This Brand’s Affordable Suitcases Are An Insta-Hit – They Make Travelling Easier And More Stylish

To me, a suitcase is a hopeful object. It's the empty shell inviting me to fill it with wonderful things that will, in turn, facilitate a wonderful time. It means holidays, excitement, wonder. This is probably why I'm a chronic over-packer, afraid to miss out on any opportunity and therefore incapable of editing my belongings down to a 'capsule wardrobe' or whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing (particularly as a fashion editor). Instead, I take (much) more than I need keen to be prepared for any – and every – eventuality. For this reason, I need a suitcase which can, for want of a better phrase, keep up.

I need a lot of space but, given my penchant for over-packing, the case needs to be lightweight, so that I don't constantly end up paying for excess baggage. I want it to be stylish but not at the cost of pragmatism – I still want those helpful extras like inner pockets, expanders, detachable wash bags and, of course, effective lock mechanisms. Other suitcases have let me down – an expensive one I had scuffed after the first use and was too noisy, while a cheap style I bought as a replacement broke when an over-zealous baggage handler decided to practice his throwing skills. Thank goodness, then, for Nere, which has solved all of my problems. Well, the luggage-related ones, anyway.

Australia's number one fashion travel brand, Nere offers the perfect blend of style and substance, bringing a playful, fun approach to really practical luggage. It's been around for a while – the brand launched in the UK in 2022 – but the new Bondi collection is the best yet. Named, obviously, in honour of the iconic beach in Sydney, the range is available in six sorbet shade and each suitcase has three different sizes: small (cabin-sized), medium and large. There are – praise be! – multiple inside pockets, the aforementioned wash bag and whisper-quiet 360 degree spinner wheels (they're even quiet on Italian cobbles, so you can avoid awkward stares as you try to find your hotel). Best of all? They won't cost the earth.

While the pastel shades are very Insta-friendly, I was concerned about how easily market they could be, however each Bondi suitcase is water, impact and scratch resistant – music to my ears. There are matching accessories, too, so you can really create a chic travelling identity, although my very favourite item from Nere, besides the cases, has to be its packing cubes. I used to be a throw-it-all-in-and-see-what-happens kind of packer but, since trying the packing cubes – which come as a pack of three, each of a different size – I have never been more organised. It also allows more space, believe it or not, so I can take that extra dress on holiday.

Nere also offers luggage tags, passport covers, cosmetic cases and more, so you can be well co-ordinated, organised and chic – all at the same time. It may sound silly but, since discovering the brand, it's taken all the stress out of packing for me. I've now got the best tools at my disposal – and they're stylish tools, at that.

Shop: Nere's New Bondi Collection

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.