Cover Tumi is dedicated to delivering an unparalleled durability—an ethos that mirrors Ho’s mental strength during her journey to becoming a pilot (Photo: Tory Ho / Tatler Hong Kong)
Tumi is dedicated to delivering an unparalleled durability—an ethos that mirrors Ho’s mental strength during her journey to becoming a pilot (Photo: Tory Ho / Tatler Hong Kong)
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Tumi’s Voyageur collection provides the perfect mix of fun and function
Christina Ho remembers the exact moment she decided to become a pilot. She was working as cabin crew—having spent two years as a fashion designer—and had taken time off to attend a friend’s wedding in Kuala Lumpur, but the flight was full. Fortunately, the pilot knew the wedding was important to Ho and kindly gave her a jump seat inside the cockpit.
“I was just amazed by what I saw. There was a 270-degree view of clouds and glimpses of lilac-coloured sky in between,” she says. “Before we took off, the captain asked the first officer, ‘Are we ready?’. And that was the moment I felt in my heart, I was ready. I had found a profession that was right for me.”
After going through intense cadet training, Ho achieved her dream of becoming a commercial pilot, but she still holds fashion close to her heart. For her, Tumi’s designs provide the perfect mix of fun and function. Inspired by the pilots she worked with throughout her journey, Ho uses a timeless black suitcase from the 19 Degree Aluminum collection, matching it with her uniform and pilot briefcase.
19 Degree Aluminum luggage in black (Photo: courtesy of Tumi)
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However, when travelling for leisure, Ho turns to the Voyageur collection—both the Malta duffel and Celina design that features Tumi’s “Add-a-Bag” function, a secure sleeve that slips over extended luggage handles for easy stacking. Both personalised with her name, the bags have quick access pockets for her phone, and multiple accessories for keeping her belongings safe, from the small organiser she uses to store tickets and travel documents to the adjustable strap, converting the Malta into an easy-to-carry duffel for the gym.
Injecting colour into her personal life, Ho swaps out her work case for the more casual 19 Degree collection. “I change my phone case to match my outfit, so when I’m travelling, my bag is part of the journey too,” she says. “I love the colour options in the Voyageur and 19 Degree collections, especially the new lilac, coral and mist.”
Above Ho and the Voyageur Malta Duffel in Lilac Ombre (Photo: Tory Ho / Tatler Hong Kong)
Above Ho with Tumi Voyageur Celina Backpack and 19 Degree Extended Trip Expandable Four Wheeled Packing Case in Mist (Photo: Tory Ho / Tatler Hong Kong)
Ho and the Voyageur Malta Duffel in Lilac Ombre (Photo: Tory Ho / Tatler Hong Kong)
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The Voyageur collection incorporates recycled materials into core designs, highlighting Tumi’s dedication to unparalleled durability—an ethos that mirrors Ho’s mental strength during her journey to becoming a pilot, when she had to battle some sexist assumptions. “[In the beginning] people wondered if I would be able to handle it, if I could manage all the machinery as a woman. My family was worried too, as I was at the age when they thought I should be settling down and starting a family,” Christina recalls. “All this noise was discouraging—but I just knew this was the right path for me.”
Credits
Photography: Tory Ho
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