Womenswear
Heritage British-Made Women's Bags and Satchels — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 23 brands that make heritage women's bags in the UK. They are most often based in London, Edinburgh and West Midlands. Prices run from affordable to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
Umpie Handbags
Handmade British handbags with real character. Every Umpie bag is individually crafted in Yorkshire using exclusive heritage fabrics — unique, artistic pieces made to be loved for a lifetime.
Harriet warrilow leather
Handcrafted leather handbags and accessories made in the heart of Staffordshire
See these brands on the map41 places from 23 brands, 22 of them shops you can visit.Open the map
Ettinger
Ettinger is a British luxury leather goods brand founded in 1934, family-owned and manufacturing handcrafted products in the UK with a Royal Warrant from HRH the Prince of Wales.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Swaine
Swaine is a British heritage brand established in 1750, renowned for handcrafted luxury leather goods and accessories, serving royalty and discerning clients for centuries.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Cambridge Satchel Company
Cambridge Satchel Company crafts classic leather satchels and bags, handcrafted in England since 2008. Celebrating British craftsmanship and timeless style.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Tusting
Tusting is a British family-owned leather goods brand founded in 1875, crafting luxury bags in England with five generations of expertise and traditional methods.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Factory shop- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Trakke
Trakke is a brand that designs and manufactures high-quality, durable outdoor gear and accessories, including backpacks, bags, and accessories. They prioritise craftsmanship, functionality, and sustainability, using premium materials.
- Contemporary
- Cycling
- Heritage
- Contemporary
- Cycling
- Heritage
Church of Sanctus
Church of Sanctus, established in 2012 by Lucinda Sinclair, handcrafts ethical gothic clothing in England..
- Ethical
- Heritage
- Slow Fashion
- Ethical
- Heritage
- Slow Fashion
Ednerat
Ednerat designs and makes women's coats, clothing and accessories. Everything we offer is made by hand in the British Isles. We champion our makers and use British textiles and materials in everything we can.
- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Kinloch Anderson
Kinloch Anderson is a prestigious Scottish textile company founded in 1868 by William Anderson in Edinburgh, specialising in kilts, tartans, and Highland dress.
- Formal
- Heritage
- Highland
Shop to visit- Formal
- Heritage
- Highland
Phoebe English
Clothing made in England attempting a variety of solutions towards less extractive fashion systems. Est 2011.
- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Beorma Leather Company
Beorma Leather Company crafts handmade luxury leather goods in England, blending tradition with sustainable craftsmanship since 2022.
- Classic
- Country
- Heritage
- Classic
- Country
- Heritage
Vivien Of Holloway
Vivien of Holloway offers stunning 1940s and 1950s dresses and separates with authentic vintage charm.
- Classic
- Colourful
- Formal
- Classic
- Colourful
- Formal
Deni-Deni
Deni-Deni is considered one of the finest sampling and manufacturing houses in the country, serving the fashion and interiors market. Preserving the legacy of British craftsmanship, its founder, Denise Pearson, offers bespoke training.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Chapman
Chapman is a British brand founded in 1984, handcrafting durable bags and accessories in Cumbria. Known for timeless designs and quality craftsmanship, Chapman products are built to weather all adventures.
- Classic
- Country
- Heritage
Factory shop- Classic
- Country
- Heritage
Campbell's of Beauly
Campbell's of Beauly, established in 1858, is a Scottish family-run country tailor and outfitter known for bespoke tweeds, traditional clothing, and fishing equipment reflecting Highland heritage.
- Country
- Heritage
- Highland
Shop to visit- Country
- Heritage
- Highland
McRostie of Glasgow
McRostie of Glasgow crafts handmade leather goods in Scotland, maintaining exacting standards since 1887. Each piece is made using traditional craftsmanship and the finest British materials.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Scottish Textiles Showcase
Scottish Textiles Showcase is an independent Edinburgh brand championing authentic Scottish wool mills and artisans, specialising in natural fibre textiles made in Scotland.
- Contemporary
- Heritage
- Highland
Shop to visit- Contemporary
- Heritage
- Highland
Cherchbi
Cherchbi is a British clothing brand founded in 2007 by Adam Atkinson, specialising in bags crafted from discarded Herdwick wool and premium materials.
- Country
- Ethical
- Heritage
Factory shop- Country
- Ethical
- Heritage
Gordon Nicolson
Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers create authentic handmade kilts rooted in Scottish craftsmanship, supported by their Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy since 2009.
- Formal
- Heritage
- Highland
Shop to visit- Formal
- Heritage
- Highland
Owen Barry
Owen Barry is a British brand handcrafting sheepskin and leather products in Somerset since 1948, continuing a family tradition across four generations.
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
Thorndale
Thorndale is a British brand with over 60 years of heritage, rooted in UK manufacturing and family ethos. Their quality-conscious approach delivers enduring craftsmanship.
- Country
- Heritage
- Outdoor
- Country
- Heritage
- Outdoor
Pickett London
Pickett London, founded in 1988 by Trevor Pickett, is a British brand known for handmade luxury leather goods crafted in England with artisanal expertise.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shops run by brands that make heritage women's bags
13 of the 23 brands that make heritage women's bags have a shop you can visit: 5 in London, others in Edinburgh, Abergavenny, Bath and 8 other towns.
This independent directory lists UK-made clothing brands, and marks those that make only some items here.Why choose British-made?
A Brief History of British Made Bags
From about 1650 until the late nineteenth century, many women carried their belongings in tie-on pockets: separate pouches tied round the waist under the skirt and reached through openings in the dress. In the 1790s, slimmer dresses with fewer petticoats made these pockets awkward, and many women began carrying small drawstring bags instead. Known as reticules or indispensables, they held a purse, smelling salts and a handkerchief, and were often made and decorated at home. The word handbag first meant hand luggage, usually carried by men when travelling. In the later nineteenth century the leather travelling bag, with its metal fastenings, inside compartments, ticket pockets and sturdy handle, inspired a new handbag for women, the forerunner of the twentieth-century handbag. Some British saddlers and harness makers turned to bags as well. In Walsall, the centre of the saddlery trade, some firms were making travelling bags and other light leather goods from the 1870s, and turned more of their work to them as motor vehicles replaced horses after 1900. British-made women's bags today draw on this background of leatherwork and accessory making.