churchill and HM Queen Elizabeth II.

In terms of ownership, the brand was acquired by Japanese entrepreneur Toshiyasu Takubo in the late 1990s, who expanded its presence significantly in the Japanese market. In 2020, the British private equity firm Oakley Capital acquired a majority stake in the Globe-Trotter Group. Today, the brand remains under the control of Oakley Capital, which oversees its global expansion while maintaining its heritage production in the UK.