Samsonite at David Mills Ltd
More Than a Century of Travel Innovation
Few names in luggage are as instantly recognisable as Samsonite. From family holidays and business trips to long-awaited adventures around the world, Samsonite has been helping people travel for more than a century.
It all started in 1910
Samsonite's story began in Denver, Colorado, in 1910, when Jesse Shwayder founded a company producing strong wooden travel trunks.
The Samsonite name first appeared in 1941. Inspired by Samson, the biblical figure renowned for his strength, the name reflected qualities that remain central to the brand today: strength, durability and reliability.
As travel changed, Samsonite changed with it.
The arrival of air travel saw heavy wooden luggage give way to lighter materials. Samsonite introduced wheeled suitcases in the 1970s, followed by innovations including lightweight moulded cases and four-wheel spinner luggage that made moving through airports considerably easier.
Some famous Samsonite innovations
One of Samsonite's best-known developments arrived in 2008 with Cosmolite. Its distinctive shell design used Curv® material to combine impressive strength with extremely low weight. Cosmolite went on to win a Red Dot Design Award and helped establish the lightweight hardside luggage category we know today.
More recently, Proxis introduced Samsonite's Roxkin™ shell technology — designed to be remarkably strong, resilient and lightweight.
Samsonite has also expanded well beyond the traditional suitcase. Today's collections include carry-on and checked luggage, backpacks, business bags, duffles and travel accessories, giving travellers options for everything from the daily commute to a month overseas.
The newer Paralux collection is a good example of where the company is heading. Launched globally in 2025, the range combines clever organisation and repairable components with increased use of recycled materials.
Designed to survive real travel
One of the things we particularly like about Samsonite is its emphasis on durability.
Samsonite tests luggage for the conditions it is likely to experience in the real world. Testing includes repeated drops, kilometres of wheel testing over rough surfaces, thousands of zipper cycles, repeated stress on handles and exposure to different temperatures and humidity levels.
That matters because luggage has a fairly tough life. A suitcase doesn't just need to look good in the shop — it needs to cope with baggage carousels, aircraft holds, pavements, hotel foyers and everything else a journey throws at it.
Looking towards more sustainable travel
Samsonite is also putting increasing emphasis on the materials used in its products and on making products that can remain in use for longer.
The company introduced its Recyclex™ trademark in 2018 and has continued increasing the use of recycled materials across its ranges. It is also focusing on repairability, including components that are easier to replace rather than requiring an entire suitcase to be discarded.
It's an approach that makes sense: a well-designed suitcase that lasts for years is better than one that needs replacing after a few trips.
Samsonite at David Mills
At David Mills Ltd, Samsonite has long been an important part of our luggage range.
There isn't one perfect suitcase for everybody. Some customers want the lightest case they can find. Others prioritise strength, packing space, manoeuvrability or organisation. That's where being able to actually see, lift and wheel a suitcase before buying it makes a difference.
After more than 115 years, Samsonite continues to combine its considerable luggage-making experience with new materials, smarter design and modern travel features.
And considering how much travel has changed since Jesse Shwayder started making wooden trunks back in 1910, we're rather interested to see what Samsonite comes up with next.