What Carl Friedrik does

Carl Friedrik is a London-based direct-to-consumer premium luggage and leather goods brand, registered as Oppermann London Ltd and founded in 2013 by Swedish brothers Niklas and Mattis Oppermann. The company originally launched with leather accessories before pivoting to luggage in 2019, which has become its core category. Its product portfolio spans three hard-shell luggage collections — Core (entry-level Makrolon polycarbonate, from $425), Hybrid (aluminium frame with polycarbonate shell, from $695), and Aluminium (anodized aluminium, from $945) — plus bag lines under the Heritage (Italian Vachetta leather), Sonder, and Move (recycled nylon) sub-brands, with select pieces approved by New York Times Wirecutter.

The brand's technology positioning rests on material sourcing rather than proprietary manufacturing: German-engineered Makrolon polycarbonate shells, Japanese-made Hinomoto 360-degree spinner wheels, aircraft-grade aluminium lock frames, TSA-approved combination locks, and Italian vegetable-tanned leather with 3M hydrophobic coatings. All products carry a comprehensive lifetime warranty including airline damage. Distribution is fully owned, comprising a Shopify-powered global e-commerce site, two London flagships (Regent Street and Covent Garden), and a New York City Broadway pop-up testing permanent US retail. The company sells to style-conscious frequent travelers, C-suite executives, and 'quiet luxury' consumers at price points from $425 to $995, with a refurbished sale channel offering up to 30% discounts.

Carl Friedrik is founder-owned and recently completed a £3.1 million crowdfunding round in 2026 alongside inventory financing facilities from Treyd and HSBC to support international expansion. The brand has generated organic cultural visibility through unpaid product placements in HBO's Succession, The White Lotus, Industry, and MobLand, as well as Apple TV+'s All of Us, and operates licensing and co-branded partnerships with Atlassian Williams Racing and Hackett London. Approximately 40 employees support operations as of June 2026.

Name

Carl Friedrik

Legal name

Oppermann London Ltd

Website

https://carlfriedrik.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carl Friedrik is a London-based direct-to-consumer premium luggage and leather goods brand selling hard-shell suitcases ($425-$995) and Italian leather bags to style-conscious business travelers and quiet luxury consumers globally via Shopify e-commerce, two London flagships, and a NYC pop-up.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Luggage & Travel Goods

NAICS

Luggage and Leather Goods Retailers (45832)

akta.pro primary industry

Leather Travel Goods & Luggage (CRAKAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backpacks & Travel Bags (CRAAAJAB), Luxury Travel Goods (Luggage & Trunks) (CRAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Premium luggage
• Travel bags
• Carry-on suitcases
• Leather accessories
• Luxury travel goods

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Luggage and Bag Sales: Primary revenue stream from direct sales of premium hard-shell carry-on and check-in suitcases, leather and nylon bags, and accessories to consumers via e-commerce and retail stores. One-time purchase model with premium price points.
2. Refurbished Product Sales: Open-box, sample, and returned items sold at up to 30% discount through a dedicated refurbished warehouse sale section on the website. All refurbished items carry the same lifetime warranty.
3. Licensing and Brand Partnerships: Revenue generated through licensing deals with Williams Racing (Atlassian Williams Racing) and Hackett London for co-branded travel products. Also partnered with Secrid for a special edition collection.
4. Inventory Financing: Trade finance facilities secured from Treyd and HSBC to support inventory management and international expansion, not a revenue stream but a financial partnership enabling stock procurement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carl Friedrik designs, manufactures (via third-party suppliers), and sells premium luggage, bags, and travel accessories directly to consumers. The product portfolio spans hard-shell suitcases across three material tiers (Core polycarbonate, Hybrid aluminum-polycarbonate, Aluminium anodized), leather bags (Heritage and Sonder collections), recycled nylon bags (Move collection), and limited edition collaborations. Products are priced from $425 to $995, distributed through owned e-commerce and physical retail, and backed by a comprehensive lifetime warranty.

Product overview

Carl Friedrik is a premium luggage and accessories brand offering a multi-collection portfolio spanning luggage, bags, and travel accessories. The luggage range includes carry-on suitcases (The Carry-on), checked luggage (The Check-in, The Large Check-in), and specialty items (Trunk) across three material collections: Aluminium (premium anodized aluminium shells), Hybrid (aluminium frame with polycarbonate shell), and Core (entry-level polycarbonate). The bag collection features leather briefcases and weekenders under the Heritage sub-brand (Italian vachetta leather), contemporary bags under Sonder (leather-nylon blends), and performance nylon bags under Move (100% recycled materials). The company also offers limited edition collaborations with Williams Racing and Hackett London, plus a Refurbished Sale program for discounted open-box items. All products carry a comprehensive lifetime warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Atlassian Williams Racing: Limited edition travel accessory collection featuring carry-on cases and backpacks inspired by Formula 1 motorsport.
• Hackett London

Products and services

• The Carry-on (Aluminium) Premium aluminium carry-on suitcase with anodized aluminium shell, combination locks, and vegetable-tanned leather detailing. Part of the Aluminium collection. Priced at $945.
• The Carry-on X Hybrid carry-on combining Makrolon polycarbonate shell with aluminium frame, featuring 360-degree Hinomoto spinner wheels and TSA-approved lock. Holds 41 liters. Priced at $745.
• The Carry-on (Core) Entry-level hard-shell carry-on with Makrolon polycarbonate shell and zipped closure. Part of the Core collection featuring lightweight polycarbonate construction. Priced at $425.
• The Large Carry-on Larger carry-on suitcase with 49L capacity, offering 20% more space than standard carry-on while meeting airline cabin restrictions. Features polycarbonate shell and aluminium lock frame. Priced at $745.
• The Check-in Medium-sized checked luggage with polycarbonate shell and aluminium frame, suitable for longer trips. Priced at $845.
• The Large Check-in Large checked luggage with 105L-125L capacity, featuring polycarbonate shell, zipped closure, and 360-degree spinner wheels for extended travel. Priced at $995.
• Trunk Classic trunk-style suitcase with aluminium frame and premium finish, designed for style-conscious travelers. Priced at $945.
• The Carry-on (Hybrid) Premium carry-on combining aluminium frame with impact-resistant Makrolon polycarbonate shell, TSA-approved lock closure, and Hinomoto 360-degree spinner wheels. Ideal for up to 5 days of travel. Priced at $695.
• Palissy Briefcase Slim leather briefcase from the Heritage collection, crafted from Italian Vachetta leather with Smart Holder compatibility for attaching to luggage. Priced at $795.
• Palissy Weekend All-leather weekend bag crafted from Italian Vachetta leather, featuring upright construction that maintains shape. Holds 48 hours of travel essentials. Approved by New York Times Wirecutter. Priced at $945.
• Palissy Weekend (Grained Leather) Weekend bag made from premium grained leather with subtly textured finish. Milled for several hours to achieve soft hand feel while maintaining durability.
• Granville Weekender Premium weekender bag from the Sonder collection, designed for the commute and cabin travel. Features structured design with leather detailing. Priced at $945.
• Compact Weekender Compact weekender bag available in nylon (Move collection) and leather variants. Designed for short trips with efficient packing space. Priced at $445.
• Large Weekender Larger nylon weekender from the Move collection, suitable for carry-on use with resilient nylon construction. Priced at $545.
• City-hopper Backpack Nylon backpack from the Move collection, featuring 100% recycled pre-consumer waste nylon, padded laptop compartment, and water-resistant finish. Priced at $495.
• 72-hour Backpack Nylon backpack designed for up to 3 days of travel, featuring multiple pockets and durable 100% recycled nylon construction. Priced at $595.
• Traverse Backpack Refined backpack with 27L capacity and 11 pockets, featuring drawstring cord closure with flat-top fold. Made from premium 100% recycled nylon with dedicated laptop compartment. Priced at $645.
• Ayrton Backpack Premium backpack from the Sonder collection, designed for style and functionality with leather and nylon construction. Priced at $745.
• Williams Racing Collection Travel goods licensing collaboration with Atlassian Williams Racing Formula 1 team, creating Williams-branded travel products including carry-on cases and backpacks in Williams livery, priced from $325 to $945.
• Hackett London Collection Collaboration with British menswear brand Hackett London, featuring limited edition carry-on and bag designs in navy and Hackett patterns. Compact Weekender priced at $545; Carry-on at $695.
• Refurbished Sale Warehouse sale offering open-box items, samples, and returned products at up to 30% off. All items in working order with lifetime guarantee. Prices range from $334 (Compact Weekender Return) to $796 (Palissy Double Return).

Quantifiable outcome

• 52% of travelers purchased new clothing specifically for a trip (survey of 1,000 U.S. travelers, March 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Atlassian Williams RacingflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2026Williams Racing signed a travel goods licensing deal with Carl Friedrik, allowing the luggage brand to create Williams-branded travel products inspired by motorsport precision and innovation. This marks Williams' second lifestyle licensing announcement, joining Built For Athletes, Abercrombie & Fitch, and LEGO. The collaboration features carry-on cases and backpacks in Williams livery, priced from £325 to £495. Celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Patrick Dempsey, and Timothée Chalamet were spotted with these accessories at Monaco and Miami Grand Prix events in 2025.
• Hackett LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Collaboration with British menswear brand Hackett London resulting in co-branded carry-on luggage and weekender bags. The partnership includes a Hackett navy carry-on (£695) and compact weekender (£545), blending Carl Friedrik's luggage expertise with Hackett's menswear heritage.
• SecridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial edition collaboration with Secrid, a card wallet brand, producing a limited edition co-branded collection.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering Carl Friedrik's online store at carlfriedrik.com. Shopify processes payments, manages inventory, and handles order fulfillment for the brand's direct-to-consumer operations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Monos: Premium DTC luggage brand with a minimalist, design-led aesthetic and polycarbonate/aluminium shell construction. Directly comparable on product materials, pricing tier, and quiet-luxury positioning.
• Horizn Studios: Premium smart-luggage and travel brand with a design-led European aesthetic. Comparable on premium DTC positioning, polycarbonate/aluminium construction, and style-conscious frequent traveler target.
• Briggs & Riley: US premium luggage brand built around a lifetime guarantee (including airline damage repair). The most direct comparable on the lifetime-warranty differentiator that Carl Friedrik uses as a core value proposition.
• July: Australian DTC luggage brand offering carry-ons and check-ins in a similar premium mid-tier price band. Comparable on DTC-led go-to-market and direct-to-consumer positioning.
• Paravel: DTC luggage and bags brand focused on sustainable materials and recycled components. Comparable on DTC model, sustainability narrative (Carl Friedrik's recycled nylon), and premium-but-accessible positioning.
• Globe-Trotter: British heritage luxury luggage maker with handcrafted hard-shell suitcases. Most comparable on British heritage provenance, premium price points ($500–$2,000+), and quiet-luxury customer overlap.
• Away: Direct-to-consumer luggage and bags brand operating at overlapping premium price points ($200–$500+) with a similar millennial/Gen Z target customer. Closest comparable in business model and channel mix (DTC e-commerce plus owned retail).

Broad incumbents

• Tumi: Established premium travel and lifestyle brand with broad retail distribution and a broader product portfolio than Carl Friedrik. Comparable on premium business-traveler target and lifetime warranty positioning.
• Bric's: Italian heritage luggage and leather goods maker with premium positioning. Comparable on Italian leather sourcing, premium price points, and European heritage brand storytelling.
• Rimowa: German heritage luxury luggage brand owned by LVMH. The incumbent Carl Friedrik explicitly positions against — comparable on aluminium and polycarbonate hard-shell construction, lifetime-like durability narrative, and global premium traveler target.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/carlfriedrik
• Facebookfacebook.com/carlfriedrik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carl-friedrik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carl Friedrik