SWITZERLAND is known for its stolid reliability and a scientific approach to living. As one of the world’s richest and most successful nations, the country reflects that perhaps hot-blooded passions don’t always work, and we should all strive for stability and balance.

Victorinox, a Swiss-based manufacturing company that lent its name to the Swiss Army knives it has issued since the late 1800s, recently showed off what else they can do with regards to luggage and watches. An exhibition to celebrate Swiss Month at the Podium that ended late last month showed off the brand’s history, starting out at its founding in 1884 as a cutlery workshop by Karl Elsener. The founder had a vision of generating jobs and preventing the local population from leaving the area. Meanwhile, the Swiss Army had thought it fit to distribute multifunctional knives to its units that could both open cans of food and disassemble their service rifles, which required a screwdriver. The special knives were created by both Victorinox and Wenger under a government contract, until Victorinox acquired its rival in 2005.

The Podium exhibit proved to be a partnership between three Philippine distributors: the Primer Group of Companies showed off the luggage division, Lucerne showed off the brand’s timepieces, and Grimalkin was in charge of showing off the knives.

The knives at the exhibit included the Classic Limited Edition, with 10 available designs created by fans of the brand all over the globe. Blueprints for the Classic Limited Edition were submitted by Victorinox fans via an online crowdsourcing contest. A final vote on the brand’s website awarded the 10 winning designs out of a total of 2,380 submissions. Designers faced the challenge of representing the images on a surface of just 58 mm, the size of the pocket knife. The resulting entries delighted the family-run Swiss company in terms of their variety and creativity, testifying the dedication and imagination of their customers around the globe. What’s more, the countries that participated were as varied as the blueprints received. Chosen designs range from Sardine Can and Banana Split, to the lighted Burger Bar and the elegant When Life Gives You Lemons.

The limited edition of the 10 designs will be tempting collectors while stocks last.

LUGGAGE
Meanwhile, the luggage division showed off the Spectra 2.0 Dual Access Luggage which comes in two new colors, Dark Teal and Beetroot. The line is equipped with an integrated expansion system, allowing for an extra three centimeters with the carry-ons and 11 centimeters with the checked in styles, the latter representing a 47% space gain. Extremely durable, the cases feature a stylish, scratch-resistant finish and protective corner guards as well as ultra-strong, water-resistant, rip-stop expansion, rubberized bumpers and stretch zippers. With smooth-rolling dual-caster wheels and a dual-trolley handle system, the Spectra 2.0 exemplifies performance-focused design at every turn.

WATCHES
The timepieces division, meanwhile, showcased the INOX Mechanical, with a transparent back case showing the mechanism behind it. The guilloche dial is in the style of the Swiss officer’s knife, and a unique touch is its strap crafted from both wood and leather.

Swiss Ambassador Alain Gaschen said about Swiss products, especially by Victorinox: “You can really trust that this will work.”

He mentioned that Switzerland has ranked again as the World’s Most Innovative Country, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization. “We never stop and say ‘that’s it.’ We always have to change and to innovate.”

Mr. Gaschen credits this to the character of the Swiss, saying, “They’re open to change, they’re open to new ideas, they’re open to other countries. We have a very tolerant society — more than 25% of our people in Switzerland are not Swiss.

“The people are open, hardworking, and innovative,” he said — and we guess you can say that about the knives too. — Joseph L. Garcia

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