Questions, answered

Every Rowdy bag is cut, stitched and finished by hand by a small team of makers in our workshop in Cape Town, South Africa. Each bag carries a tag naming the person who made it, so you know exactly whose hands it passed through.

You can meet the makers on our About page.

Copy link

Rowdy began in Cape Town in 2012, and Rowdy UK was set up in Bath during the Covid pandemic to keep our makers in work. The bags are made in South Africa; our UK stock, customer care, exchanges and repairs are all handled from Bath.

Copy link

Not a high-street shop. For a small, young business, the rent, staffing and stock a shop needs carry costs and risks we can't justify, and they would push our prices up. We would rather spend that money on leather, on fair work for our makers, and on keeping our bags fairly priced.

You are very welcome to see the bags in person at our Bath warehouse, by appointment. Ask us for a time.

Copy link

Because every bag in it has earned its place. Our Tote and Crossbody are proven bestsellers across six years of trading, and we're confident they offer real value: full-grain leather, a full lining and a lifetime of repairs, at a fair price.

Keeping the range small also keeps us efficient. We buy leather more carefully, hold just the right stock in Bath, waste less, and spend our time and budget telling the right people about bags we know they'll love, rather than spreading ourselves across dozens of styles.

When we retire a shade or style, the last few go into Last of the line.

Copy link

With everyday use and a little care, typically 10 to 15 years, and often longer. Full-grain leather softens and develops a patina rather than wearing out, and if anything goes wrong with how your bag was made, we'll repair it under our Repairs for life promise.

Copy link

Full-grain Namibian leather from free-range hides, coloured with soluble dyes. Full-grain keeps the whole outer surface of the hide, which is the strongest part, so the leather is durable and shows its natural grain. Cedar and Maple are smooth aniline leathers; Mountain is a velvety nubuck.

Copy link

Aniline leather is dyed right through with soluble dyes and left without a surface coating, so the natural grain stays visible. It feels smooth and slightly waxy, darkens to a rich patina, and shows small marks that soften with time. Our Cedar and Maple bags are aniline.

Nubuck is full-grain leather whose surface has been lightly brushed to raise a fine, velvety nap. It looks matte, feels like suede but is tougher, and is cared for with a brush rather than cream. Our Mountain bags are nubuck.

Copy link

Our Tote and Crossbody weigh between 750 g and 1 kg, depending on the style and leather. Aniline bags (Cedar and Maple) are slightly lighter than nubuck (Mountain). That's a reassuring weight that feels solid without being heavy on the shoulder. The unlined Travel Pouch is much lighter.

Copy link

Yes. The Tote and Crossbody measure 36.5 × 33 × 12 cm and take a 13" laptop, with room for the day's essentials: an A4 notebook, a water bottle, purse, keys and phone.

Copy link

They're signs of a real hide. Full-grain leather isn't sanded or coated to hide its history, so you may see grain patterns, small healed scars, fine creases and slight differences in colour where the dye has soaked in more deeply. No two bags are quite the same. If something looks like damage rather than character, send us a photo.

Copy link

For Cedar and Maple, very little is needed:

• Wipe it now and then with a soft, dry cloth.
• Two or three times a year, apply a thin layer of neutral cream or wax-based leather conditioner. Test a hidden patch first, let it soak in, then buff off any excess.
• Keep it away from radiators and long spells in strong sun, which dry the leather out.
• Blot spills straight away; don't rub.

Small scuffs usually blend in if you rub them gently with a clean finger. The more you carry it, the better it looks.

Copy link

For Mountain, use a brush, not cream:

• Brush it gently every few weeks with a soft nubuck or suede brush to lift dust and keep the nap even.
• Lift small marks with a suede eraser or a clean pencil eraser, then brush.
• Don't use creams, oils or wax. They flatten the nap and darken the leather.
• A nubuck protector spray, tested on a hidden patch, helps it shrug off rain.

Copy link

Don't panic: a shower on the way to work won't hurt it.

1. Blot it (don't rub) with a soft, dry cloth.
2. Empty it and stuff it loosely with paper or a towel so it keeps its shape.
3. Let it dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators, hairdryers and direct sun.
4. Once dry, condition aniline leather lightly, or brush nubuck to lift the nap.

Water marks usually fade as the leather dries. If one stays, call us and we'll talk you through it.

Copy link

Empty it, stuff it lightly with paper to hold its shape, and keep it in its cotton dust bag somewhere cool and dry. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture, and don't hang it by its straps for long periods.

Copy link

Yes. We've sent Rowdy bags all over the world. Because delivery costs, import duties and customs rules vary so much from country to country, we look at each request individually. Tell us where you are and which bag you'd like, and we'll come back with a delivery quote and what to expect on arrival.

Copy link

Yes, and it's free. If you live in or around Bath, we'll deliver your bag by hand at no cost. Add a note at checkout or give us a call, and we'll arrange a time that suits you.

Copy link

UK delivery is free on every order, by Royal Mail 2nd Class. If you need it sooner, choose Royal Mail Tracked 24 at checkout for £3.89. In-stock bags are dispatched from Bath within 3 to 5 working days. Made-to-order bags are made for you in Cape Town; allow 15 to 20 working days. Each product page shows which applies to your shade.

Copy link

We don't run seasonal sales or Black Friday discounts. Our bags are priced fairly all year round, so the person who buys today pays the same as the person who waited.

There are a few honest exceptions:

• Last of the line: when we retire a shade or style, the final pieces are reduced. See what's left.
• Bag and pouch: add a Travel Pouch to a Tote or Crossbody and the pouch is £39 instead of £49.
• Letters from the workshop: subscribers get £10 off their first order over £100.

Copy link

We don't publish discount codes, and codes listed on voucher websites aren't ours and won't work. The ways to save are:

• sign up for our letters at the bottom of any page for £10 off your first order over £100
• buy a Travel Pouch with a Tote or Crossbody, and the pouch price drops to £39 in your bag

Copy link

Yes. You can pay with Klarna at checkout and spread the cost. Klarna's options and terms are shown before you confirm.

Copy link

Yes, we welcome trade enquiries from independent shops, hotels and businesses looking for gifts that last. Tell us about your business and what you have in mind.

Copy link

Yes, within 14 days of it arriving. Call us on 01225 683 729 to start a return. Exchanges are free: we send a prepaid label. Bags must be unused, with tags and the original dust bag. Read our refund policy.

Copy link

Any fault in how your bag was made, such as stitching that comes undone or a strap pulling away at its seam, for the life of the bag. It doesn't cover everyday wear, accidents or the natural ageing of leather. See the full promise.

Copy link