Samsonite. The 100 year old global luggage super brand which now sells one product per second in the world, owes its start to a modest, entrepreneurial 28 year old Colorado native, Jesse Shwayder.

1910
Jesse Shwayder gambled his entire fortune of $3,500 and founded the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company in 1910. By his second year in business, Shwayder was in the black and business was booming. Shwayder was keen to share his success and invited his brothers and father to help him run the business, eventually changing the name from Shwayder Trunk Mg. Co to Shwayder Bros Inc.

1916
To reflect the durability and strength of their product the Shwayders named their first cases ‘Samson’ after the powerful biblical character. In 1916, to visually portray the strength of the luggage, the Shwayders took a picture that would become an advertising coup. The four brothers and their father, Isaac, stood on a plank positioned atop one of their suitcases above the caption; “Strong enough to Stand on”.

1920’s
In the Great Depression the company resorted to making licence plates, card tables and sand boxes to keep the business afloat.

1939
In 1939, Jesse coigned the name that would become the most recognised name in luggage history and called a suitcase model ‘Samsonite’. The product name became so popular over the next 25 years that the Shwayders decided to capitalise on the name’s increasing recognition and changed the name of their company from Shwayder Bros Inc to Samsonite Corporation during the swinging sixties in 1965.

1941
Just before the USA went to war, ‘Samsonite Streamlite’ luggage was launched. The range was a complete re-design of all previous luggage styles. Using a tapered shape, a wooden frame and vulcanised fibre on which a rawhide effect was lithographed. This was the first ever case that looked like leather but could be bought for a far lower price.

1955
As the jet age dawned Samsonite launched Ultralite, the first luggage to eliminate wooden box construction.

1958
Samsonite then launched a new modern suitcase shape called ‘Silhouette’ in 1958, the most advanced luggage made up to that time, featuring recessed hardware to minimise wear and tear in transit.

1959
Samsonite began using ABS, a thermoplastic, to create their famous hard moulded shells, still used today to create some of their top-of-the-line hardside products. 

1960
After 50 years in business, Samsonite was valued at $25,000,000 and had done more than half a billion dollars’ worth of sales. Not bad for a company started for just $3,500.

1963
Nothing personified the early 1960’s executive better than his Samsonite Classic Attache that was launched in this year.

1965
The Samsonite name was now widely known around the world and to avoid confusion the company name changes from Shwayder Bros Inc to Samsonite Corporation.

1965
By 1965, Samsonite products had become widely distributed around the world after enjoying a boom in popularity during the jet age of the post-war 1950s. Samsonite had made several innovative advancements during the 1950s in terms of their manufacturing methods, eliminating heavy wooden box construction and relying instead on the then revolutionary technique of sheet and extruded magnesium, combined with injection moulded ethyl cellulose.

1967
The first polypropylene suitcases with recessed locks are launched. These give a more streamlined appearance.

1969
Saturn is launched, the first case fully supported by injection moulded shells. This revolutionary design quickly becomes the most accepted way to produce hardside luggage.

1978
Samsonite launches the first ever suitcase on wheels. A true revolution in comfort and convenience.

1986
Samsonite’s legendary Oyster case launched and soon became the fastest selling suitcase of all time.

2004
Samsonite markets the four wheel spinner case, making travellers lives easier.

2008
Samsonite launches Cosmolite, the strongest and lightest Samsonite ever, featuring Curv® technology. This new concept in thermoplastics is extremely lightweight and offers exceptional resistance to impact.

2010
Samsonite celebrates its 100th year, firmly established as the world leader in the travel goods field and still setting the standards in quality, innovation and durability.