1975

In my earliest memories I am playing with
scraps of leather under the craft bench in the
'70s leather shop where my mom, Toni Ray,
learned her trade. She taught me that it all
begins with the craft of leather and the belief
that the possessions we own are made
better with the richness of experience.

In my earliest memories I am playing with scraps of
leather under the craft bench in the '70s leather shop
where my mom, Toni Ray, learned her trade. She taught
me that it all begins with the craft of leather and the
belief that the possessions we own are made better
with the richness of experience.

1990

1990

After 20 years building legendary
leather shops, Toni Ray starts all
over again. With the last of her
savings and a belief that quality
and cool never go out of style,
HOBO is born.

She chooses the name HOBO to celebrate the
legendary spirit of the American hobos who followed
their own path and lived by a code of hard work and
kindness in pursuit of the next adventure.

After 20 years building legendary leather shops,
Toni Ray starts all over again. With the last of her
savings and a belief that quality and cool never go out of style,
HOBO is born.

She chooses the name HOBO to celebrate the legendary
spirit of the American hobos who followed their own
path and lived by a code of hard work and kindness in
pursuit of the next adventure.

1991

1991

Sketching designs on the dining
room table, in my mom's home in
Annapolis, Maryland, we create a
collection of natural leather bags,
crafted in a small family factory in
Bogotá, Colombia.

Because like-souls have a way of finding each
other, I meet David Brewer, the person who
becomes my partner in HOBO and in life. We
share a love of music and a belief that the
most important thing in life is to find good
people to take the journey with.

Sketching designs on the dining room table, in my mom's
home in Annapolis, Maryland, we create a collection of
natural leather bags, crafted in a small family factory
in Bogotá, Colombia.

Because like-souls have a way of finding each other, I meet
David Brewer, the person who becomes my partner in
HOBO and in life. We share a love of music and a belief that
the most important thing in life is to find good people
to take the journey with.

1993

After years of taking HOBO on the
road in our beat up van, we finally
land our first big order. All of our
friends turn out to help us pack
up the order in our 'warehouse'
on my mom's back porch. Even,
Gracie, our Chesapeake Bay
Retriever pitches in.

After years of taking HOBO on the road in our beat up van,
we finally land our first big order. All of our friends turn
out to help us pack up the order in our 'warehouse' on
my mom's back porch. Even, Gracie, our Chesapeake Bay
Retriever pitches in.

1999

From a small tannery in Italy, we find
the LEATHER that will become our
signature material. We call it Vintage
Hide, because it possesses the unique
imperfections and slight distressed
charm of well-loved possessions. It takes
COLOR beautifully and we begin to use
the endless hues of nature to tell a story
of creativity and discovery.

COLOR, TEXTURE & STYLE become the
tools we use to create leather goods
made for self-expression.

From a small tannery in Italy, we find the LEATHER that
will become our signature material. We call it Vintage Hide,
because it possesses the unique imperfections and
slight distressed charm of well-loved possessions. It takes
COLOR beautifully and we begin to use the endless hues
of nature to tell a story of creativity and discovery.

COLOR, TEXTURE & STYLE become the tools
we use to create leather goods made for self-expression.

2015

Pantone, the global color company,
selects HOBO to represent their favored
hue for 2015, the one they predict will be
most prominent in design and products
in the coming year.

Pantone, the global color company, selects HOBO to
represent their favored hue for 2015, the one they predict
will be most prominent in design and products
in the coming year.

2018

HOBO is honored with the Independent Handbag
Designers' ICONOCLAST Award. I'm humbled to
be recognized among such an amazing group of
past design recipients and happy that our
commitment to a lifetime of purposeful design
is appreciated by so many.

HOBO is honored with the Independent Handbag Designers'
ICONOCLAST Award. I'm humbled to be recognized among
such an amazing group of past design recipients and happy
that our commitment to a lifetime of purposeful design
is appreciated by so many.