Homecoming

This year, in celebration of its 120th anniversary, Globe-Trotter’s autumn/winter 2017 collection takes inspiration from its first base in London.

Clerkenwell is an area renowned for its architectural significance and design credentials. For decades it’s been known as London’s artistic hub, where you can find more creative businesses per square mile than anywhere else in the country.

It was in Clerkenwell, on the historic St John Street, that Globe-Trotter first properly laid down roots on British soil back in 1938. The company moved to the handsome red-brick factory at number 148-154, according to records, to ‘enable us to considerably increase our output’ as the demand for Globe-Trotter was ‘ever increasing’. The building itself had been designed in 1914 and finished in around 1925, making it a fresh and relatively new space for the growing company.

It was an exciting time for Globe-Trotter, having recently acquired the brand name, as well as introducing new suitcase models and sizes to accommodate its expanding fan base.

Fast-forward to 2017, the year Globe-Trotter commemorates its 120th anniversary, and the company is still enjoying exciting times with new launches and collaborations that cement its forward-thinking approach while continuing to learn from the past.

This year, Globe-Trotter is paying homage to its former Clerkenwell home in the AW17 collection, with designer Charlotte Seddon looking directly at the building’s architectural detail for inspiration.

Now high-end office space, 150 St John Street (as it’s now known) still retains its original Victorian façade and decorative features. Seddon reinterpreted these details and patterns into embroidery, appliqué and linings for the new collection, which includes suitcases, handbags, luggage accessories and even scarves. The accessories come in new autumnal shades including rich brinjal and vibrant mustard, contrasted with navy.

Seddon’s keen eye for detail can be seen in the lining of the cases, where the print takes the form of intricate patterns that seem to come straight from the designer’s personal sketchbook. Collar bags, stylish handbags and box clutches meanwhile feature the same print on the outside in bold new interpretations of the geometric pattern.

Seddon commented: ‘Researching Globe-Trotter’s history at the St John Street premises has been a great experience. As well as being a beautiful and inspiring building in itself, the process has also brought to light a wealth of fascinating stories, which I hope live on in the new collection, designed for today’s adventurers.’

The AW17 collection will be available in-store and online from late August 2017