Émigré is the new premium travel and lifestyle brand, launching with a collection of bags, apparel and accessories designed to make travel better for global professionals. The collection is created from smart, recycled, natural materials, delivering form and function without compromise, enabling users to move seamlessly between meetings, climates, destinations and locations.

The team behind Émigré are both personally and professionally experienced, being seasoned business travellers themselves and having accrued technical and tailoring expertise at brands including The North Face, Ralph Lauren, Lands? End, and Crafted Goods.

In this Q&A we meet Tim Sedo (CMO), and Ralph Thoma (CEO) who tell us more about the Émigré vision and the journey for this innovative brand so far.
Ralph, please tell us about the lightbulb moment and how you set about making your vision a reality.

(Ralph) Back in 2018, I owned a bag brand called “Crafted Goods” that specialised in mid-priced military-inspired bags with a Japanese streetwear aesthetic. Recognising a gap in the market for premium bags targeting business travellers, I collaborated with my design partner, Thanh Trinh, to create an elevated collection. The success of this “ultimate” line confirmed the potential for a new brand in that space, leading to the birth of Émigré.

However, just as we were preparing to launch the brand, the pandemic struck, halting travel worldwide. Despite the imm...