Samsonite was actually the name of a luggage line introduced in 1941 by Jesse Shwayder, the founder of our company. At the time, the company name was Shwayder Bros. In 1941, Samsonite Streamlite was introduced and Jesse called it Samsonite because he wanted to stress the strength and durability of this new case. Samson, the Biblical giant, had always been of Jesse’s heroes. The company later changed its name to Samsonite. Luggage has definitely changed as travel habits have changed. Today’s traveler wants lightweight luggage that is easy to maneuver due to airline regulations and the fast paced world in which we live. Carry-ons are increasingly popular as airlines charge for checked baggage and limit the weight of what you can check.
