For my trip to Madagascar, I had a tight brief: Packed luggage needed to weigh less than 20kg, be pliable and water-resistant. Louis Vuitton makes a barrel bag that is soft and water-resistant that I've always drooled over but is not within my grasp but I really liked Resails bags that were both soft and water-safe and also extremely light at less than 350g on my scale. And, because they are made from recycled yacht sails, they are super strong and tick the green box too.
Mike Schlebach of The Boardroom Adventure Centre in Hout Bay markets the Resail bags from a kiosk at the V&A Waterfront and other retail outlets that his brother, South African-born but now living in San Diego, Christian Schlebach first created in 1996.
The bags are made in South Africa from sails that come from around the world. The top-of-the-range items are made entirely from sails while less costly ones are a mix of old sails and nylon fabric. As the bags are handmade, Mike says companies can have them made in specific colours and have logos on panels. I got one of the round duffle sea bags but the range is vast and includes shopper-style totes, toiletry bags, rope-handled beach bags and even wine coolers. The original recycled sail sea bag is made from 100% recycled sailcloth and comes in three sizes.
I love the fact that each of these bags is unique and the fact that it is fully lined with a 210 Denier Oxford nylon which helps keep moisture out. See http://resailssa.gostorego.com/ or call Mike +27 (0) 72 763 4486. As a once-off it also makes identifying your bag on the luggage carousel a breeze. Did I mention that the sail fabric is super-easy to clean too?
The Schlebach family is pretty innovative and another brother, Creighton has invented something we coffee-fiends will thank him for. The Flej is a highly durable and very portable insulated cup that converts into a drip-filter coffee maker. It comes with an inside storage compartment that cleverly has measurements in spoons marked-out and a pump-controlled stirrer so you don't need to carry a spoon.
Once you've brewed your coffee (or leaf tea) you turn the lid right way up, clamp it on and you have a no-spill brewed coffee on the go. The skin can also be branded but comes standard in camouflage and a very bright pink. See www.Flej.com.
I have two Samsonite bags I travel with most frequently. A cabin-bag and a hardtop on four wheels, which is essential for navigating airports and train stations. If you also love luggage you could be in the running as the designer for their Curv Collections. Open to registered undergraduate and graduate art and design students and those who completed their art or design education during the 2012-2013 academic year, participants are invited to create their own artwork to be printed on a Samsonite Curv collection suitcase - either a Cosmolite or Firelite - using an innovative printing process.
The two grand prizewinners will see their design produced as a limited edition and be awarded a set of luggage with their design and win an exciting trip to New York City.
Enter before 31 May 2013 at www.designmysamsonite.com.
