Rimowa Logo PNG
The elegant Rimowa logo is associated with luxury suitcases, bags, backpacks, small luggage cases, and various accessories. Rebranding marked every innovation that shaped the company’s history.
Rimowa began in Cologne in 1898, when Paul Morszeck and Heinrich Görtz founded a workshop for travel trunks. By 1900, Görtz had left the business, and Morszeck became the sole owner of Kofferfabrik Paul Morszeck. Its early products were wooden trunks covered with leather, a typical form of luggage for wealthy travelers before the age of aviation.
In the 1920s, Richard Morszeck, the founder’s son, joined the company and began studying new materials. A key reference was the German Junkers F13 of 1919, the world’s first all-metal passenger aircraft. Its corrugated duralumin structure, developed by Hugo Junkers, showed how thin metal sheets could gain strength without excess weight.
In 1931, Richard registered the Rimowa trademark at the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin. The name came from RI for Richard, MO for Morszeck, and WA for Warenzeichen, the German word for trademark. Around 1937, a factory fire destroyed much of the wooden production, while aluminum survived. The company then released its first duralumin suitcase, lighter than wood and more resistant to moisture and rough handling.
In 1950, Rimowa added parallel grooves to its aluminum cases, inspired by the Junkers F13, to increase shell rigidity. In 1976, Rimowa introduced the Tropicana, the first fully waterproof suitcase, aimed at camera operators, journalists, and photographers. In 2000, Salsa introduced polycarbonate. In October 2016, LVMH bought 80% of Rimowa for about €640 million and later connected the brand with Supreme, Fendi, and Dior. In 2021, Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert replaced Alexandre Arnault as CEO.
Meaning and History
The Rimowa logo first appeared on hardwood cases in 1898, but it had nothing to do with the modern emblem. The company didn’t get its current name until 1937, when Richard Morszeck (the founder’s son designed an aluminum suitcase. The first letters of his first and last name formed the basis of the word “Rimowa,” which has adorned the company’s products ever since.
The stylish mark, set in a strict sans-serif font, became world-famous in 1950. That’s when the German manufacturer released a metal suitcase with grooves inspired by an all-metal aircraft design. A few more years later, the austere logo was on waterproof cases designed to protect sensitive equipment. In 2018, the company celebrated its 120th anniversary with a new logo based on the unique architecture of Cologne Cathedral. The monogram features the letters “MO” and complements the lettering.
What is Rimowa?
A division of the international group LVMH, founded in Germany in 1898. It produces luggage: suitcases, bags, backpacks, and trunks.
1898 – 1937
The company’s first logo was a raised picture enclosed in an oval. It shows the silhouette of an ancient building with towers and spires. It evokes the Italian cathedral in Cologne, a landmark in the city where the company was founded. Above it, clouds appear as schematic semicircles. In the center of the cityscape is a round bas-relief bearing the monogram MO. These are the first two letters of the founder’s last name, Morszeck. The monogram also resembles a subway sign, suggesting travel. In general, the image symbolizes tourism and travel, including visits to interesting places.
1937 – 1950
The company made a significant breakthrough. The son of Raul Morszeck developed the first model of a suitcase, which was made of aluminum, distinguished by its
- ruggedness;
- lightness;
- presentable appearance.
This was the beginning of a new era for the company, replacing the era of wooden suitcases. With this came an update to the visual sign.
The logo featured a heraldic ribbon, as if forged from metal. Rimowa was written on it in simple, smooth capital letters. Below, in small print set into the ribbon, it says: “eingetr schutzmarke” (registered trademark). This signature had a special meaning. Richard Morszeck registered the company’s trademark in 1931. This date marks the birth of the Rimowa brand name. Before that, the company was just a suitcase factory.
The brand name is a compound word formed from the first two letters of the words: Richard, Morszeck, and Warenzeichen (trademark).
The visual sign’s simplicity and brevity reflected the smooth, clear lines of the company’s products. The ribbon embodied the winners and added charm to the black-and-white image. The composition suggested the company’s suitcases were fashionable. And all of them would now be produced under the Rimowa brand.
1950 – 1981
The 50th year was marked by the company’s next major innovation: a special aluminum alloy that increased the product’s durability. Suitcases made from it were rigid yet light, making them especially suitable for air transport. And their fluted surface became a trademark feature of the brand. This stage was again marked by rebranding.
The new logo was enclosed in an elongated oval or rectangle with rounded corners. The shape echoed the suitcases. It reflected the waves on the sashes. It also demonstrated complete protection and isolation of the contents from external negative factors.
The company name was inscribed inside the figure. It sits safely there, like the contents inside the suitcase. The font remained straight and smooth but became bolder, and the spacing between letters increased, demonstrating the niche’s growth and greater market share as it displaced competitors.
1981 – 2018
In 1978, third-generation owner Dieter began developing suitcase models for professional use. He offered receptacles for photographers and camera operators. They could protect equipment from temperature and humidity fluctuations.
These features were reflected in the company’s visual mark. The oval’s borders grew thicker, symbolizing enhanced protection. The internal inscription has changed its font. Writing the letter M highlights it. The upper roundings hint at the suitcases’ grooved surface. And the letter W resembles two overlapping ticks, embodying double protection and the best choice for travel.
Highlighting the M draws attention to the first letter of the dynasty surname, Morszeck. Since three generations of the family had run the company, the capital R from the word Richard was no longer relevant and felt unfair.
The logo changed to a pleasant blue color scheme. It echoes the sky, water, flying, and travel.
2018 – today
In 2016, the company became part of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a luxury goods concern. The products met the necessary parameters: stylish, comfortable, and high quality. That’s why it was noticed. The purchase led to a logo change.
The latter visual mark became one of the most unremarkable in Rimowa’s history. However, it fits the general style of LVMH brands: thin black capital letters with ample spacing. The composition creates a sense of lightness and shows that all Rimowa products are lightweight.
The emblem bears little resemblance to the previous brand concept. This may be due to the expanded range and the move away from suitcases alone. Backpacks and bags no longer have a standard shape. Therefore, a clear oval in the emblem is no longer relevant.
Some variations use the MO monogram, borrowed from the first logo, under the name. The letters in it are as thin as the lettering. And the “O” is stylized as a rhombus with rounded corners, echoing the shape of the suitcases. The company’s website notes that the M also alludes to the twin spires of the Cologne Cathedral. All of this recalls the company’s origins.
Font and Colors
The logo’s main color is black. It is austere and “not marky.” Associated with roads, earth, and asphalt. Black stands out against any background. It is the choice of businessmen. Elegant and appropriate to any style, popular at all times. The choice was a tribute to longevity.
