A luggage piece comprising: a base; a lid pivotally joined to the base to pivot between at least a first position where the base and the lid define a substantially enclosed space and a second position to allow access to the substantially enclosed space; the lid and the base together defining an area recessed relative to outermost surfaces of the lid and the base when the lid and base are configured in the first position; and a zipper for maintaining the lid and the base in the first position, the zipper joined to the lid and the base at least within the recessed area such that the zipper is recessed relative to the outermost surfaces of the lid and the base within the recessed area; wherein: the zipper includes a zipper track, a zipper slider, and a zipper tab; the luggage piece further comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side, the lid being defined by the front side and portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, the base being defined by the rear side and remaining portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, and the right side being formed to define a pair of recessed area sidewalls (230a, 230b) that extend from the outermost surfaces of the right side toward the enclosed space; a recessed area flange (240a, 240b) extends from each of the recessed area sidewalls proximate an inner recessed area sidewall end portion of its respective recessed area sidewall generally transversely from its respective recessed area sidewall towards the other recessed area sidewall, wherein each recessed area flange (240a, 240b) ends proximate the recessed area flange extending from the other recessed area sidewall (230a, 230b) such that the free ends of the recessed area flanges abut each other; and the zipper track is joined to the recessed area flanges. a base; a lid pivotally joined to the base to pivot between at least a first position where the base and the lid define a substantially enclosed space and a second position to allow access to the substantially enclosed space; the lid and the base together defining an area recessed relative to outermost surfaces of the lid and the base when the lid and base are configured in the first position; and a zipper for maintaining the lid and the base in the first position, the zipper joined to the lid and the base at least within the recessed area such that the zipper is recessed relative to the outermost surfaces of the lid and the base within the recessed area; wherein: the zipper includes a zipper track, a zipper slider, and a zipper tab; the luggage piece further comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side, the lid being defined by the front side and portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, the base being defined by the rear side and remaining portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, and the right side being formed to define a pair of recessed area sidewalls (230a, 230b) that extend from the outermost surfaces of the right side toward the enclosed space; a recessed area flange (240a, 240b) extends from each of the recessed area sidewalls proximate an inner recessed area sidewall end portion of its respective recessed area sidewall generally transversely from its respective recessed area sidewall towards the other recessed area sidewall, wherein each recessed area flange (240a, 240b) ends proximate the recessed area flange extending from the other recessed area sidewall (230a, 230b) such that the free ends of the recessed area flanges abut each other; and the zipper track is joined to the recessed area flanges. the zipper includes a zipper track, a zipper slider, and a zipper tab; the luggage piece further comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side, the lid being defined by the front side and portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, the base being defined by the rear side and remaining portions of the right, left, top and bottom sides, and the right side being formed to define a pair of recessed area sidewalls (230a, 230b) that extend from the outermost surfaces of the right side toward the enclosed space; a recessed area flange (240a, 240b) extends from each of the recessed area sidewalls proximate an inner recessed area sidewall end portion of its respective recessed area sidewall generally transversely from its respective recessed area sidewall towards the other recessed area sidewall, wherein each recessed area flange (240a, 240b) ends proximate the recessed area flange extending from the other recessed area sidewall (230a, 230b) such that the free ends of the recessed area flanges abut each other; and the zipper track is joined to the recessed area flanges.