If luggage brand Away isn’t already on your radar, this *huge* news will change that
Away luggage, the chic brand behind those functional suitcases with phone-charging capabilities, just received a $50 million funding round. Here's exactly how co-founders Jen Rubio and Steph Korey plan on expanding the brand into more than just carry-ons. You might be seeing airlines, hotels, and booking sites.
Chic suitcase brand Away rolled into existence in 2016 with one mission in mind: to make travel easier. Co-founders Jen Rubio (who’s a serious space-saving guru) and Steph Korey sought to create “first-class luggage at a coach price” that’s not only lightweight, resilient, and made from premium materials, but also full of smart, functional features—like the ability to charge your phone—to help jet-setters get from point A to point B as easily as possible. Now, all their hard work is paying off—big time.
Away just received a $50 million round of funding, which will help the brand grow even bigger and better, Business of Fashion reports. Thanks to the increased cash flow from investors, Rubio and Korey plan to open six more stores this year (bringing the total to 10) and expand overseas beyond the current availability in 38 countries—with a whole lot more than smart suitcases to offer.
Thanks to $50 million in funding, Away co-founders plan to open six more stores this year (bringing the total to 10) and expand overseas beyond the current availability in 38 countries.
The duo’s plan to grow the brand’s scope means you could be going away with a lot more from Away quite soon. According to Rubio, becoming a travel lifestyle brand requires planning additional projects along the lines of what they’ve already done since Away’s launch—like debuting the magazine, Here, and the temporary hotel concept, Chez Away, which opened last year during Paris Fashion Week and offered self-care treatments like in-house manicures and restorative sessions from MNDFL. “It could be anything from hotels to booking sites and airline,” Rubio says. “When we think about hotels [for example], there are many ways we can make that come to life, whether it’s something we do ourselves or through strategic partnerships.”
Whether it’s developing even better products or making travelers’ trips even more enjoyable, it’s clear this is just the beginning for this female-run brand that’s already dominating the luggage sector. If they have anything to say about it, having “baggage” will soon be oh-so desirable.
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