In the Studio with Strathberry
Step inside the Scottish leather accessories expert’s Edinburgh Atelier with head artisan, Manon
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In the Studio with Strathberry
Step inside the Scottish leather accessories expert’s Edinburgh Atelier with head artisan, Manon
The stony streets of Edinburgh seem a world away from sun-drenched Spanish avenidas, but in an elegant Atelier in the city’s West End, Scottish leather accessories brand Strathberry is bringing the two worlds together.
Grounded in traditional Scottish craft and expertise, fused with the renowned leather-working heritage of Ubrique in Spain, the brand creates bags and accessories that celebrate the finest leather artistry.
To find out more about the craft, design and inspiration that lies behind each piece, Liberty took a tour of the Atelier, based in the brand’s Edinburgh Townhouse, with Strathberry’s head artisan, Manon.
Can you tell us about Strathberry's Atelier space?
The Atelier opened earlier this year as we wanted to create a space in the heart of our historic Edinburgh Townhouse dedicated to the art of craftsmanship and restoration. This space allows us to offer restoration, craft salpa prototypes (early versions of a new bag shape), and even create samples of our newest designs right here in Scotland. By establishing this space in our Townhouse, we wanted to reinforce our commitment to preserving traditional skills in Scotland.
What does a typical day in the Atelier look like for you?
My role is wonderfully varied; one day I might be collaborating with different departments to solve last-minute requests or amendments, the next I’m handling client repairs or working closely with the design team on exciting new developments. No two days are ever the same, which keeps the work rewarding.
What has been your favourite Strathberry bag to work with so far?
My favourite bag to work on is the Mosaic Top Handle, as it is such an iconic Strathberry shape. The construction is very detailed - it features 67 pattern pieces (which I have pride of place in the Atelier) and has over 2,000 stitches.
What drew you to Strathberry?
I’ve worked in luxury leathercraft for many years, so it was important to me to represent a brand that really champions keeping these artisanal skills alive - something that feels increasingly precious in today’s world. I was also drawn to Strathberry because of their reputation for meticulous craftsmanship and obsession with detail, as it makes my job more interesting and challenging.
Which is your favourite leather working tool?
The Pata de Cabra is my favourite tool because of its rich history and significance in the leathercrafting world. In the mountain regions of Ubrique, Spain, where all of our bags are handcrafted, leatherworkers have relied on the Pata de Cabra for hundreds of years to achieve the precision and perfect finish required for our bags.
What’s something most people don’t realise about how these bags are made?
How much time and attention is given to every single detail and stage of the bag-making process. From start to finish, a single bag will pass through the hands of up to seven highly skilled artisans, each contributing their expertise at a different stage of the process.
What makes Ubrique such a special place for luxury leatherwork, and how do you partner with the teams there?
Ubrique is a beautiful town in Spain, and is where every Strathberry bag is handcrafted by local artisans. For centuries, Ubrique has supplied the world’s most revered luxury brands with beautifully handcrafted leather goods. The artisans who work there are so passionate about producing the best products, and there is a big focus on generational skills, training young artisans to keep traditional skills alive. Our workshops in Ubrique are an extension of our Edinburgh team, so we work closely together to make sure our designs are functional and deliver the best possible quality.
Which project pushed your creativity the most?
Creating salpa prototypes of new bag shapes that we are developing is very rewarding, as I get to bring a new bag shape to life for the first time off the page. This process involves a lot of tweaks to make sure the construction and the bag structure feel right, so that it can then be used as the model for our first leather samples of the style.
What makes Strathberry such a special brand to you?
Strathberry is such a special brand as the focus on quality is second to none, which is very important to me as an artisan. The whole team cares so much about the end product and the people who wear the bags.
Strathberry
Mosaic Top Handle Bag
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Strathberry
Mini Tote
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Strathberry
Charlotte Leather Drawstring Bag
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Strathberry
Georgia Maxi Black Leather Tote Bag
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Strathberry
Mosaic Nano Dusky Blue Leather Top Handle Bag
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Strathberry
Mosaic Top Handle Bag
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
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