Minimal Baggage

Jeremy Mitchell, 27, was born and raised in Brooklyn. Before he got comfortable as a traveler, he learned how to dress well. “My mom showed me how to wear a suit—for church functions, usually—and my father showed me how to choose the right shoes and put on a tie,” he says.

As a teenager, he took his first solo trip—to Trinidad, where his family roots are. The Caribbean island felt completely different from the streets where he’d grown up.

“There was a beautiful beach surrounded by mountains, birds chirping when I woke up, all the windows open to the light and breeze, and real West Indian food,” Mitchell recalls. More importantly, he realized he could feel just as much at home, maybe even more so, in a place he was just starting to figure out.

Fast-forward a few years, and he’s heading to Europe as a photo assistant for three Fashion Weeks: London and Paris, and Florence for Pitti Uomo. Throughout all his world travels, Mitchell has learned how to pack more efficiently. Now, when he’s packing, he starts with basics, like a plain white tee and dark pants. He relies on a functional statement piece, like an African-print linen overshirt that he can wear multiple days in a row. Rubber-soled shoes, always. And he stores his fedora on his head.

Montblanc’s accessories suit Mitchell’s smart, stylish approach to travel just right. With its blend of Italian craftsmanship, German engineering, and cutting-edge Japanese technology, the #MY4810 Luggage Collection is tailored to the modern city explorer.

“This is definitely my style,” Mitchell says of the Nightflight Backpack Medium. “It says a lot without saying a lot, you know?” Hands-free is a bonus for him, whether he’s taking a long walk along Amsterdam’s canals or doing a photo-scouting bike ride in New York. “This pack is minimal and well-structured. It’s bigger than it seems. You can put a camera, a couple lenses, and a computer in there—pretty much your whole life. And I know for sure it’ll look great with a varsity jacket.”

“How I dress on Instagram isn’t necessarily how I dress every day. On a day-to-day basis, for example, I wear a lot of black,” Mitchell explains. That’s one reason the Nightflight 48hr Bag, a weekender with a detachable shoulder strap and front pouch, is a solid match. “There’s a lot of functionality: a lot of pockets, comfortable leather straps,” Mitchell adds. “And I get the feeling all these Montblanc bags are built to last.”

“I definitely get a grown-up vibe. I get a confident feel—more elevated,” Mitchell says. He’s talking about the #MY4810 Cabin Trolley, whose Japanese-made ball-bearing wheels run extra smoothly. It gets him thinking about a London trip he is planning this fall, and the Tokyo experience he’d like to organize down the line. “I like minimal, that’s my style. I like luxury goods but also keeping it minimal. Embroidery and big logos, these are never my thing—the cleaner, the better,” he says. “And I wanna know what a bag can do, how can it help me travel easier.”