Man-bags you’d want to carry

MANILA, Philippines - I don’t know a lot of men who like carrying bags (I do know some who lug around their girlfriend’s totes like a trophy — or an infant, but that’s a story for another day). There aren’t a lot of man-bags that succeed at not stripping a well-dressed guy of man-poise, and there aren’t a lot of men who know how to choose a bag that won’t do so. Tumi’s spring 2014 collection is where you should be looking. The travel and lifestyle brand recently launched new designs of day bags, travel bags and mobile accessories — at their core, the exotic urban central that is Miami. While the women’s collection was vibrant and colorful, the men’s collection is subtle with its Miami references.

Included in the collection are Tumi’s Alpha 2 line, which Tumi considers as the evolution of its heritage travel line; its collaboration with hip, quirky designer Jonathan Adler; and the Santa Monica collection, a new addition to the brand. Each bag was created with the lifestyle of influential, high-achieving jetsetters in mind.

The brand also debuted two new colors — Viridian and Iridium — of Tegra-Lite travel, its lightest and toughest travel bag with award-winning design components.

The Santa Monica collection, which is considered the heart and soul of the spring line, is all about casual cool. George Esquivel, new creative director at Tumi, cited a combination of leathers and ballistic nylon as materials used.

Jonathan Adler Travels with Tumi uses bold colors and patterns in the spirit of Adler’s brand of irreverent luxury.

The new Alpha 2 line is updated with innovative technology that ranges from slim, expandable carry-on suitcases to wheel duffels and garment bags in two and four-wheel styles. Over 30 improvements have been implemented into the collection while boasting more than 14 patents. The Alpha 2 features key upgrades such as 360-degree wheels, stable multi-directional navigation and a more spacious interior. The exterior’s quality is optimized with patent-pending Durafold construction method folds and frames.

Here’s an idea: get your girlfriend a Tumi handbag — so when she makes you carry it, it won’t look so out of place.

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Tumi’s Spring 2014 collection is available at the TUMI stores in Greenbelt 5, Bonifacio High Street Central, Tumi Ayala Center Cebu, select The Travel Club stores and Rustan’s Department Stores and in Ladybag Ayala Cebu.

Tumi is exclusively distributed by the Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant.