Since 1898.

RIMOWA’s SEIT 1898 touring exhibition is a must-see for anyone passionate about travel.

Step into a time machine and journey through the fascinating evolution of RIMOWA, the iconic luggage brand that has been capturing hearts since its inception in Cologne, Germany, back in 1898. The brand’s retrospective exhibition boasts over 100 exquisite cases from the archives and friends of the brand, taking visitors on a captivating trip down memory lane.

What you need to know about the RIMOWA SEIT 1898 Exhibition:

From experimental artistic partnerships to unique privately owned cases from notable figures like Spike Lee, Takashi Murakami, Martha Stewart, LeBron James, and Billie Eilish, the exhibition presents a curated selection that tells the story of RIMOWA’s many noteworthy contributions to the material culture of travel.

Presented in a series of evocative diorama displays, the exhibition features elements of the brand’s history that are expressively reconstructed to mark the craft and materials that define its identity. From the iconic grooves first introduced in 1950 to coveted collaboration pieces with brands like Off-White and Dior, SEIT 1898 showcases RIMOWA’s commitment to its heritage and pioneering design philosophy that has endured for 125 years. Our favourite part of the exhibition was uncovering the special purpose cases tailored for various occasions, like house poker sets, Stradivarius violins, champagne bottles, vintage makeup kits and more.

This also includes the anticipation of the brand’s new upcoming collaboration with Tiffany & Co., which is set to be unveiled at the end of the month.

Taken from a statement, the Senior Vice President Product & Marketing Emelie de Vitis at RIMOWA shares that the “SEIT 1898 is a testament to RIMOWA’s commitment to its heritage. It shares its pioneering design philosophy that’s endured for 125 years and continues today. And we couldn’t be more pleased to bring that story to such a history-rich travel hub like New York.”

And what better place to host this landmark show than the heart of Manhattan at Chelsea Factory? The 14,000 square-foot industrial space was built in 1914 as a garage to house New York City’s first fleet of taxi cabs and has its own rich cultural heritage.

Here’s a fun fact. Renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz resided in the loft apartment and studio from the 1990s until 2005, before the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet utilised it as a rehearsal and performance space from 2005 to 2015.

The exhibition was inaugurated on 7 September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the global ambassador of RIMOWA, Blackpink Rosé, and an exclusive performance by rapper Central Cee. We were fortunate to be invited to explore the exhibition and join the celebration. The event was attended by various notable personalities, including artists, content creators, and celebrities such as Martha Stewart, Skepta, Rowoon, Adowa Aboah, Naomi Watanabe, Wisdom Kaye, SG Lewis, Luka Sabbat, and many others.

Among the stars were our very own Malaysian darlings Yaya Zahir, Shalma Ainaa, Nia Atasha and Tuti Noor in attendance.

To experience it yourself, the exhibition will be on display and open to the public from 8 to 17 September 2023. While you’re there, don’t miss your chance to collect gifted limited edition RIMOWA stickers designed to commemorate this landmark show.

Where: New York, USA, Chelsea Factory, 547 W26TH Street, NewYork, NY, 10001

When: Monday – Sunday | 11 AM – 7 PM

To discover more, explore the website here.

Here’s what went down:

 

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A post shared by Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia (@harpersbazaarmy)

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All images courtesy of Rimowa