American Tourister is a global luggage brand acquired in 1993 by Samsonite, marking the union of the world’s greatest luggage brands. The brand continues to grow and is present in over 90 countries worldwide. American Tourister started in 1933, when Sol Koffler put his life savings on the line to start a luggage company in Providence, Rhode Island. His dream was to build a tough suitcase that could sell for a dollar. He succeeded, and decades of innovation followed By 1945, air travel was taking off and lighter luggage was in high demand. So American Tourister’s Hi-Taper was designed – tapered luggage that was lighter and easier to pack.