Delsey
France
Delsey is a French luggage maker founded in 1946 whose name combines those of its founding families. It sells suitcases and travel accessories worldwide and was ranked the world's second-largest luggage maker in 2010 according to Wikipedia. Its current ownership could not be verified from the sources used.
| Founded | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Emile Delahaye and the Seynhaeve brothers |
| Headquarters | Tremblay-en-France, France |
| Segment | Luggage and travel accessories |
| Known for | Hard-shell suitcases |
| Website | delsey.com |
What is Delsey?
Delsey is a French manufacturer of luggage and travel accessories, headquartered in Tremblay-en-France in the Paris suburbs. The brand name was created in 1946 by combining the names of Delahaye and the Seynhaeve brothers, who joined forces to build a travel-goods business.
History
The roots of the company go back to the Etablissements Delahaye, which was active from 1911 and made cases for items such as cameras, typewriters and record players. After the 1946 combination, a travel-goods department was set up and the company moved into moulded plastic suitcases, a material that became central to its identity. By 2010 it was described as the second-largest luggage maker in the world, behind Samsonite, with around 400 employees and turnover of roughly 130 million euros at that time.
Products and positioning
Delsey makes cabin and checked suitcases, bags and travel accessories for a broad travelling public. It is positioned in the mid-market of the luggage category, with design and function rather than luxury status as the selling point.
Delsey and technology
In early 2015 Delsey unveiled the Pluggage, a smart suitcase prototype with a built-in weighing scale, locator beacon, wireless speaker, remote locking and phone charger, all connected to a smartphone app. Wikipedia notes that comparable concepts were being explored at the time by Airbus (Bag2Go) and Bluesmart.
Why it matters
Delsey is one of the established European names in travel goods and an example of a luggage brand that experimented early with connected products. Readers should note that the ownership and current leadership of the company were not confirmed in the sources used for this profile, so they are left out here.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Delsey from?
Delsey is a French luggage brand founded in 1946 and based in Tremblay-en-France near Paris. Its heritage goes back to the Etablissements Delahaye, active since 1911.
Is Delsey a luxury brand?
Delsey is generally positioned in the mid-market of luggage rather than as a luxury label. It sells suitcases and travel accessories for mainstream travellers.