The Influence of Scenario-Based Demand Driven by Lifestyle Changes on the History of Luggage and Bags Development

The Influence of "Scenario-Based Demand" Driven by Lifestyle Changes on the History of Luggage and Bags Development

The history of luggage development is essentially an evolution story of continuously responding to the scenario-based demands arising from changes in human lifestyles. From simple containers used as storage tools in ancient times to multi-functional equipment adapted for diverse modern scenarios, every revolution in form, material, and function has been deeply tied to the specific era's travel methods, pace of life, and consumption habits. Scenario-based demand acts like an invisible conductor, pushing luggage and bags from a singular practical tool to a life companion that combines functionality, aesthetics, and emotional value, with its development trajectory clearly reflecting the progress of human civilization. A perfect example of modern evolution is the spinner luggage.

 

I. Pre-Industrial Era: Basic Storage Needs Driven by Survival and Migration (Ancient Times - 18th Century)

Before the Industrial Revolution, human travel scenarios were primarily migration, trade, and religious pilgrimage. The core needs focused on "secure storage" and "convenient transport." Luggage design prioritized practicality, with a relatively simple form that suited these core scenarios.

 

(I) Basic Needs in Migration and Trade Scenarios

The long journeys of ancient nomads and merchants required carriers capable of withstanding harsh environments and accommodating supplies. Wooden storage chests unearthed from ancient Egyptian pharaohs' tombs were made of hard wood with carved decorations that served both aesthetic and reinforcement purposes. They were used to store funerary objects to cope with the "migration" scenario of the afterlife. During the Roman period, soldiers and merchants used leather or wooden boxes called "locus." The leather material was foldable to save space, while the wooden body protected valuable goods, adapting to the bumpy transport scenarios of land trade. Medieval European pilgrims, facing long and arduous journeys, used wooden travel suitcase with metal fittings. Lock catches and corner irons were designed to enhance durability and anti-theft capabilities, meeting the need for secure storage of personal items during long pilgrimages.

 

(II) Preliminary Segmentation in Aristocratic Life Scenarios

Before the 18th century, European nobles primarily traveled short distances by carriage, and luggage began to show the initial form of functional segmentation. French aristocratic travel suitcase were covered with silk or leather and had simple internal compartments for classifying clothes and accessories, both showcasing social status and addressing the need for garment organization during travel. Traveling bags of this era had not yet formed standardized designs and were mostly handcrafted and customized. The core focus remained on the two major scenario needs: "secure storage" and "status symbol," laying the foundation for subsequent functional innovation.

 

II. Industrial Revolution to Early 20th Century: The Rise of Long-Distance Travel and Demand for Functional Segmentation (19th Century - 1930s)
The Industrial Revolution led to the popularization of steam trains and ships, making "long-distance travel" a lifestyle for the aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie. Scenario demand upgraded from simple storage to "efficient stacking, moisture/damage protection, and functional partitioning," giving rise to the prototype of modern luggage and the beginning of brand development. These demands eventually led to the invention of the modern suitcase.

 

(I) Solving Core Pain Points in Transoceanic and Transcontinental Travel

In the mid-19th century, European nobles' "moving-style" travel required travel luggage to adapt to ship and train transport scenarios. Traditional dome-topped wooden chests were bulky and non-stackable, while soft luggage bag were prone to moisture and deformation. In 1854, Louis Vuitton introduced a flat-topped travel suitcase made of poplar wood. It featured waterproof coated canvas and a lightweight poplar frame, with metal edging to enhance fall resistance. The flat top design allowed for efficient stacking to save transport space, and internal compartments and camphor wood lining provided clothing classification and insect-repellent functions, perfectly solving the core pain points of long-distance travel. This design quickly became the standard for upper-class travel, confirming the decisive role of scenario demand on product form. For travelers with multiple pieces, luggage sets soon became a necessity.

 

(II) Customized Innovation for Specific Life Scenarios

As long-distance travel scenarios diversified, segmented demand drove specialized functional upgrades for luggage. In 1874, Louis Vuitton customized a bed trunk for the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, which had a built-in folding bed to suit accommodation scenarios during wild expeditions. In 1923, a customized book trunk for Hemingway could hold 80 books and featured a secret drawer, meeting the writer's reading and creation needs during travel. Simultaneously, picnic culture was prevalent among European nobles, leading brands to introduce dedicated picnic travel suitcase with internal slots for securing crystal glasses and cutlery, balancing storage and damage prevention, and adapting to outdoor leisure scenarios. During this period, the predecessor brand of RIMOWA launched leather-covered plywood travel luggage, foreshadowing subsequent material innovation.

 

III. The Aviation Era and Mass Tourism: The Explosion of Demand for Lightweight and Portable Travel Luggage (1930s-2000s)

The popularization of jet aircraft shifted air travel from an elite exclusive to a mass phenomenon. Travel scenarios changed to "high-frequency short-haul, rapid turnaround," with core demands focusing on "lightweight design, portable mobility, and size compliance," driving revolutionary breakthroughs in the material, structure, and function of luggage and suitcase with wheels.

 

(I) Adapting to Core Constraints of Air Travel

After the Boeing 707 entered commercial operation in 1958, the cost of air travel significantly decreased. Global air passengers surged from 21 million in 1950 to 4.5 billion in 2019. Luggage had to adapt to cargo compartment space limitations and weight requirements. In 1937, RIMOWA launched its first aluminum luggage, which was 30% lighter than traditional leather cases, with its signature grooved design enhancing impact resistance, making it an iconic product for air travel. In 1965, Japan's Echolac introduced an ABS luggage made of ABS resin, further reducing weight. In 2000, RIMOWA introduced a 1.6 mm thick PC polycarbonate suitcase, certified by Germany's TÜV as the "most robust luggage bag material," with a weight controlled to within 3.2 kg.

 

(II) Technological Innovation for Mobility and Efficiency Needs

The long walking distances at airports spurred the demand for portable mobility. In 1972, American Bernard Sadow invented the wheeled travel suitcase. In 1987, former pilot Robert Plath introduced the Rollaboard® suitcase with wheels with a pull handle, solving the pain point of strenuous dragging associated with traditional luggage and traveling bags. In 1995, RIMOWA introduced universal wheels to the travel luggage field; the Multiwheel system achieves smooth 360-degree steering with a dragging noise as low as 38dB, adapting to the noisy airport environment. To comply with air travel standards, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) established a regulation that the sum of the three dimensions for a carry-on suitcase with wheels should be ≤ 115 cm. This pushed brands to optimize internal structures, such as the Bulaimei Chocolate series, which increases loading capacity by 20% through a flush-to-wall pull rod design, adapting to storage needs in limited space. This innovation led to the development of modern travel trolley bags.

 

IV. Contemporary Diverse Life: Personalization and Multi-Functional Scenario Integration (2000s to Present)

The diversification of modern lifestyles has given rise to segmented scenarios such as commuting, short-term camping, urban roaming, and smart suitcase travel. Demand shows characteristics of "personalization, multi-functionality, environmental consciousness, and intelligence," pushing luggage to evolve from a singular travel tool into a "mobile life system."

 

(I) Precise Functional Adaptation for Segmented Scenarios

Commuting scenarios demand efficient storage and easy retrieval. TraveRE, one of China top rated travel luggage brands, features a mother-and-child luggage bag with a separate electronic device compartment. The CLEVER & KETCH series is equipped with a magnetic badge slot, allowing for subway card retrieval in 3 seconds, adapting to the fast pace of urban commuting. Short-term camping scenarios drive the development of multi-functional traveling bags, with brands introducing camping luggage that integrates water bottle pockets and tool bags, using durable, waterproof Cordura® fabric, suitable for complex outdoor environments. Luxury brands innovate for high-end life scenarios, with Louis Vuitton launching mahjong trunks, tea trunks, and custom four-treasures-of-the-study trunks, integrating luggage into home and cultural settings, satisfying the demand for ritual in exquisite living.

 

(II) Scenario Upgrade Demands for Intelligence and Environmental Consciousness

Digital life scenarios promote the integration of smart functions. The penetration rate of smart suitcase reached 12% in 2024 and is expected to rise to 18% in 2025. TraveRE travel suitcase features built-in GPS tracking and a side USB port, supporting up to 4 hours of continuous power supply for electronic devices, adapting to the digital needs of business travel. The awakening of environmental consciousness spurs demand for green scenarios. Velizy's "Greenwich" series uses R-PET recycled plastic bottle material and combines coffee grounds with recycled polyester fibers to create renewable leather, satisfying consumers' pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle. Personalized demand drives customization development, with 3D printing technology enabling customization of suitcase patterns and structures. Tmall data from 2024 shows that customized products command a premium of 30%-50%.

 

Conclusion: Sustainable Evolution Driven by Scenario Iteration

From ancient wooden storage chests to contemporary smart suitcase, scenario-based demand has always been the core driving force for luggage development. Every change in lifestyle gives rise to new travel and usage scenarios, and the material innovation, structural optimization, and functional upgrade of travel luggage are essentially precise responses to these scenario demands.

 

In the future, with the further segmentation of lifestyles and continuous technological advancement, luggage and bags will achieve deeper breakthroughs in scenario adaptability: seamless integration of smart functions with scenarios, the large-scale application of eco-friendly materials, and the popularization of personalized customization will all become development trends. The suitcase will no longer be just a container for items; it will become an important carrier integrated into diverse life scenarios, conveying emotional value and lifestyle attitudes. Its evolutionary history will continue to write a vivid footnote to the changes in human lifestyles.