Luggage: Jesse Shwayder

In its most literal sense, a traveler’s luggage should be durable, dependable, and strong – much like the biblical heavyweight Samson. Because Jesse Shwayder was a religious man, he wanted his suitcases, folding card tables, and furniture the name to reflect his faith and his case’s strength: thanks to Shwayder, wayfarers the world over can take advantage of Samsonite’s luggage legacy.

Shwayder started out as a suitcase salesman in Denver, and in 1910 he used his life savings of $3,500 to begin his own baggage firm, the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company.  In 1939, the firm introduced the sleek, revolutionary, and company-defining “Samsonite” line of suitcases. The brand became such a critical success that in 1965, the firm was renamed after its bestselling product.

A devout Jewish man, Shwayder (whose son, King David Shwayder, took the helm after Jesse) gifted all executives and employees a marble inscribed with the “Golden Rule” as a reminder of what values and priorities Shwayder had when founding the company. A long-standing lesson from luggage that lasts.

–Andrea Bolt