Who started it? Halo was established in Britain in 1976 and is known for luxury furniture and well-crafted designs. The brand, which started out specialising in antique furniture, was inspired by founder Major Philip Oulton's passion for traditional craftsmanship. In 2004, the global furniture division was launched by his sons, Timothy and Charles, with the former serving as creative director. In 2007, Timothy launched a line of bags, including small leather goods, for men and women.
Why we love it: the small leather goods line meshes old-world British charm and heritage with modern and wearable design. The leathers (aniline and cow from South America and Italy) are unusual - some styles are made using super-soft glove leather while others are hand-distressed, giving the bags a worn-in cool look. Shapes are functional but are made interesting through clever design tricks such as asymmetrical lines, decorative elements applied haphazardly and minimal use of hardware, allowing the leather work to shine. The collection includes suitcases modelled on vintage trunks.
What we'd pick: ideal for travel or play, the luxe Gladstone bag (top; HK$3,999) is made from crocodile-stamped leather while the '08' logo on the Silverstone (above; HK$1,690) lends the bag a preppy look.