Natural Selection

This year, we are honouring our Globe-Trotter mascot, Elephant John, and highlighting the plight of this magnificent animal with a new limited-edition collection.

Globe-Trotter’s logo is the North Star, an ancient symbol of navigation and intrepid exploration. But a lesser-known mascot of the company is Elephant John, a friendly giant who made a big impression on Globe-Trotter over a century ago.

Elephant John is the nickname of a real-life elephant who stood atop a Globe-Trotter cabin trunk in 1912 to demonstrate the case’s strength and endurance. The one-tonne elephant, on loan from the Zoological Garden of Hamburg, posed like a pro for a staged photograph, dubbed the Elephant Test, that was used in an advert in a 1912-1913 company catalogue. This stranger-than-fiction story shows how our cases have always been the strongest in the business, and Elephant John has been a symbol and mascot of Globe-Trotter ever since.

Times have changed and, of course, recreating a stunt like the Elephant Test is out of the question nowadays. But this year, to commemorate Elephant John and our passion for these wonderful animals, Globe-Trotter is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Elephant Family charity. Established in 2002 by the late Mark Shand and other conservationists, Elephant Family is an international NGO on a mission to highlight the plight of Asian elephants and to build landscapes that support human-wildlife coexistence.

Together with the Elephant Family, Globe-Trotter has launched a new suitcase collection which celebrates this much-loved species while giving a nod to old Elephant John, whose modern cousins now face increasing threats from human-wildlife conflict.

For every product sold from the Elephant Family Collection – which ranges from a signature London Square handbag to a large 30” Check-In Case – Globe-Trotter will make a donation to the charity to support their invaluable conservation work. The collection cases are unique yet recognisably Globe-Trotter, with a soft ‘Cloud Grey’ Vulcanised Fibreboard body and matching darker grey straps and corners. Inside is a vibrant illustration lining by artist Rebecca Campbell called A Cup of Rosie Lee. Featured inside the lid lining, this colourful illustration depicts a herd of elephants crossing a verdant landscape. Each case and bag comes with a bright-green Elephant Family-branded luggage tag made from recycled leather.

Vicente Castellano, Executive Chairman of Globe-Trotter commented: ‘I am very proud to support Elephant Family and the crucial activity they are doing to sustain the environment fundamental to wildlife and its survival. I believe we have designed a very special range that is not only a beautiful design but is inspired by and reflects the fantastic work the charity is achieving. As well as raising awareness of Elephant Family’s conservation work, I also hope they inspire adventure for future globetrotters around the world.’

The Elephant Family Collection is available from 28 April online and in-store at Globe-Trotter Burlington Arcade, London and Ginza, Tokyo. Prices start from £895.