Victorinox Swiss Army

Profile

Known for their iconic Swiss army knife, Victorinox has found a home for its New York flagship store in a historic Soho firehouse. The brand melded its own history into that of the building by creating a makeshift museum that displays vintage firemen’s gear alongside antique Swiss army knives and photographs of the original Victorinox factory and founder. The name of the brand itself is a combination of Victoria, the name of founder’s mother, and “inox”, an abbreviation of the French word for stainless steel. Now in its fourth generation, Victorinox has since expanded beyond the staple Swiss army knife into casual men’s and women’s apparel, travel gear, and watches. Specialty products such as umbrellas with a lifetime guarantee, a signature lightweight jacket that sends out a beacon if the wearer happens to be stuck in an avalanche, and tracking ID tags that can hunt down any lost luggage demonstrate the innovative functionality of the line. — Leila Samii