There’s a hypnotising video on Victor Sanz’s instagram page (@victorsanzdesign) of a dual-toned, shiny swatch of leather that goes from teal to pink to purple when pressure is applied. “What do they feed those cows?” reads one comment on the post that he has mysteriously captioned “Some interesting things out there.” Sanz’s social media is where you should head if you’re looking for an inside peek at TUMI, and some travel inspiration — we counted Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei and NYC just this year alone!
Presently vice president of design at TUMI, Sanz has been with the brand since 2003 - right after his first job designing digital cameras for Kodak. What keeps him going is pursuit of that sweet spot between “fashionable and functional” that he aims to hit with his collections.
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His social media is also where we caught sight of the pop of citron, used liberally on the new Spring 2018 collection, that’s been grabbing attention. From luggage tags and the occasional accent on dark grey, to a full-blown citron green carry-on (you’re never going to miss this one on the luggage belt), it’s all set to be the colour of the season.
But more than style, it is the quality of TUMI merch that most swear by — and often it’s the world-class after-sale service that keeps many of them coming back. Sanz insists this is an important part of the five guiding principles of TUMI’s DNA, and we’re sure anyone who’s ever needed a broken zip replaced in a hurry can empathise.
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“Collaborations with people outside of your industry keep things fresh,” he insists, referring to two of TUMI’s latest collections — one with jewellery designer Eva Zuckerman of Eva Fehren Fine Jewelry and NBA All Star and 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook. While Fehren’s line had a custom black-and-white print painted by her, Westbrook’s had tonal red camouflage with black leather accents — both departures from the brand’s trademark clean, basic aesthetic.
“The people we collaborate with are TUMI fans first,” says Sanz, adding that both brought to the table their unique aesthetics and personalities. Considering Bloomberg referred to Westbrook as “the NBA star changing men’s fashion”, it’s safe to assume Sanz is right on the money.
And what’s the one piece of luggage he personally can't do without? “Over the course of my time at TUMI, I’ve accumulated bags and accessories that span all of our assortments. For me, it depends on the trip I am taking. If I’m doing a quick business trip, I may stick with my trusted 19 Degree Aluminum carry-on or you can usually find me with a new prototype in hand when I travel.” On that thought, we’re just going to take another quick peek at his Instagram.
TUMI’s new Spring 2018 collection starts from ₹4,500 onwards, and is in stores now