Founded by Samuel Bail and Abel Samet, two former financiers who met while working in London, Troubadour specialises in minimalist bags designed for a modern life on the move. Bail and Samet couldn’t find a perfect overnight workbag that was refined enough for business trips but rugged enough for weekends away, so they created it themselves.

In 2011 they set off on an 18-month journey around Europe, tracking down the finest artisans, leather tanners,
fabric weavers and zip makers, taking traditional materials and techniques and giving them a 21st-century twist.

Troubadour’s vibrant red tote

The results can be seen in the new 2018 summer totes collection, which is smart and versatile, available in bright colourways of blue, yellow, red, green, khaki and orange, and in limited editions of just 25 bags in each colour. Each one is crafted in a premium canvas and trimmed with the brand’s signature vegetable-tanned Italian leather, which is barrel-dyed to ensure the colour permeates all the way through the leather, so it won’t scratch off.

‘We’re very excited to introduce stunning colours
that add a bold intensity to the Troubadour Tote, and we worked closely with our tanneries in Italy to create beautiful coloured leathers that complement the vivid new fabrics,’ says Bail.

Ideal for carrying everything from business essentials and groceries to sportswear, there is a hanging pocket inside the roomy totes, plus elasticated sections and a zipped pocket for valuables. Every detail has been carefully thought through, including the addition of discreet side-snaps that cleverly transform the bag into a slimmer tote when there is less to carry.

Available at Troubadour and other retailers now, £245; troubadourgoods.com