Full-grain Namibian leather, handmade in Cape Town. Tote and Crossbody from £179.
In our own workshop below Table Mountain
Cut and stitched by our makers
Free-range hides that would otherwise go to waste
On every order, posted from Bath
Fair wages and skills for around 30 makers
A Rowdy bag is a friend for life. Guaranteed.
Fast fashion wears out. A Rowdy bag wears in. Full-grain leather that softens and deepens the more you carry it, made to stay with you for decades and backed by our lifetime guarantee.
Choose your style
Each cut from the same full-grain Namibian hide and stitched by the same hands in Cape Town. Only the way you carry it changes.
Cedar
01 The shoulder bagBest-seller
Carried on the shoulder, from the first coffee to the last train home.
Made by handPosted from Bath
Cedar
02 Worn across the body
The same quiet shape, worn close, for days that ask for both hands.
Made by handPosted from Bath
In both bags
The shade book
Each one dyed for us with soluble dyes. Two smooth aniline leathers, one velvety nubuck, and a winter edition. Choose a shade to see it up close.
A rich, warm auburn brown that glows in the light and deepens with every year you carry it.
Brushed to a velvety, suede-like softness in a warm tan. Soft to the touch from the very first day.
A deep, syrupy brown, brimming with richness. Quietly classic and endlessly wearable.
Near-black and moody, made for the colder months.
Small batch. When it's gone, it's gone.
Customer reviews
“I had been looking for a quality leather tote bag for a long time (and almost given up finding one)… My Maple Tote is perfect: the lining is beautiful.”
“Have owned much more expensive ‘Designer’ bags, but I think my Rowdy is the best bag I’ve ever had.”
“The leather is buttery soft and is aging wonderfully. Had to buy one for my sister as she kept borrowing mine!”
“It's the perfect size and shape, and made of buttery soft leather.”
“A really nice finishing touch is that there is a tag attached giving the story of the actual person who made the bag I received. I loved that!”
“The product is of very good quality, it is even better than what I was expecting… The customer service is also impeccable - probably the best I ever had!”
“I'm a very (very) picky handbag shopper and expect my bags never to wear out… This bag answered my dilemma with confidence and style.”
“Rowdy bags are gorgeous, made with such soft leather, designed to last a lifetime… As it ages it looks better and better.”
The makers
Around 30 makers in our own workshop below Table Mountain, making Rowdy bags since 2012. Paid fairly, known by name, and proud of every stitch.
The leather
If you're over the lure of perfection, you're in the right place.
Plenty of brands sand and coat their leather until every mark is gone. We leave it as nature made it: full-grain hides from free-range cattle in Namibia, tanned the traditional way. Every scar, crease and grain mark stays, so no two bags are ever alike, and each one ages more beautifully for it.
Field notes
Cedar, up close. No two hides are the same.
The small companion
Cut from the same full-grain leather as our bags, it keeps passports, cards and keys together. A customer favourite in its own right, and a gift that gets used.
FAQ
In-stock bags are dispatched from our base in Bath within 3 to 5 working days.
Yes. If your shade is out of stock, we can make your bag to order in our Cape Town workshop. Please allow 15 to 20 working days for dispatch.
UK orders are sent tracked with a trusted third-party courier, so you can follow your bag all the way to your door.
Yes, on request. We can deliver to Ireland, the Channel Islands and the rest of the world, with a delivery charge depending on where you are. Get in touch for a quote.
Call us on 01225 683 729 within 14 days of receiving your order. Bags must be unworn, with all tags attached, in their original dust bag and packaging. Exchanges for another shade are free: we send you a prepaid label. For a refund, return postage is paid by you.
If your bag ever needs repairing, email us with a photo. We arrange and pay for the repair with our UK repair partner, and you cover the postage to us. Most repairs take up to two weeks.
Very little is needed. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, keep it away from direct heat and let it dry naturally if it gets wet. A leather balm every few months keeps aniline leather supple; brush nubuck gently with a soft brush. Small marks are part of its character and soften as you carry it.
Wrapped in its own dust bag, with a tag naming the maker in Cape Town who made it.
No. We never put our bags on sale. They are priced fairly all year round, so the person who buys today pays the same as the person who waited.
Of course. Our UK base is near Bath and you're welcome to visit by appointment to see and feel the bags in person. Get in touch to arrange a time.
Letters from the workshop
New shades first, small-batch releases and stories from our Cape Town makers. A few letters a season.
£10 off your first order over £100. Unsubscribe any time.
