How it started
Meet Beckie
Hello, I’m Beckie, the founder and designer behind The Leather Store.
I started the business in 2005 from a spare bedroom in my Bristol home, inspired by a lifelong love of handbags and a desire to create bags that were both beautiful and genuinely useful. By 2008, I took the plunge to leave my job and The Leather Store become my full-time business.
More than 20 years later, I still love what I do. I design every bag here in Bristol and work closely with skilled artisans to bring each one to life. From the overall shape and choice of leather to the pockets, straps, hardware and floral linings, every detail is carefully considered.
My ethos has always been simple: to create timeless leather bags that feel wonderful to carry, work beautifully in everyday life and become even more special with age.
Bohemian & vintage flair
My inspiration
I’ve always been drawn to the beautifully relaxed shapes of classic 1970s handbags: soft leather, generous proportions and simple silhouettes with just a whisper of bohemian and vintage flair.
Rather than following fast-moving trends, I design bags that will still feel relevant and stylish many years from now. They’re made to be used often, loved properly and carried through all the different chapters of your life.
That easy, understated style is at the heart of The Leather Store. Quietly distinctive, never covered in logos and always designed with real life in mind.
FROM FIRST SKETCH TO FINISHED BAG
The creative process
Every new design begins with research, inspiration and a hand-drawn sketch.
I think carefully about how the bag will be used, what it needs to hold and how it should feel when carried. The shape may go through several revisions before I’m happy, followed by samples to test the proportions, pockets, straps, fastenings and all those little practical details that make a bag a pleasure to use.
Only when everything feels right does the final design go into production. I know my collection inside out because I have been involved in every decision, from the first pencil line to the finished bag.
My leather
The leather I use is developed especially for The Leather Store by a family-run tannery with generations of experience creating beautiful leather.
Sustainability
I choose chrome-free, vegetable-tanned leather and responsible production methods to create beautiful bags that are made to last.
Little things matter
The finishing touches
I’ve always believed that the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
Smooth-running zips, beautiful brass hardware, thoughtfully placed pockets and strong, comfortable straps are all chosen to make each bag as practical as it is lovely to look at.
And then there are my cheerful floral linings. They have become something of a trademark over the years, adding an unexpected pop of colour every time you open your bag.
Nothing is included without a reason. Every detail is there to make your bag easier to use, more enjoyable to carry and unmistakably The Leather Store.
a very big thank you
About you
The Leather Store would not be here without the wonderful customers who have supported my small business over the years.
Every order, review, recommendation and returning customer means more than you might realise. I’m incredibly grateful that so many of my bags have become part of people’s everyday lives, travelled on adventures, accompanied them to work and been loved for years.
If you ever need help choosing the right bag, please get in touch at hello@theleatherstoreuk.com. You’ll always be speaking directly to me, and I will be very happy to help.
You can also follow The Leather Store on Facebook and Instagram at @theleatherstoreuk, or join my mailing list for updates on new arrivals, behind-the-scenes glimpses and plenty of handbag inspiration.