Out of the box

Voyageur Adler Group by Jonathan Adler.

Some collections, such as those designed by Jonathan Adler and Anna Sui, stamp Tumi staples with each designer's signature look like a new skin.

"Our global creative director George Esquivel joined us last year," says Nelson. "Previously, he was known for designing leather shoes. He was a big fan of the brand before coming on board. He now inspires and influences our design and product teams. We launched his first collection, Santa Monica, in 2013."

Nelson says that a new collection takes about a year to go from concept to production line. "That's the great thing about travel," he says with a smile. "People wonder what innovations can there be for a suitcase. They would be surprised. We launched Tegra Lite about 20 months ago. It's a strong, lightweight material that the NFL (the United States' National Football League) uses for shoulder pads in its uniforms."

He weighs in on the debate on whether to go hard or soft by stating that it's very much a personal decision, with pros and cons on either side.

"Tumi's heritage has been principally on soft-sided luggage," Nelson explains.

"We received a thank-you letter from a lady who was on the plane that crashed into the Hudson River a few years back. She was carrying handmade shoes for a wedding and the shoes emerged undamaged.