The brand&rsquo;s Creative Director and the Vice President for the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East share insights into design, innovation and the future of travel.

The summer season is fast approaching, and TUMI is wasting no time in setting the tone with the launch of its Spring 2026 collection, Mediterranean Escape &mdash; a line inspired by the allure of the Mediterranean coast. Bringing this vision closer to home, the travel, lifestyle and accessories brand chose Koh Samui, Thailand, as the backdrop for its Asia-Pacific celebration.
At the heart of the collection is a transportive colour palette &mdash; lush thyme greens, sun-washed terracotta, radiant lemon yellow and horizon blue &mdash; splashed across signature lines including 19 Degree, Olas and Harrison. These hues are complemented by woven textures and a bespoke Mediterranean print, lending that relaxed, holiday-ready sensibility to each piece.
We kick-started our sun-drenched escape on the island with insightful conversations with two of TUMI&rsquo;s key voices: Victor Sanz, Creative Director, and Aris Maroulis, Vice President for the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

Victor Sanz, Creative Director

What inspired the colour palette of the Mediterranean Escape collection? Each season, we look to a destination for inspiration &mdash; this time, the Mediterranean. We wanted to capture the feeling of escape: stepping away from daily routines and immersing yourself in a slower, more relaxed pace of life. Colour became a key anchor. We drew from the region&rsquo;s architecture, food and atmosphere &mdash; think cobblestone streets, seaside caf&eacute;s and the breeze along the Amalfi Coast. These moments informed the palette.

Beyond the colours, are there any design updates or new features within the collection? This season introduces the 19 Degree Front Access, designed for travellers who prefer a single opening and a more streamlined packing experience. It allows the case to open from the front, giving full access without splitting it open &mdash; ideal for tighter spaces, like smaller hotel rooms.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s also the Dual Access that adds flexibility. You can open the case traditionally or access it from the front while keeping the structure intact. This allows you to pack differently depending on your trip &mdash; whether separating items by destination or packing everything into one main compartment.
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When we last spoke in 2023, you mentioned that multifunctional, expandable and lightweight luggage would define the future of travel. Do you still feel that direction holds true today? Absolutely &mdash; it&rsquo;s even more relevant today. Travellers want to maximise what they carry while keeping luggage as light as possible. With collections like 19 Degree Lite, we&rsquo;ve reduced weight without compromising durability, incorporating features like magnesium handles and improved wheel systems. These innovations are then integrated across the brand, elevating overall performance.&nbsp;

Today&rsquo;s travellers often move seamlessly between business and leisure. How does this shift influence design? It&rsquo;s changed everything. One bag now needs to serve multiple roles. A briefcase can double as a beach or casual bag &mdash; the functionality remains, but the aesthetic adapts. It&rsquo;s about creating pieces that transition effortlessly across different moments in a traveller&rsquo;s journey.

You&rsquo;ve been involved with TUMI for more than two decades. How has the brand&rsquo;s design language evolved? Our foundation &mdash; quality, durability and innovation &mdash; has remained consistent.
What&rsquo;s evolved is the emotional dimension. We&rsquo;ve moved from being purely function-driven to also telling stories through colour, materials and design. At the same time, we&rsquo;ve advanced in areas like sustainability and high-performance materials.
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Looking ahead, how do you envision evolving TUMI&rsquo;s design identity? We&rsquo;ll continue focusing on innovation and evolving customer needs. A key area is expanding our women&rsquo;s category, moving into more lifestyle-driven designs beyond traditional business products. At the same time, we remain rooted in performance &mdash; creating intuitive, reliable products that enhance the travel experience.

Aris Maroulis, Vice President for the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East

TUMI opened its first China flagship in Shanghai last year. What kind of expansion are you eyeing next, particularly within the wider Asian market? Asia is our second-largest region and a key focus for long-term growth. While China is important, our expansion goes across the region &mdash; including Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. We&rsquo;re investing in flagship stores, upgrading existing locations and expanding into more cities, including tier-two markets. Malaysia, for example, is a strong market for us in Southeast Asia. At the same time, we&rsquo;re increasing our digital presence and brand awareness, especially among younger consumers, who represent a significant growth opportunity in the region.

For a product category like luggage &mdash; where customers often want to handle and experience the product &mdash; how do you continue to engage consumers both in-store and digitally? We see retail as an ecosystem rather than a divide between physical and digital. Customers often begin their journey online &mdash; researching, comparing and seeking inspiration &mdash; before visiting stores to experience the product. Physical retail remains essential, especially for a category like luggage where touch, functionality and service matter. Our stores provide that hands-on experience, along with services like repairs and expert guidance. At the same time, we continue to invest in digital platforms, social media and emerging channels like live streaming. The goal is to meet customers wherever they are, while maintaining a consistent brand experience.

You oversee both the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East &mdash; two very different yet equally dynamic regions. What key travel trends or consumer behaviours are you seeing emerging across these markets? In the Asia-Pacific, we&rsquo;re seeing more frequent, shorter trips, particularly within the region. This is driving demand for versatile, lightweight products that can transition easily between different uses. There&rsquo;s also a stronger focus on experience-led travel, especially among younger consumers, where products become part of that journey rather than just functional tools. In the Middle East, we see more multi-generational travel and longer-term trips. While similar trends are emerging, the pace of change is currently faster in Asia, particularly in China and Southeast Asia.
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With international travel now rebounding strongly, how has this influenced TUMI&rsquo;s business strategy across airports, travel retail and city boutiques? Travel retail is a key part of our strategy, with a strong presence across airports in Asia and the Middle East. These locations are important not just for sales, but for brand discovery and customer engagement. Airports attract a broader audience, often travelling in groups or as families, which creates a different retail dynamic. We see strong conversion in these environments. At the same time, we continue to invest in city boutiques and explore new formats, including transport hubs like rail stations. Overall, it&rsquo;s about being present across the full travel journey &mdash; wherever our customers are.

Interview: TUMI’s Victor Sanz and Aris Maroulis on their vision for the journeys ahead

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