I'm Always Thinking of Ways to Make the Journey Easier

Globe-Trotter designer Charlotte Seddon speaks about the process of design, her inspirations and the brand’s 120-year-old heritage.

- Jasodhara Banerjee & Monica Bathija

Globe-Trotter’s latest collection has an old suitcase at the heart of it. How did it come about?

The story started when I discovered a vintage case in our archives. We have an array of cases from the past 120 years, but when I opened this particular one, I was amazed and excited to see a beautiful montage of travel stickers covering the entire inside of the lid. This was my starting point, my mood board and inspiration for the SS17 collection.

The next step was to find out who the case belonged to. We traced it back to the British Airways Heritage Museum, with whom we have a long-standing relationship, and arranged a visit. This further inspired the collection as it highlighted the history and development of commercial aviation through the ages and provided a link to the original owner—a BOAC air stewardess called Hilary Farish—who had flown with the airline in the 1960s.

What was the most challenging part of bringing this collection to life?

It was possibly the process of applying the narrative of Hilary’s experiences in the collection. I was nervous whether my interpretation of her stories would be communicated through designs, and if I had executed it well enough. The project meant a lot to me and I wanted her blessing and approval. This collection was also our debut presentation at London Fashion Week, so it had to be extra special.

What does Globe-Trotter luggage mean to you in terms of design?