FEATURES: Inside Launer’s Hatherton Collection

Words - Taj Hayer

In the age of spontaneous flights, sleek airport lounges and the quiet glamour of a weekend in the Cotswolds, luggage is no longer just a means of transport—it’s a statement. A passport into a life lived well, where form and function must meet in perfect balance. With the launch of the Hatherton Collection, Launer London, the venerable British leather goods house, redefines luxury travel through the lens of heritage, craftsmanship and enduring style.

For over 80 years, Launer has stood as a paragon of British excellence. From its Midlands workshop in Walsall—where every single item is still handcrafted—to its discreet but steadfast relationship with the Royal Household, the brand has never been one to chase trends. Instead, it has quietly cultivated a reputation for meticulous attention to detail, old-world values, and leatherwork of the very highest order. So much so, that in 2025, Her Majesty Queen Camilla formally granted Launer a Royal Warrant, reaffirming a bond that began in 1963.

It’s against this rich backdrop of tradition that the Hatherton Collection arrives—modern, elegant, and built for the lives we live now. Whether you’re packing for an extended escape to the Amalfi Coast, heading to a country manor for a long weekend, or simply commuting to the office with the discipline of style, Hatherton offers a quietly powerful companion. This is luggage for those who move through the world with intention.

Heritage Reimagined

The name Hatherton isn’t plucked from thin air. It pays tribute to Launer’s atelier itself—an Edwardian listed building originally known as the Hatherton Saddlery Works. Once home to some of the finest British saddlery, today the building hums with a different kind of craftsmanship, but the ethos remains unchanged: precision, pride, permanence.

This legacy runs through every line and seam of the new collection. At its core are three refined luggage silhouettes—the Grand Tour (£4,315), the Weekend (£3,775), and the Overnight (£3,195)—each engineered to serve a distinct purpose while sharing an unmistakable family resemblance. Their structures are reinforced with invisible rods that hold the body upright as you pack, giving a rare architectural integrity to the process. It's a small design detail, but one that reveals the true philosophy of the house: to make the everyday act of travel feel extraordinary.

Then come the touches that elevate: gold-plated engraved locks, protective base studs, and side fastenings that click into an elegant ‘swan’s neck’ silhouette. It’s luxury with backbone, designed to weather years of journeys without ever losing its poise.

The Language of Texture and Tone

At the heart of Hatherton is a new material expression for Launer: scotch grain leather. Durable yet tactile, it carries a lightly pebbled finish that manages to look equally at home on a yacht deck or a train platform. Structured and stately, but never stiff.

The palette is likewise considered—Caviar Black, Oxford Blue, Havana Brown and Windsor Tan—evoking the classic codes of British menswear. These aren’t hues for seasonal churn; they are permanent fixtures in a discerning wardrobe, designed to complement a cashmere overcoat as effortlessly as a cotton chore jacket. Each piece is finished with a sumptuous suede lining and the quiet confidence of British understatement.

Built for the Way We Live Now

While many legacy brands traffic in nostalgia, Launer has always had one foot in the future. And the Hatherton Collection reflects that. Designed with versatility in mind, the range includes folio cases for laptops and travel documents, a generously cut wash bag, passport covers, wallets, key holders and a beautifully machined padlock. There’s even a tablet portfolio with retractable handles and a custom gold-plated lock—a subtle fusion of tech and tradition that feels tailor-made for the modern boardroom.

But what’s perhaps most refreshing is how the collection moves seamlessly between the spheres of work and leisure, masculine and feminine, rural and urban. You can just as easily imagine a Windsor Tan Weekend bag slung into the boot of a Defender as you can see a Caviar Black folio tucked under the arm of a Mayfair creative en route to Claridge’s. It’s that duality that gives Hatherton its power. These are pieces that serve your lifestyle—not the other way around.

A Quiet Triumph

Having had the opportunity to experience the collection first-hand, what strikes you isn’t just the quality (though that is, as expected, impeccable). It’s the restraint. There’s no visible branding screaming for attention. No gimmicks. Just intelligent design, superior materials, and the quiet conviction of a piece made to last decades, not seasons.

In a world increasingly dominated by disposable fashion and fast luxury, Launer’s Hatherton Collection is a masterclass in why the old ways matter. Craft takes time. Precision takes skill. Legacy takes vision.

The result is a range that doesn’t ask for admiration—it earns it. And for the man (or woman) who appreciates such things, there is perhaps no greater luxury than that.

The Final Word

With prices ranging from £125 for smaller accessories to over £4,000 for the Grand Tour bag, the Hatherton Collection isn’t merely an investment in luggage—it’s an investment in how you experience the world. In how you move through it. And, most importantly, in what you choose to carry with you.

Available exclusively via made-to-order at launer.com, Hatherton is a defining statement from one of Britain’s most quietly revered brands. For the seasoned traveller, the considered dresser, and the modern explorer, it offers something increasingly rare: functional luxury that tells a story worth hearing.

Whether it’s a weekend in the Lakes, a business trip to Berlin, or a gym session followed by lunch at The Wolseley, Launer’s Hatherton Collection proves that style and purpose needn’t be mutually exclusive. In fact, when done right, they elevate each other—journey after journey, year after year.