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For L.A.-based tattoo artist Dr. Woo, the Rimowa Original Pilot suitcase was a thing of creative industry lore. “I remember DJs would talk about it but no one could ever find it!” says Woo, who has inked everyone from Drake and Zoë Kravitz to Kid Cudi and Emilia Clarke. “There are so many cool things that Rimowa made or did that they no longer [do], but you hear about it or see it in a Tumblr or an old magazine.” As of today, the masses need not scour random corners of the web for a glimpse of the elusive suitcase. Rimowa has reissued the Original Pilot, much to the delight of Woo and the many editors, models, musicians and jet-setting social media influencers who swear by the brand. 

Originally released in 1994 and designed to fit between the two pilot seats in a cockpit, it quickly became the go-to case for non-pilots and aircrew members. DJs were some of the first "civilians" to catch onto the secret, finding the case to be perfect for their records and equipment, and protecting their precious vinyl. 

Fast forward to 2022, and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer — fresh off a performance at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee — is looking forward to rolling his through security, and perhaps adding a few accoutrements. “I travel so much and one of the things I said to my main tech was, 'Can we turn one of these [suitcases] into a little studio so when I am in a hotel room and I get inspired, we can start writing?’” he tells Vanity Fair. “Other people will carry it however they want to, but I can actually go and make a recording studio out of it. It's become an inspirational box, when I open up and there are things I can make music with.” 

Zimmer isn’t the only one envisioning ways to customize the Original Pilot. Though the standard specs more than suffice for most travel needs — Rimowa’s famous grooved aluminum exterior, swivel wheels, TSA-approved locks, and a padded compartment large enough to fit a laptop — Woo has some ideas too. “I would add its own power source, bluetooth speakers and probably a mini fridge,” he says. (Ideal if he ever needs to tattoo from a mountaintop and would like to enjoy music and a cold beer while he works.) For roller skater and social media star Oumi Janta, “a suitcase that can prepare some crèpes” is the dream. Perhaps she should call famed Parisian pastry Cédric Grolet. To mark the return of the Original Pilot, Grolet joined Janta, Woo, Zimmer and others — including legendary film pilot Fred North and British DJ Benji B in being photographed with the suitcase in their daily environment. All have given the Original Pilot their stamp of approval, sans any bonkers modifications, and in keeping with recent Rimowa releases, it’s likely to be met with fanfare. 

“For me, it’s all about convenience and [making] your world easier,” Woo says. “This thing opens at the top and the size is narrow, and for what I do … you need something that is easily accessible and quite compact. It’s one of those things that was not made for what I do, but is so easily translatable so it’s kind of the perfect fit.” The Original Pilot wasn’t made for professional roller skaters either, but has easily landed at the top of Janta’s wish list. “It’s perfect in size,” she says. “It's not too small, not too big and the handle works perfect for me — especially while I'm skating.” 

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