Think out of the big black box in luggage styles

The big, black, boxy suitcase still dominates car trunks and airport luggage carousels, but that might not be the case for long as consumers seek out versatile, lightweight luggage that complements both their lifestyle and personal style. Manufacturers are responding with new styles, materials and colors.

"I think the luggage brands are going to continue to strive to make lighter bags and still be durable. The ease of organizing within your suitcase has become much more of a hot topic — you want your clothes not wrinkled when you get there — and you want to find everything, so look for packing modules," says Hyla Bauer, executive fashion director of Conde Nast Traveler.

Macy's home fashion director Stephen Cardino would like to see more people toting suitcases in bright colors. "Reds and burgundies do well, but the customer is still about black, gray and brown. That's functional — they'll still look clean after the first trip," he says.

But, he adds, modern nylon fabrics, even in light colors, are essentially washable or at least washable.

You might find a yellow or blue carryon-size piece useful on a summer trip as a multitasking beach bag or sightseeing bag, adds Bauer, where a black suitcase might look out of place.

"You don't need to completely give up your style when you get on an airplane. You can have a little flair," she says.

Some options:

_Jane Marvel bags, even rolling suitcases, are made of laminated canvas with cotton, polyurethane or PVC trim and handles (no leather to be vegan friendly).

Company founder and designer Jane Saidenberg thinks zippered compartments are a key element to keep travelers organized, but she otherwise keeps hardware to a minimum to keep things light.

Computer bags, however, do have padded straps. "I didn't know how heavy laptops were until I got one. It quickly becomes a burden on the shoulders and back," Saidenberg says.

_Josh M. Fink, founder and CEO of Nokona Brands, thinks he found his niche with luggage subtly branded with Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association teams. Some pieces are made of baseball-glove leather. (Nokona also makes baseball gloves.)

"Even in this economy, people are traveling. Maybe they are staying closer to home but they still need luggage," says Fink, reporting that bags smaller than 22 inches are his top sellers right now.

_Mandarina Duck's new collection is a hard-shell polycarbonate line called Drop.

Why the name? The brand pledges a product "extremely resistant and elastic to impact."

The polycarbonate is also fully recyclable and waterproof.

For extra protection, there is a removable PVC cover that guards against friction and impact.

The suitcases have rounded edges, which, the company says, allows for "even distribution of tension in the event of impact."

_In the fall, Tumi will introduce python-print bags, a follow-up to the successful animal-print bags of last year.

These patterns help court customers who might be afraid of a solid color, explains Alan Krantzler, Tumi's vice president of product management and merchandising.

"The print bags don't look dirty right away, and we you want to be able to identify your bag right away. These stand out," he says. "And women especially are treating luggage as a fashion accessory."

_Finding inspiration in his primary golf-bag business as well as the always-traveling professional golfers he serves, Train Reaction's Jeff Herold says he aimed to produce luggage that could hold up for dozens of trips — and hold enough clothes and gear for 4- to 6-week periods.

His luggage system is available as a two- or three-piece interlocking set. Its weight distribution system, which allows the bags to balance at an incline, actually works best when they're full to the hilt, he explains.