La Ligne partners with Away Luggage in time for summer travel

Images of shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, and sunglasses come to mind when one thinks of accessories to complement fashion. Perhaps one of the most obvious and overlooked items is luggage. Without these useful workhorses to transport necessary and cherished clothing, travel as we know it would be impractical and a lot less chic. When the classic and fun stripes-based brand La Ligne, launched in 2016, met Away, the uber-popular award-winning luggage brand launched in 2015, it was like peanut butter and jelly, a perfect and pleasing combo. FashionNetwork.com discussed the tie-up with La Ligne co-founder and CEO Molly Howard and Away co-founder and CEO Jen Rubio.

The collaboration between the brands hits stores on June 11 as the summer travel season is underway by design. “With the summer travel season fast approaching, the timing for a capsule collection couldn’t be better. We’re excited to provide both our communities with a vibrant, playful collection that captures the spirit of summer and ensures they can travel in style and ease,” Rubio told FashionNetwork.com.

To introduce the new partnership, a campaign featuring Natasha Lyonne was captured by Micaiah Carter. The images portray Lyonne’s carefree, sporty side and capture the vacation vibes the collab is meant to conjure. The 20-piece collection includes travel cases, and clothing comes in two colorways: orange (Spritz) and navy blue (Cabana), paired with neutral cream for a fresh summer nautical vibe.

The idea was planted when Howard and Rubio met in 2018. “We met at the founders’ conference after La Ligne launched and stayed in touch, developing a close relationship over the years. In 2018, we asked her to be part of the La Bande portrait series,” Howard said over email. She referenced the photography series of inspiring women leaders in various fields ranging from creative to business to public service roles.

As the friendship blossomed, the two began to travel together. Howard naturally used Away luggage, while Rubio often donned La Ligne. “During one holiday, we thought about how perfect a collaboration would be—super easy and organic. There is a lot of existing synergy between our brands: La Ligne for our signature stripe and timeless style, in the same way that Away has amassed a beloved following for its iconic luggage,” Howard continued.

Rubio, who is married to former Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, concurred. “There’s a natural synergy between our brands. Both La Ligne and Away have cultivated a beloved following by taking essentials—cozy sweaters, suitcases—and making them elevated and effortless simultaneously,” she said, adding, “I’ve always admired how Molly, Meredith, and Val have built their brand with so much joy. Over the years, we’ve become friends, making it even more enjoyable to finally collaborate.”

Among the styles included are the best-selling Bigger Carry-On and matching accessories, all in the two seasonal exclusive colorways. Prices range from $30 to $345 across the limited-edition offerings, including new accessories like The Sunglass Pouch. The collection is rounded out with an exclusive ten-piece La Ligne assortment of women’s, men’s, and kids, including tees, lightweight knits, sleepwear, and more. Pricing ranges from $75 for the Marini Sweater (kids) to $250 for Bonne Nuit Pajamas. The collection will be available for purchase exclusively on awaytravel.com and lalignenyc.com.

The collaboration is among a growing list, such as Willie Norris, Sandy Laing, Ashish, Paloma Spain, and Vaquera. Still, it marks the first time the luggage brand has offered soft goods, aka clothing, and was the result of multiple discussions. “We brainstormed what our respective customers would need to perfectly complement their travels, both near and far, while eliminating the guesswork of packing. For months, we went back and forth ideating, sampling, and collaborating with our teams to finalize the capsule,” Howard explained, noting the loungewear and pajamas come in sizes for the whole family.

“We aimed to capture the essence of summers spent offline, drawing inspiration from sun-soaked days and the colors of the season. Our chosen palette embodies the spirit of summer and travel.” With luggage, this adorable (and kids in tow) Howard, who shares a child with boyfriend Ben Lovett of  Mumford & Sons, offers travel advice that you won’t mind being seen grabbing off the luggage carrousel. “Prior to having my daughter, my unspoken travel rule was never to check bags; while I’ve had to relax my rule, my approach remains the same: focus on timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched, ideally, worn multiple ways.”