The brand’s new collection is a type-A traveler’s dream.
Frequent fliers know that every trip to baggage claim is a moment of truth. Checking a bag is a real test of a suitcase’s durability, and a seemingly heavy-duty case can appear with new scratches and dents.
The beating that bags can take — both in the airport and on the road — factored into Dagne Dover’s new travel collection. The brand’s co-founder Melissa Mash describes the suitcases in the line as “semi-soft,” a choice that may seem counterintuitive at first.
“A lot of people choose hard shell luggage because it looks nice, it looks like it should be indestructible,” says Mash. “In truth, it actually doesn't wear super well. It's very easy to get a dent the first time that you use it.” Semi-soft bags are more shock-absorbent as well, says Mash, which can pay off if your bag gets tossed about in transit.
The semi-soft material in question is 900D polyester, which is both more rugged and unisex than Dagne Dover’s signature neoprene fabric, Mash says. (900D is a measure of the fabric’s density, similar to thread count in sheets.) “A lot of luggage brands in particular use a 600D fabric,” says Mash. “We use 900D, which means that it's stronger and it's also softer. It's awesome because it has this beautiful sheen to it and it's super high quality.”
The semi-soft fabric allowed for more freedom to build organizational elements into the bags as well. For example, the suitcases have front openings with compartments for a laptop and a tablet and room for a sweater. It’s a detail that can help you avoid having to splay open your bag, exposing all of its contents each time you need to take something out of it.
These types of thoughtful details, which are central to Dagne Dover’s identity, show up throughout the collection, which also includes organizers, backpacks, and crossbody bags. Perhaps the strongest example, the Monaco Garment Duffle is a garment bag that seamlessly transitions into a duffle bag with the help of strategic magnetic closures. It has a shoe bag, a key leash, and compartments for your phone and passport, to keep your belongings easily accessible while your clothes remain wrinkle-free.
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The minds behind Dagne Dover also put effort into reducing the environmental impact of its products. The new travel collection is crafted with 100 percent recycled materials made from ocean plastic as part of the brand’s goal to use fully (or as close as possible) recycled materials in its products. Additionally, in an effort to reduce waste, the brand has partnered with Archive Resale to launch a program that facilitates resale of Dagne Dover bags.
Bottom line: The collection’s small details add up to eco-conscious, hyper compartmentalized bags that are built to last. You can shop the entire collection online or in-person at The Shop at Equinox.