We've had the rideable suitcase and the smart case that charges your electrical devices, and now the quirkiest trend in luggage comes in the form of the transparent suitcase. Australian travel luggage firm Crumpler is the maker of the Vis-A-Vis clear suitcase, which is made of clear polycarbonate and has black supports.
There are definite advantages and drawbacks to displaying your belongings to the outside world. The clear suitcase could potentially make it easier to go through security and prevent officials from rifling through your luggage. Crumpler also suggests that it offers people an exciting chance to express themselves through what they choose to display, livening up the sea of regular black suitcases twirling around the airport carousels.
What might be off-putting to some is the fact that your belongings are on display for the world to see. Whatever about going off on holidays with a suitcase full of new or freshly-laundered clothes beaming out, who among us wouldn't cringe at the thought of our dirty clothes being revealed to other eyes? Happily, the case comes complete with private packing cubes so more intimate things can be concealed.
And if you're a member of the usual frantically-shoving-everything-in-before-the-coach-comes gang, your case is going to look pretty messy on the return leg. Crumpler reckons that this is good as it could hold messy packers accountable and ensure that they place their things in the suitcase in a neat order to avoid stares from other people.
The idea that clear can be awesome came to one of the Crumpler design team members when he saw the film clip for M.I.A.’s hit song Bad Girls, in which the rapper is driven along in a car with clear doors. The design team began thinking about clear luggage after that and felt that it was echoing social issues surrounding security versus privacy. "You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide," is their mantra.
The Vis-A-Vis clear 68cm case retails here for AU$745 .
