Tumi’s Creative Director Victor Sanz on Bringing AW25 to Life Through the Lens of New York and Modern Travel

Victor Sanz reveals the creative thinking behind Tumi’s Autumn/Winter 2025 collection and how design continues to evolve with the way people live and travel. 

What does good design mean to Victor Sanz? For him, it begins with empathy that deepens through experience. He observes how people move through their daily lives to understand what makes a creation worth holding onto. That awareness has shaped his work at Tumi, where each collection builds on a clear sense of purpose. Every piece is made to feel effortless in use, yet enduring in memory.

Inspiration often arrives without warning. It appears in moments when the world slows and space opens for reflection. Sometimes a simple observation stays with him until it shapes the foundation of a new design. He allows each idea to unfold naturally so that experience and instinct work together to guide its final form. The result feels personal and lasting, shaped by an honest understanding of how people move through life.

As the brand marks its 50th year, Victor returns to New York City where his creative journey first took shape. The city continues to challenge his ideas and sharpen his vision. Its pace runs through the Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, which balances reflection with forward movement. This milestone reconnects him with his roots, while pointing toward what comes next. Ahead, he shares how this season captures Tumi’s spirit of evolution and the ideas driving its future.

You’ve been with Tumi for 22 years guiding its growth and direction. Looking back, which moment in your creative journey has most influenced the way you design today?

One of the moments that has really stayed with me goes back to my early days at Tumi. I was at an airport and had the chance to speak with a traveller who was carrying one of our Alpha pieces. They had no idea I had designed it, but spoke with such authenticity about the functionality and the small details. They shared why it worked for them and how it fit their needs. For me, that blind validation was incredibly powerful. Hearing someone appreciate the very elements I had poured so much thought into without knowing I was behind it reinforced everything for me. It reminded me that the details matter and that when you design with people in mind, it truly makes an impact.

This season is inspired by New York City’s visual culture. On a personal level, which part of the city most fuels your imagination as a designer, and what story did you want the collection to tell about the city that never sleeps?

New York has always been a huge source of inspiration for me. What fuels me most are those everyday contrasts between the energy of the streets and the quiet moments you find in between. I think about the West Side Highway early in the morning, the bridges, the subway, where there is a rhythm that mirrors how people live and move. For this season, I wanted to capture that balance of speed and stillness. The colours, the lines, and the details all reflect the flow of the city, while giving each piece a sense of focus and control within the motion of it all.

Alpha Bravo debuts in Navy Coated Canvas and introduces commuter-ready styles like the Surveillance Flap Backpack and Roadstead Messenger. How do these additions reflect how people travel and work today?

The way we move has changed. Travellers now move fluidly between different roles and environments, from home to office, from one city to the next, and from work to leisure without clear boundaries. With this in mind, our Alpha Bravo additions in Navy Coated Canvas are designed for constant movement. The Surveillance Flap Backpack and Roadstead Messenger combine streamlined organisation with secure and easily accessible tech pockets to make every transition smooth. The coated canvas delivers durability and weather resistance while giving each piece a refined and modern finish that performs as well as it looks.

The Arrivé relaunch features automotive-inspired details like carbon fiber accents and magnetic zipper garages. Why was it important to merge precision engineering with fashion in this way?

The relaunch of Arrivé is about bringing together precision and design in a way that feels effortless. I’ve always believed that true luxury happens when form and function work as one. The automotive inspiration made sense because, just like a well-made car, every curve and mechanism has a purpose. Details such as the carbon fibre accents or the magnetic zipper garages aren’t there only for appearance; they enhance strength, lightness, and ease of use. For me, that balance between performance and refinement is what makes Arrivé special.

Olas and Agent expand the women’s line with minimalist yet functional silhouettes. What shifts in women’s lifestyles or preferences were you responding to in these designs?

Women are defining luxury on their own terms, where beauty serves a purpose. As daily life continues to overlap between work, travel, and leisure, products need to evolve to meet those changes. With Olas and Agent, we wanted to design for that modern reality. Olas expresses soft minimalism through clean lines and intentional structure, bringing a sense of refined femininity that moves easily from one setting to another. It’s made for women who value elegance in simplicity, while still expecting performance from their everyday bag. Meanwhile, Agent focuses on lightness and effortless sophistication, crafted from supple leather that transitions easily from the office to dinner and beyond. 

The 19 Degree Aluminum Bar Set is an unexpected addition to a travel collection. What inspired its creation and how does it fit within Tumi’s design philosophy?

The 19 Degree Aluminum Bar Set may seem like a surprising addition, yet it remains true to who we are as a brand. It represents a natural evolution of our philosophy to meet customers at every stage of their journey, not only when they travel. While Tumi’s foundation is built on movement, our vision extends to the moments that happen around it—those of connection, celebration, and pause. Crafted from our signature 19 Degree Aluminum, the bar set brings the same sculptural precision and attention to material through a lifestyle perspective. It speaks to the traveller who values not just the destination, but the way they live along the way.

Colourways such as pavement, wine, and electric blue echo the city’s architecture and autumnal parks. How do you ensure colour storytelling resonates emotionally with travellers?

Colour has a remarkable way of connecting with people on a deeper level. It can remind you of a place, a time of year, even a fleeting emotion that lingers long after the journey ends. That’s why we treat colour with the same care as design and engineering, giving it purpose beyond aesthetics. For Autumn 2025, we looked to New York as the foundation for the palette. Pavement draws from the strength and stillness of concrete and steel, while wine reflects the warmth of the season through the hues of falling leaves and the quiet glow of evenings in the city. Electric blue channels the creative pulse that runs through New York, an energy that persists even when the streets begin to slow. Each shade is meant to evoke familiarity and feeling, allowing every piece to carry a sense of the city within it.

This year marks the close of Tumi’s 50th anniversary, highlighted by pieces in signature Tumi Red Pantone. Why was this particular colour chosen as the symbol of the milestone, and what does it mean for the brand’s future?

Tumi Red has always stood for more than colour alone. It represents the spirit that drives everything we create and the passion that connects us to the people who carry our designs. Marking this milestone with Tumi Red felt natural because it reflects boldness and movement while acknowledging the journey that shaped us into who we are today. As we look ahead, the colour serves as a lasting reminder of progress and intent. It inspires us to keep advancing in design and material innovation, while staying rooted in the needs of those we design for. Every new chapter builds on that same energy and purpose so Tumi moves forward with confidence into its next era.

Harrison’s Burnished Wine Ombre leather has a distinctive gradient finish. How do techniques like this elevate everyday travel pieces into design statements?

The Burnished Wine Ombre finish is hand-applied to create depth and movement. Each piece reflects the patience and precision behind the process. The tones shift across the surface to reveal a richness that feels refined, yet quietly expressive. No two pieces are ever the same because each develops its own character through use. This level of craftsmanship turns function into expression. A travel essential becomes a design statement that speaks before a word is said. The finish responds differently to light depending on how it is carried and where it goes. Every piece gathers a story of its own that evolves over time. That attention to detail defines our approach. We design with the belief that travel pieces should not sit on the sidelines of life, but move with their owner as an extension of identity.

Tumi products are built for “life on the move.” What is one personal packing philosophy you never compromise on?

Packing is not only about what you take with you, but also about what you leave room for. I always make space for the things I find along the way, whether they are objects, materials, or ideas that capture the spirit of a place. Those discoveries become reminders of the journey and sometimes even the spark for future designs. The space left empty at the start eventually turns into the space where inspiration begins.

The Just In Case® tote folds completely flat yet remains one of your bestsellers. What’s the most surprising way you’ve seen it used beyond travel?

What I love most about the Just In Case® tote is seeing the unexpected ways people make it their own. It is known as a reliable travel companion, but I have also seen it used as a picnic bag, a baby bag, or even as an everyday carryall that people rely on without fail. Its versatility is what makes it so special, and I am constantly inspired by the creativity people show in the way they bring it into their lives.

If you were to pack only three pieces from the Autumn 2025 collection for your next journey, which would they be, and how would each reflect your personal style of travel?

For my next journey, I would begin with the Alpha Bravo Navigation Backpack in Navy Coated Canvas. It is incredibly functional and keeps everything organised, which is essential when I am moving quickly throughout the day. I would then choose the 19 Degree Lite International 4 Wheeled Carry-On in wine. The richness of the colour reminds me of the changing leaves in New York during autumn and brings a sense of warmth and familiarity to every travel moment.

To complete the set, I would take the Alpha Double Expansion Travel Satchel in Poster Print. It adapts easily to different destinations, staying compact when you want to travel light, yet expanding effortlessly when you need more room. That flexibility makes it a dependable companion, and the distinct print captures the essence of Tumi’s design spirit.

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