This trend focuses on soft-sided carry-on luggage, typically made from durable ballistic nylon or polyester, with a key feature of zippered expansion. The expansion feature can add several inches of packing space, offering flexibility for travelers who may purchase items on their trip.
Trend signals, demand data, and market insights for this product
65/100
growing
$36 - $391
Real data showing search growth, social buzz, and consumer demand signals.
Google Trends (12 Months)
TikTok Posts
Tumi
Zendaya is a globally recognized American actress and singer who has become a significant fashion icon. Her style choices are closely watched and emulated, making her a powerful influencer in the fashion and accessories market. Her association with luxury brands lends them a high degree of credibility and desirability among a wide audience. In 2025, Zendaya collaborated with the high-end luggage brand Tumi, further cementing her influence in the travel space.
Bottega Veneta
Amanda Seyfried is an acclaimed American actress known for her roles in a wide range of films and television series. Her classic and sophisticated style has made her a respected figure in the fashion world. As a frequent traveler for film promotions and personal trips, her choice of travel accessories often reflects a preference for quality and timeless design.
Briggs & Riley
Briggs & Riley is an American luggage brand renowned for its durability and innovative features, particularly its lifetime guarantee. The brand is often cited in "best of" luggage lists and is praised for its practical designs that cater to the needs of serious travelers. It is a favorite among frequent flyers and travel experts.
Current bestsellers and viral hits defining the consumer expectation.
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These brands are driving demand and shaping what consumers want to buy.
MARKET LEADER
The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Spinner is consistently lauded as a top choice for frequent flyers and is a known favorite among airline crews, cementing its iconic status. This carry-on pushes the expandable trend by offering a precision-engineered design that includes a tapered expansion feature, providing up to 2 inches of additional packing space. Its high-density nylon fabric is treated with a DuraGuard coating to resist stains and abrasions, ensuring it remains lightweight yet durable. The suitcase's thoughtful organization, built-in USB port, and premium materials make it a top-of-mind product for travelers seeking reliability and flexible capacity.
Key Product: Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Spinner
MARKET LEADER
The Briggs & Riley Baseline 22-Inch Carry-On is a premium and highly influential product, celebrated for its revolutionary CX™ expansion-compression system. This technology is a significant driver of the expandable trend, allowing the user to increase packing space by up to 25% and then compress the bag back down to its original size, ensuring it still fits in the overhead bin. This unique feature sets it apart and makes it an iconic choice for serious travelers. The bag is constructed from incredibly durable ballistic nylon, making it resistant to wear, water, and dirt. Its "no-questions-asked" lifetime guarantee further solidifies its status as a top-tier, trend-defining product for consumers who value longevity and unmatched functionality.
Key Product: Baseline 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner
MARKET LEADER
The Samsonite Solyte DLX represents the perfect marriage of lightweight construction and expandable functionality, making it a popular and trendy choice for a wide range of travelers. It embodies the expandable softside trend by offering a dual-zip system that allows for significant expansion for those extra souvenirs. Made from rugged polyester that resists stains and abrasions, the Solyte DLX is both durable and lightweight. Its appeal to the trend-conscious consumer is heightened by smart features like a built-in USB port for on-the-go charging and smooth multi-directional spinner wheels for effortless navigation. As a "best overall" pick, it's recognized for delivering a near-perfect blend of value, durability, and the flexible packing space that defines the trend.
Key Product: Solyte DLX Softside Expandable Luggage
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