Style : FASHION : The Way They Were

After three decades of soft-sided suitcases and bags bearing other people’s initials, vintage luggage is enjoying a comeback. The hard suitcases conjure up images of Pierce-Arrows and oceanliners and hark back to a time when travel meant glamour rather than rushed commutes.

Life Brown, former franchise director for Jose Eber, and accountant Rodney Parrish noted the phenomenon and recently opened Vagabond Vintage Luggage Co. to specialize in luggage from the ‘30s through the early ‘60s. On buying expeditions at antique shops and swap meets across the country, they assembled complete collections (400 pieces to date) of Hartmann, Oshkosh, Koch, Haliburton and Samsonite luggage. Restoring many of the pieces himself, Brown reconditions the canvas and leather, polishes and replaces hardware and repairs locks. Upon request, he relines suitcases with fabrics appropriate to the period--satin, silk, linen or cotton.

Myriad sizes (train cases, hat boxes, steamer trunks, wardrobes) are available, but the most popular is the “overnighter,” an 18-by-12-by-6-inch case that fits under an airplane seat or in an overhead bin. Prices range from $125 to $495 for luggage at Vagabond Vintage Luggage in Los Angeles and Raffia in Century City.