A passion for travel and mindfulness: luxury suitcases from Monos

The luxury travel and lifestyle brand Monos is highly influenced by the Japanese mono no aware concept which focuses on the appreciation of the beauty found in fleeting moments. The company targets travellers that use their global adventures to grow and learn and are passionate about the way travel can boost our spiritual development. Mindfulness is also incredibly important to the team at Monos, whose website talks about the importance of being in the here and now. According to Monos, the world’s deep beauty is revealed during travel-based mindfulness. Also important to Monos is simplicity, which explains why their products tend to be reassuringly understated and are noted for their timeless appeal.

Vast attention to detail

The company’s products are created with materials and parts of the highest standards. Every last detail is regarded as vitally important by the team, with materials and parts being sourced from carefully-selected brands from around the world. From time to time, the company is unable to source the component that they need to ensure their standards are maintained. In this instance, it collaborates with industry specialists to produce it in-house.

Surprisingly affordable solutions

Many customers have commented on how affordable Monos products are compared to cases from other luxury travel brands. The company uses many of the same materials and factories chosen by big-name brands but can make savings and pass them onto customers due to the way it sells its products to them directly. Emotional human connections are of great value to the Monos team, who see these connections as essential for business and customer relations, living standards and satisfying travel experiences.

“Good is the enemy of great”

A key Monos slogan is “good is the enemy of great”. This is reflected in the attention to detail they have become noted for over the years. Monos products consist of components from factory partners that share their exacting standards. The company met with a large number of factories before deciding who to work with. Only brands that met their expectations and displayed the highest standards of craftsmanship, expertise and attention to detail were considered. The company’s CEO Colin continues to examine and inspect each Monos Carry-On case before it is added to the market.

Reimagining the traditional suitcase

Monos have worked on various pioneering solutions to rethink the classic suitcase for the modern world. These have included moving the handle release button to the underside to raise ergonomic standards, reworking the telescopic assembly to cut lateral and torsional movement and replacing the cast zinc used for tubes with high-grade aluminium. The changes made have resulted in improved ease-of-use, durability and visual appeal.

Virtually unbreakable materials

The company’s luggage cases are vacuum-formed with aerospace-grade German Makrolon polycarbonate. This material is almost unbreakable yet impressively lightweight. The inclusion of this material helps the cases to spring back into shape immediately when impacts occur. Other key components of Monos travel cases include Lisof Silent Run Wheels from Japanese manufacturer Hinomoto. This manufacturer is noted for its work with Mitsubishi, with its wheels being selected for their robust nature as well as their quiet operation and overall performance. The interiors of Monos cases consist of robust, anti-bacterial and waterproof 350 denier polyester.

Rigorous testing procedures

A massive 40 tests are carried to ensure expectations and standards are met. Each product is tested to make sure the most testing travel conditions can be overcome. Tests include colour fastness to crocking, abrasion resistance, stiffness, safety, tensile strength and more. The tumble test sees cases loaded with 16kg weights and put inside a rotating chamber. The case is met with a range of obstacles so high drops, hard impacts and rough handling can be simulated.

Mileage, jerk and drop tests

In the mileage test, loads are put inside the case and onto the telescopic handle. The case is then angled at 45° before being rolled at 4km/h on a specialised bumped treadmill to simulate rough and uneven terrain. In the telescopic handle jerk test, cases are dropped from great heights and stopped by the handle. During the drop test, the suitcase is stored at 12°C for several hours before it is loaded with weights of up to 25kg. The case is then dropped onto a number of corners, edges and surfaces.

Contacting Monos

As the Monos team are so keen to assist their customers and listen to what they have to say, they encourage them to get in touch whenever they have a query or any feedback to leave them. Customers who wish to learn more about Monos products, how they can benefit them and the 40 tests the cases are subjected to can head to the website or send an email to [email protected]. Monos can also be found on social media networks including Facebook and Instagram.

Kenneth

Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].