You may not have heard of Formia, as they hide behind the behemoth brands they work with, however that may be about to change. This powerful (and award-winning) company manages to partner brands together to offer their passengers the very best in amenities.
2015 has brought a wealth of new luxury partnerships, and a new trend of ‘micro-suitcases as amenity kits’ seems to have transpired. While Formia has recently announced a wave of kits, for carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Swiss, China Airlines, Aeromexico, Garuda Indonesia and Jet Airways, it’s the company’s other releases that have really caught our eye.
Changing the way we look at amenity kits, Formia have partnered with Rimowa, Samsonite and Porsche Design to bring us mini-suitcases that you really want to keep.
Malaysia Airlines X Porsche Design
The kits consist of a Porsche Design branded hard case which, over the next two years, will be available in a range of eight exciting colours. The Porsche Design hard shell case is made from the latest hi-tech materials to produce a practical, durable and rigid case suitable for multiple, long-term use by passengers after their flight. Each case contains various items from the Acca Kappa “Green Mandarin” toiletries range. Bearing the famous and recently re-designed Porsche Design logo, the cases will be customised for MAS with the inclusion of the Batik motif which represents the Malaysian heritage.
Malaysia Airlines’ Director of Customer Services, Dato’ Salleh Ahmad Tabrani added : “The airline is pleased to be working with Formia to create its latest travel amenity kit for Business Class passengers. The new kit reflects the airlines’ brand aesthetics, with luxury amenities that is sure to keep every premium traveller feeling refreshed after their long flight. We are constantly looking into ways to enhance our customer service, as our guests deserve the best—and this includes creating an amenity kit that is both stylish and functional.”
ANA X Samsonite
Formia worked with ANA to provide their most elite passengers with an innovative hard case, unisex amenity kit inspired by world renowned brand Samsonite luggage. The new miniature hard cases will be offered to the airline’s First Class passengers. This is the first time Samsonite has been “on board” with hard case replicas miniatures of their famous cabin luggage items.
In all, a total of four differently coloured cases will be offered for passengers to collect. Through their rugged construction, reflecting the quality of the original luggage which inspired their creation, the cases will provide recipients passengers with a number variety of long-term, post flight uses. They will be co-branded ‘Samsonite’ on one side and ‘ANA’ on the other and will contain a number of cosmetic and comfort items for the convenience of passengers.
As stated by Mr.Koji Oka, ANA’s Product & Services Innovations Director: “Customer care is a top priority for ANA. Our philosophy has always been to engage with our passengers and to offer them the highest possible levels of comfort and in-flight facilities designed to make their flights with us a pleasure every time. These Samsonite kits fit perfectly with this approach. Formia is to be congratulated for this concept and for successfully bringing about this deal between our companies.”
Thai Airways X Rimowa
This may have started the movement back in 2010 when Formia brought the product to the skies. The cases, specifically for Thai Airways First Class passengers are constructed in RIMOWA’s signature polycarbonate shell and feature a high gloss finish. The success of this amenity kit over the past years has led to the decision to revamp the 2015 collection of colours, retaining some old favourites and introducing several new, striking colours for discerning passengers to enjoy and collect. This brings the total number of colours the cases have been available in since launch to 15!
Commenting, FORMIA Managing Director, Roland Grohmann, said: “We are delighted that Thai Airways is reiterating their confidence in FORMIA with this new series of First Class amenity kits. There has been universally positive feedback from passengers since these innovative cases were first introduced. We are confident they will be excited to see the new range of colours on these collectable cases which provide a wide range of post-flight use possibilities. FORMIA’s goal is to be the consumer’s choice and these RIMOWA cases represent the sweet-spot of the design, quality and innovation that FORMIA can offer the world’s great airlines.”
EVA Air X Rimowa
EVA Air’s Royal Laurel class Passengers are still in for a treat, two years after Formia launched the Rimowa case for EVA Air, the airline has extended its contract. Specially commissioned Racing Green colour designed to complement EVA Air’s own corporate colours. In a second stage, two new colours, Crystal Green and Prosecco, were introduced and now, under the terms of the new agreement, two further new exciting colours will be on board later this year to appeal to passengers collecting them for a variety of post-flight applications.
While airlines are working harder than ever in a competitive market to win over loyal guests, these kits featuring different colours and designs become yet another small reason to keep flying with a carrier. With such a wealth of collectable amenity kits on the market, there is good reason why our bathrooms are filling up with them. Case closed.
TheDesignAir 