Luggage personalization stems from Europe’s heraldic traditions and had its heyday in the 19th century. Back then, it was a practical imperative employed to recognize and find one’s luggage easily during the great seasonal migrations of the European aristocracy. Tons of identical-looking trunks arriving at the Côte d'Azur or Malta was nothing short of a logistical nightmare.

Today, personalization is a token of individuality and elegance for the discerning. Customs vary from country to country, but most use a combination of names, stripes, initials, or numbers to distinguish bags. For instance, in the U.K., it’s customary to use the owner’s full first and last names, whereas in France, tradition dictates a piece of luggage be monogrammed with simply the initials of its owner. We find the latter strikes the perfect balance between privacy and polish.

F.E. Castleberry continues the tradition of personalization—albeit irreverently, of course—with bold stripes and sans serif initials on this vintage Mark Cross briefcase. Through a seven-step process, monograms are hand-painted by Fred himself with specially formulated non-cracking paints designed to age gracefully with your bag.