“It's the perfect size and shape, and made of buttery soft leather.”
H. M. · Cedar Crossbody · Google review
Free UK delivery
14-day returns
Repaired for life
Size
36.5 × 33 × 12 cm
Strap
86–120 cm, adjustable, removable
Handles
52 cm, carry by hand
Laptop
Up to 13"
Closure
YKK zip, closes fully
Lining
Rowdy print, inner sleeve
Size and fit
L 36.5 cm × H 33 cm × D 12 cm. Zip opening 45 cm.
Grab handles 52 cm seam to seam. Crossbody strap adjusts from 86 cm to 120 cm and unclips.
Room for the day's essentials.
Handmade, so allow a small variance.
Materials
Outer: full-grain Namibian leather from free-range hides, coloured with soluble dyes. Cedar and Maple are smooth aniline; Mountain is a velvety nubuck.
Lining: our own African-inspired print, edge to edge, with a leather-trimmed inner sleeve.
Hardware: YKK zip. Embossed Rowdy mark.
Caring for your bag
Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. If it gets wet, let it dry naturally, away from radiators and direct heat.
Feed the leather a few times a year with our Aniline Leather Food.
Small marks soften with time and handling. That is the leather settling in, not wear.
Delivery and returns
Free UK delivery by Royal Mail 2nd Class, or Tracked 24 for £3.89. In-stock bags are dispatched from Bath in 3–5 working days; made-to-order bags in 15–20 working days.
Not quite right? Call us within 14 days of receiving your order. Bags must be unworn, with all tags attached, in their original dust bag and packaging. Exchanges are free with a prepaid label; for a refund, return postage is paid by you.
Repaired for life
If your bag ever needs repairing, email us a photo. We arrange and pay for the repair with our UK repair partner; you cover the postage.
Leather Crossbody BagCedar · £199
In the detail
Every detail earns its place
Two ways to carry, and the same care in every part.
1Adjustable strap, 86–120 cmSits across the body at most heights, and unclips.
2Antique brass clipsSwivel clips and buckle in a warm antique finish that ages with the leather.
352 cm grab handlesCarry it by hand when the strap is off.
4YKK zip, 45 cmCloses the whole top, so it is secure in a crowd.
5Embossed Rowdy markA quiet sign of who made it.
6Full-grain Namibian leatherSoftens and deepens with every year you carry it.
Inside and out
X-ray vision, your new superpower
Most bags keep their insides to themselves. Here's the Crossbody with the front taken away: our own print, edge to edge, and a slim sleeve for keys and cards.
Yes, lying flat with room around it. A4 is 21 × 29.7 cm; the Crossbody is 36.5 cm wide and 33 cm high.
What does a full day look like in it?
A notebook and diary, a water bottle standing upright, keys and a purse, with the zip still closing easily.
Where do the small things go?
In the leather-bound inner sleeve. Passport, phone and cards stay near the top, where you can reach them.
Will the strap fit me?
It adjusts from 86 to 120 cm, enough to wear across the body over a jumper or a coat. It unclips when you don't need it.
Can I carry it by hand?
Yes. The 52 cm handles carry it by hand or in the crook of your arm, with the strap clipped off.
Is it the same size as the Tote?
The same body, leather and lining. The difference is how you carry it: an adjustable strap and shorter handles.
Can I take it on a plane?
At 36.5 × 33 × 12 cm and soft-sided, it works as a personal bag on many flights. Check your airline's size limit before you fly.
Styling notes
Wear it your way
A puffer on a cold street, stripes in the city, florals by the sea. Across the body, on the shoulder or in the hand: one bag for all of it.
Styling note
Three ways to wear it.
Across the body for hands-free days, on the shoulder for town, by the handles for dinner out.
Styling note
Over the coat, all winter.
Let the strap out and it sits across a wool coat or a waxed jacket. Take it in for summer dresses.
Styling note
Warm leather, any palette.
Stripes, florals, camel or all black. A rich brown goes with all of it.
Which shade suits your wardrobe?
£199 · Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
The honest maths
Why a Rowdy Crossbody?
A high-street crossbody costs less on the day. Ours carries three ways, works in every season and is built to last for years. Here is what the difference buys.
One bag, three ways to carry
Across the bodyHands free
On the shoulderStrap long
By handStrap off
The strap adjusts from 86 to 120 cm and unclips.
What a bag costs over 10 years
Rowdy, bought once£199Repaired for life
A £60 high-street bag£300Replaced every 2 years: 5 bags
£20 a year over 10 years, and still getting better.
10p a wear, carried 4 days a week for 10 years.
Just £20 more than our Tote, for an adjustable strap that carries it three ways.
An illustration, not a promise: how long any bag lasts depends on how it's used.
Three bags in one
Across the body for the commute, on the shoulder for town, by the handles for dinner. One bag covers the jobs that usually take three.
Worn all year round
The strap lengthens to sit over a winter coat and shortens to sit neatly over a summer dress. Warm leather that suits linen and wool alike.
Antique brass hardware
Clips, rings and fittings in antique brass. A warm, muted finish that sits with the leather and mellows with it, rather than shiny metal that dates.
Full-grain, not corrected
The whole hide with its natural grain intact. It softens and deepens with use, where cheaper coated leather wears out.
Repaired for life
If it ever needs fixing, Tanis Brain, our UK saddler, mends it. Made to be kept, not replaced.
Repairs by Tanis Brain, qualified saddler, UK
Made by makers we know by name
Cut and stitched by hand in our own Cape Town workshop, by around 30 makers who are paid fairly.
Coloured with soluble dyes
The colour sinks into the hide rather than sitting on top, so it wears in with the leather instead of wearing off.
Built where it takes the strain
A YKK zip, a fully lined interior and box-stitched strap fixings: the parts that give out first on cheaper bags.
“It's the perfect size and shape, and made of buttery soft leather.”
H. M. · Cedar Crossbody · Google review
★★★★★
“Have owned much more expensive ‘Designer’ bags, but I think my Rowdy is the best bag I’ve ever had.”
Anne S. · Google review
★★★★★
“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.”
Elizabeth G. · Google review
★★★★★
“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!”
Lisa Z. · Google review
★★★★★
“The smell, the touch, the quality, the everything about it was worth every penny!!!”
Soft and supple, with a natural grain you can feel under your fingertips. Full-grain leather keeps the whole surface of the hide, so it feels like real leather, not a smooth plastic coating. Cedar and Maple are smooth aniline leathers with a gentle, waxy warmth. Mountain is nubuck, brushed to a velvety, suede-like softness. Each has a reassuring weight without feeling stiff, and relaxes further the more you carry it.
My bag has marks or variations in the leather. What are they?
They are signs of a real hide. Full-grain leather is not sanded or coated to hide its history, so you may see natural grain patterns, small healed scars, fine creases and slight differences in colour where the soluble dyes have soaked in more deeply. No two bags are quite the same, and these marks are part of what makes yours yours. If something looks like damage rather than character, email us a photo and we will take a look.
Does the shade vary from bag to bag?
Slightly, yes. Every hide takes our soluble dyes a little differently, so the shade can vary a touch from one hide to the next and from one run to the next. It makes no difference to how the leather performs, feels or wears: it is the same full-grain leather, made to last and repaired for life. It is part of what makes each bag your own.
How will my bag change with use?
It gets better. Over the months the leather softens and relaxes into its shape, picks up a gentle sheen where your hands and shoulder touch it, and slowly deepens in colour into a patina. Cedar and Maple glow and darken the most, Mountain’s velvety nap softens, and Charcoal changes more quietly. Small scuffs blend in over time. It is made to look lived-in, not factory-new, and after a few years it will be unmistakably yours.
Is my bag waterproof? What if it gets wet?
It is not waterproof, but a shower on the way to work will not hurt it. If it gets wet, blot it (don’t rub) with a soft, dry cloth, stuff it loosely with paper or a towel to hold its shape, and let it dry naturally at room temperature. Keep it away from radiators, hairdryers and direct sun, which dry leather out and can make it crack. Water marks usually fade as it dries. Once dry, brush Mountain gently with a soft brush to lift the nap. In a proper downpour, tuck it under your coat.
How should I care for my leather bag?
Very little is needed. Day to day, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth and shake out the crumbs now and then. When you are not using it, store it stuffed with paper to hold its shape, in a breathable cotton bag and out of direct sun. Avoid baby wipes, household cleaners, alcohol, silicone sprays and kitchen oils such as olive or coconut oil: they can stain the leather, dry it out or darken it unevenly.
How do I keep my bag soft and supple, like on day one?
Use it. Leather stays supple by being handled, and it will feel softer in a year than it does on day one. Two or three times a year, give the smooth shades a thin layer of neutral cream or wax-based leather conditioner: test a small hidden patch first, apply with a soft cloth, let it soak in and buff off any excess. More often is not better. Mountain is nubuck, so skip creams and give it a light brush instead. And keep it away from radiators and long spells in strong sun.
What is the difference between the Crossbody and the Tote?
The body, leather and lining are the same. The Crossbody adds an adjustable strap and shorter handles; the Tote has longer 72 cm shoulder straps.
When will my bag arrive?
It depends on the shade, and we show which applies next to the button. In-stock bags are dispatched from Bath within 3 to 5 working days. Made-to-order bags are made for you in our Cape Town workshop and dispatched within 15 to 20 working days. UK delivery is free either way.
Do you offer free returns?
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.
How does repair for life work?
Faults in how your bag was made are repaired for life. We arrange and pay for the repair with Tanis Brain, a qualified saddler at TPJB Leather in the UK, and post it back free; you cover the postage to us. Most repairs take up to two weeks. See what's covered.
Made once, carried for years
Hands free, for years
Cedar, Maple, Mountain or Charcoal. Every one fully lined, handmade in Cape Town and repaired for life.
Full-grain Namibian leather
Leather-bound inner sleeve
Our African-inspired print
Repairs by Tanis Brain, qualified saddler, UK
