Islander Handbag Workshop
Is it Worth it?
We just returned home from our second trip to the ever-amazing city of Edinburgh, Scotland. And, here I sit in a coffee shop halfway across the world with an Islander tweed bag slung across my shoulder. These bags decorate nearly every shop window along Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, but one of the city’s most unique tourist experiences includes the opportunity to build a custom bag, complete with your own particular selection of Scottish tweed & leather (or vegan leather) pieces so that you, too, can return home repping your new found Scottish love.
But…is it worth it? Is the Islander Handbag Workshop just a touristy gimmick or is it an actual investment in both a fun travel experience and a one-of-a-kind souvenir? I’ll share all of the details, including cost and logistics, and my thoughts on the experience so you can decide for yourself whether or not it deserves a place in your Edinburgh itinerary.
Our experience was not sponsored (we paid full price!), but this post does contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a small commission if you choose to book (at no additional cost to you).
Location
One of the biggest decisions I faced when booking this experience was selecting a location. The Islander website provides a guide for discovering which location is a better fit for you. While there is one location in St. Andrew’s, located about 1.5 hours north of Edinburgh, the other 4 locations are in Edinburgh proper, located just a short distance from the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh locations:
Canongate: More space, more options for tartan purse lids. Located toward the bottom of the Royal Mile. (this is the location we chose!)
Arches: Smaller location, more personal experience. Located near train station.
Marshal Street Cafe: Sip coffee or bring guests with you to hang out while building your bag.
42 Candlemaker Row: Flagship location. Located near Edinburgh Castle, just off the Royal Mile.
Would I choose the same location?
We chose the Canongate location so that we would have more tweed options to choose from, but our class was quite crowded. If you appreciate having a bit more room to move about, I would recommend another location!
Cost
The cost for the experience varies by product. Luckily, you can book the mini satchel at the lowest price (£70) & then upgrade to another size/style once you’re in the shop. As a note, there is an upcharge for genuine leather (£10 for the mini satchel). All prices listed are for the standard vegan leather option.
Mini Satchel - £70.00
Mini Barrel - £80.00
Medium Backpack - £90.00
Medium Satchel - £80.00
Large Backpack Satchel -£95.00
Washbag - £70.00
Leather Mini Satchel - £115
Leather Medium Satchel - £125
You can sign up to book your Islander Handbag Workshop Experience here! Our experience was entirely not sponsored & we booked it completely out-of-pocket.
How do these prices compare to comparable Harris Tweed purses sold throughout Edinburgh?
The prices are definitely more expensive, but you’re paying for both the experience & the opportunity to completely customize your bag! For me, this upcharge is way more than worth it. I have a bag built entirely on my own color/style preferences rather than the standard color/style combinations sold throughout the city. Plus, I got to share the building experience with my mother-in-law!
Workshop Process
When you arrive at the workshop, you will meet your teachers & choose a spot at the table where your tools are located. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the workshop:
Arrive on Time - We booked the first session right as soon as the store opened & were just a few minutes late due to weather. The workshop started immediately, though, and others who showed up more than just a few minutes late were behind on the process.
Introduction to Tools - Each seat is equipped with a basket for “shopping” for the handbag pieces, a small screwdriver, and all of the screws/fasteners needed to complete the bag.
Choosing the Items - At the Canongate location, each person had 10 minutes to choose their bag pieces, though there was not much space to navigate the options. This did make the process slightly chaotic & it would have been better if I had a solid idea in mind of exactly what I wanted to build. Instead, I needed to made a quick, spur-of-the-moment decision. Luckily, I ended up loving the pieces I chose!
Building the Handbag - While the teachers do a great job explaining each step, completing the bag does require quite a bit of hand dexterity. We were both surprised by how difficult it was to screw together a few of the pieces. Luckily, our teachers were available for help & we were squared away in no time!
Quality Check - The teachers do a final quality check to ensure that all pieces are in place & tightened. They also send you home with a repair kit, including a small screwdriver & replacement screws. They do warn you that if you place the kit in carry-on luggage, it might be confiscated at the airport. Mine was confiscated, but my mother-in-law’s was not.
Pay for Upgrades - If you chose to upgrade the size/style of your bag or upgraded to genuine leather, you can pay for additional upgrades at the end.
Enjoy your New Handbag! I LOVE my bag and have proudly worn it at home. It’s comfortable & is the perfect size. I have, however, lost a screw after only 1 month of wear. Luckily, I have a replacement & I can use a bit of locktite glue to secure the screws moving forward (which I would recommend). It’s not ideal to lose a screw so quickly, but the quality of the tweed & leather makes it worth it for me.
Is it Worth It?
For me, I would say a whole-hearted YES, it is worth it!! I would go back again to build another bag (I’m looking at you, laptop backpack) in a heartbeat.
Here are just a few caveats & tips, though:
Make sure you choose a location that feels right for you! If you don’t like crowds or want a bit of a slower-paced experience, I would steer away from Canongate.
Come prepared for the color pallete you want, so that you can make a quick choice if the workshop is crowded.
That being said, don’t count on a specific tartan pattern. A few people in our workshop wanted a specific clan tartan, but the selection was limited to 30 or fewer tartan options (depending on style).
You don’t need to know which size/style you want, but know that the mini is the most popular & is going to have the most options available.
Anyone age 12 & older is welcome! While our class was comprised of mostly women, there were a few men in our class, as well, building handbags and laptop bags alongside friends & partners.There are several color & style variations to choose from for different aesthetic tastes.
Be careful with the screws after returning home. It’s better to place some locktite glue on the screws just to ensure they stay in place! Your teachers may have some other tips for ensuring they stay secured with regular wear; don’t be afraid to ask.
Have fun! Relax…you’re in Edinburgh, getting to build a custom bag with a loved one or as a treat for yourself. What could be better than that?
Hopefully this sounds like a good fit for you & you’ve decided it will be the perfect fit for your Edinburgh itinerary. If you’re ready to book the experience, you can do so here: Islander Workshop Experience
This post, while not sponsored, does contain affiliate links! This means that if you choose to book the experience, I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). I only recommend this experience because I enjoyed it myself!