Foldable suitcases

Some ideas change the way you travel entirely. A foldable suitcase that glides through airports and folds flat into its own cover when you get home is one of them. At Lipault, the Foldable Plume collection was born from a very Parisian instinct: that clever design should never come at the expense of style. Light to lift, beautiful to look at and brilliantly easy to store when you're back.

The Suitcase That Disappears When You Don't Need It

In a city apartment, a compact London flat or anywhere storage space is precious, a foldable suitcase isn't just a nice idea. It's a genuinely clever one. Lipault's Foldable Plume collection solves one of travel's most overlooked problems: where does the suitcase live when you're not using it? The answer is beautifully simple. It folds flat, tucks into its own protective cover and disappears into a cupboard, under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, ready to reappear the moment your next adventure calls.

Lightweight Before It Even Folds

The folding feature is just the beginning. Every case in the Foldable Plume collection is crafted from soft, lightweight twill nylon, the same signature material as our iconic Plume collection, giving it a subtle sheen and a barely-there feel that makes every journey that little bit easier. Our most compact formats weigh under 2kg, making them some of the lightest collapsible suitcases of their size available. The larger cabin formats step up in capacity while remaining impressively light, and for longer trips our foldable wheeled duffles bring the same fold-flat brilliance to a more generous format. Whichever you choose, the weight you save is yours to fill with the things that actually matter.

There's a Foldable for Every Trip

Whether you're hopping on a budget flight for the weekend or heading off for something longer, there's a Foldable Plume built for exactly that kind of travel.

  • Mini Cabin (45cm) - for the traveller who has mastered the art of packing light. A spontaneous long weekend, a budget airline hop, a Monday morning flight that's back by Thursday. Fits neatly under the seat on low-cost airlines and folds flat the moment you walk back through the door.
  • Cabin Suitcase (55cm) - for the traveller who likes a little more room without checking in. A week away with everything properly packed, and a personalisation option to make the case feel truly their own.
  • Duffle Bag (78cm) - for those who travel longer and fuller. Rolls smoothly on two wheels with enough capacity to bring back more than they left with.

Every format shares the same fold-flat brilliance. Only the adventure changes. If you'd like to explore our underseat suitcases more broadly, our dedicated page covers every format available.

Stable on City Streets, Smooth Through Airports

A folding suitcase needs to feel as reliable on the road as any other case in your collection. The Foldable Plume rolls on two robust wheels designed to stay stable on cobblestones, uneven pavements and station platforms, where a 4-wheel spinner can sometimes feel unsteady. The telescopic handle adjusts to your height, and the structured body holds its shape fully when packed, so you never feel like you're compromising on a proper suitcase experience. Water-resistant by design, it handles a London drizzle or a crowded baggage hall with equal ease.

A Parisian Answer to Modern Living

The Foldable Plume was never just about practicality. It was about rethinking what a suitcase could be for people who live in beautiful, space-conscious homes and refuse to let a bulky case dominate the hallway. Dressed in sophisticated Parisian colour and finished with the quiet confidence that defines everything Lipault makes, it is luggage that reflects a certain way of living: lightly, stylishly, and always ready to go. To complete your travel kit, our suitcase organisers help you make the most of every centimetre inside, and a suitcase cover keeps it looking its best trip after trip.

Explore Related Luggage

Looking for something beyond foldable luggage? Discover our large suitcases for longer adventures, our suitcase sets to build a perfectly matched collection, or our passport covers to finish the look in true Parisian style.

FAQ

How does a Lipault foldable suitcase work?

Every case in the Foldable Plume collection is designed to fold flat once unpacked. Simply empty the case, fold it down along its natural lines and tuck it into its included protective cover. The cover keeps the case clean and compact between trips, so it can slip easily into a cupboard, under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe without taking up meaningful space. When your next trip comes around, take it out, unfold it and it's ready to pack. The whole process takes seconds.

What sizes are available in the Foldable Plume collection, and how small do they fold?

The Foldable Plume collection comes in several formats, each folding down to a surprisingly compact footprint when not in use:

  • Mini Cabin (45cm): ideal for short trips and budget airline travel, sized for the free personal item allowance on low-cost airlines.
  • Cabin Suitcase (55cm): accepted as carry-on on most major airlines, spacious enough for up to a week away. Available with a personalisation option.
  • Duffle Bag (78cm): a wheeled option for longer trips with generous capacity. Available with a personalisation option.

Each case folds into its own protective cover, with the exact folded dimensions shown on every product page.

Is a foldable suitcase as sturdy as a regular suitcase?

Yes. When packed and in use, a Foldable Plume suitcase behaves exactly like any other suitcase in our range. The twill nylon construction is the same water-resistant, durable material used across our signature Plume collection, and the case holds its shape fully when packed. The two robust wheels roll smoothly and stay stable on cobblestones, station platforms and uneven city streets. Quality testing is part of how we develop our luggage, and the Foldable Plume is built to the same standards as the rest of the range.

How much does a Lipault foldable suitcase weigh?

Lightness is at the heart of the Foldable Plume collection. Our mini cabin format (45cm) weighs under 2kg, making it one of the lightest collapsible suitcases of its size on the market. The cabin suitcase (55cm) and the wheeled duffle are equally impressive for their size, leaving as much of your airline weight allowance as possible for the things that actually matter. The exact weight of each model is listed on the individual product pages, so you always know exactly what you are travelling with before you pack.

Is the foldable mini cabin accepted free of charge on budget airlines?

Our foldable mini cabin format (45cm) is designed to meet the more generous free underseat personal item allowances used by low-cost airlines, so it travels in the cabin free of charge on standard fares with no add-ons required. This makes it a particularly smart choice for frequent budget airline travellers who want to avoid extra baggage fees without compromising on style or quality. Allowances differ between carriers, and some use a stricter personal item size, so it is worth matching the format to the airline you fly most. As airline policies can vary and change, we always recommend checking directly with your airline before you travel.

Which airlines accept the foldable cabin suitcase as carry-on luggage?

Our foldable cabin suitcase (55cm) complies with the standard 55 x 40 x 20cm cabin dimensions accepted by most major airlines worldwide, as well as most European carriers. On low-cost airlines, the 55cm format is generally accepted where you have paid for a cabin bag option or priority boarding. For basic fares on budget carriers, we recommend the mini cabin (45cm) or our underseat suitcases instead. Always check with your airline before travelling as policies can change.

Can I personalise my foldable suitcase?

Yes. All formats of the Foldable Plume collection are available with a personalisation option, so you can add your initials or a custom touch to make your case unmistakably yours. It also makes for a beautifully considered gift for anyone who loves to travel in style. Personalisation is possible on each product page.

What is the difference between a 2-wheel and a 4-wheel suitcase?

The Foldable Plume collection uses two robust wheels rather than four spinner wheels, and there are good reasons for this. Two-wheel cases tend to feel more stable on cobblestones, gravel, station platforms and uneven city streets, where a 4-wheel spinner can sometimes feel unsteady. They also often offer a touch more interior packing space, since the wheels sit within the case frame rather than protruding externally. If you prefer the smooth, multi-directional glide of a 4-wheel spinner, our large suitcases and cabin suitcases are available in 4-wheel formats across our collections.

How do I care for my Lipault foldable suitcase?

With a little regular care, your Foldable Plume will look great trip after trip. For the exterior, use a dedicated luggage cleaner or a damp cloth with mild soap for everyday marks. The interior only needs a quick wipe or a light vacuum to remove dust after a trip. Check the wheels and telescopic handle regularly to make sure they are in good working order. When storing between trips, fold the case back into its protective cover to keep it in the best shape and protect it from dust.