Asian Celebrities Are Obsessed With Rimowa’s New Groove Leather Bags Collection

Seventeen’s Dino and S.Coups marked the launch of Rimowa’s Groove collection at the brand’s Cheongdam flagship store in Seoul. All photos: Courtesy of Rimowa

Think Rimowa, and you’re most likely thinking of aluminium—the German luxury brand is synonymous with the lightweight, durable metal of their iconic grooved suitcases, favoured for their resilience and practicality.

In fact, their allegiance to the material was forged in fire. After flames engulfed the Rimowa factory in the 1930s, aluminium was all that survived, allegedly inspiring the brand to make the material a house signature. But the maison’s most recent collection, albeit fanned by the same flame of innovation, charts new territory, stepping away from sturdy metal into the versatile world of supple leather.

The recently unveiled Rimowa Groove collection is a quietly refreshing take on the sleek, elegant house codes Rimowa has long espoused. Their signature design language is translated onto a series of Italian leather handbags, with the iconic grooved design given a novel spin through an oversized, closely spaced placement and the addition of vertical stripes.

The collection comprises four distinct handbag styles that bring the maison’s signature minimalism and structure to a modern outlook designed for everyday life. The Sliding Hobo Bag and Shopping Bag offer practicality without compromising on elegance, with handles designed to slot onto any Rimowa suitcase; the sleek Cross-body Bag, available in both small and large sizes, is a compact and especially versatile accessory.

The collection has already received a stamp of approval from a handful of Korean stars. K-drama darling Shin Ye-eun and Seventeen’s Dino and S.Coups dropped by Rimowa’s Cheongdam flagship store in Seoul to mark the launch of the collection in early September, each opting for a different iteration of the chic leather essentials on offer, giving us a glimpse at the collection’s adaptability. S.Coups went the way of the practical jet-setter, highlighting the Sliding Hobo Bag’s versatility as a travel accessory, and its ability to make a quiet statement against Rimowa’s signature metal suitcases.

Dino and Shin, on the other hand, opted for the Cross-body Bag, which is perhaps the collection’s most adaptable and wearable piece. Shin’s thin-strapped, dusty pink piece in particular channels a feminine energy that marks a distinctly playful turn for the brand.

Offered in a range of seasonal colours that each bring a quiet pop of personality, the bag’s rectangular silhouette is inspired by Rimowa’s traditional suitcases—but one can easily imagine it adding a chic touch to a variety of ensembles outside of the cabin.

Dino wears the Groove Cross-body Bag Small in silver.

Shin wears the Groove Cross-body Bag Small in pink.

Groove Cross-body Bag Small in seasonal silver

Groove Cross-body Bag Small in seasonal pink

The Groove collection is both spirited and practical, a mirror of Rimowa’s ability to quietly adapt to and anticipate the needs of the modern traveller. Designed to complement the brand’s signature grooved luggage, the pieces are equally capable of standing alone.

Below, get a closer look at the new leather collection and the range of stars who added unique touches to each piece.