Take 30-year-old secretary Cecilia Tong. In 2002, she bought a non-branded piece of luggage for about $100 and thought she had a good deal.

After a week-long trip to Korea, it came back cracked. 'It was not worth repairing and I threw it away after using it just once,' she laments.

For her next trip to Sydney, she forked out more than $1,000 on a replacement from American brand Tumi. 'It was costly but is still in good condition even though I use it every other month,' says the frequent flier who has used it for five years.

Ms Mary Chan, store manager at travel boutique The Planet Traveller at the Paragon, says Singaporeans are now 'willing to spend for a good luggage'.

The store carries imported brands such as Victorinox, Mandarina Duck and Eagle Creek. While she declines to give sales figures, she says business has risen about 20 per cent for all the brands in the last year.

Over at upmarket brand Tumi, about 40 per cent of its customers are Singaporeans who spend from $1,000.

'When Tumi opened here in 2000, there were almost no local customers,' says Mr Shinji Anno, managing director of Fashion Street, which brings in the brand, and runs the two Tumi boutiques at Ngee Ann City and Raffles Hotel Arcade.

He says sales have increased about five times since. 'Singaporeans see Tumi as worth buying,' he says of the American-brand luggage which uses abrasion-proof FXT ballistic nylon fabric.

The market for luggage here is worth $50 million a year, say industry sources.

In Singapore, there are more than 30 brands, including home-grown names like Crossing, and prices start from $186.

And given the fact that more and more Singaporeans are heading abroad (more than 2.7 million this year), luggage makers are fighting to zip up a roomier share of that business by introducing more functions, snazzier designs and features.

They are also introducing new and improved materials.

Leading American brand Samsonite uses polycarbonate for its hard-case luggages because it is lightweight. Its softcases use armoured nylon which is supposedly extremely strong and durable.

Swiss brand Victorinox uses two special kinds of fabric. One gives abrasion-, moisture- and tear-resistant protection, while the other repels virtually all stain-causing liquids and solids.

Mr Christopher Lim, general manager for Samsonite Singapore, says style is emerging. 'A suitcase used to be a simple box shape, but now people are seeing luggage as a statement of their sophistication or level or wealth.'

In the past, makers just unloaded their wares onto the market. 'Now they create luggage for travellers in different segments,' says Ms Chan.

For example, female travellers look for more stylish luggage, such as the Mandarina Duck which features floral embossed designs.

Business travellers tend to go for items that are understated but classy looking and with the brand's logo subtly placed.

While the designs have become more varied, function still matters, says Mr Anno.

For cabin luggage, most airlines set a size limit. It varies among airlines but luggage allowed onboard should be no more than 55cm by 38cm by 20cm.

Industry sources note that luggage is now more compact in shape because consumers travel lighter.

Seeing this as a passport to win them over, makers go for lightweight materials such as special fabrics and alloy aluminium polycarbonate.

For security, most products come with TSA locks, which are required when travelling to the United States.

In January 2003, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - which was set up after Sept 11 - advised passengers travelling through American airports to leave suitcases unlocked.

But if yours has a TSA lock, screeners can open it with master keys and relock it after inspection without you having to do the unlocking.

While luggages have gone sturdier, some things at the airports still have not changed though.

'Baggage clearance is still taking too long, and baggage handlers can do with more care in their job,' laments student Gary See, who had to wait 45 minutes for his luggage at Madrid Airport, and which turned up dented.

taysc@sph.com.sg