Tucked away in the heart of Scotland’s capital, the Islander workshop in Edinburgh offers travellers a chance to go beyond sightseeing and dive hands-on into local craft through a truly memorable experience. At the Islander Handbag Workshop in Edinburgh, creativity meets heritage as visitors use the iconic Harris Tweed designs for their bags But let me warn you – it’s incredibly difficult to choose just one! Whether you’re a design lover, a curious maker or simply looking for a meaningful souvenir, this experience lets you slow down, connect with tradition and quite literally make your own Harris tweed bag to take home -stitched with memories of your time in Edinburgh.
Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop Experience: Make your own Harris tweed handbag
I did my first visit to the Islander Handbag Workshop Experience here in Edinburgh as I booked it as a surprise for my mum when she had a big birthday recently. She was staying in a hotel near the Islander venue by The Arches, so it was super convenient to just meet up nearby. And I sent off my husband and dad to go enjoy a cocktail in the meantime at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery which is right there as well. It was so difficult to choose between all the lovely tweeds and bag designs – this was probably the hardest part of it all. But eventually we managed to choose our designs and put them all together. It’s such a fun experience to do with friends or family and the perfect souvenir as you get to take something home that you have made yourself!
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The Islander Workshop Edinburgh venues
There are seven Islander Workshop venues in Edinburgh and one in St Andrews. Do keep in mind that some venues are only shops and not workshops as you can also buy your bags ready-made instead of making them yourself.
- Flagship Store: On West Bow street you’ll find the flagship store. It has a large selection of bags, shoes and accessories.
- 42 Candlemaker Row: One of two shops on Candlemaker Row – you’ll find the shop downstairs and the workshop upstairs. This was the first original location for the Islander Handbag Workshops.
- 54 Candlemaker Row: The second shop on Candlemaker Row which has a bigger shopping space.
- Stockbridge: A shop and workshop in the lovely area of Stockbridge, slightly outside the city centre.
- Marshall Street: Here you will find both a workshop and a café – a good space if you have someone with you who doesn’t want to make a bag and they can enjoy a coffee or tea in the meantime.
- The Arches: A small workshop near the train station. This is the one I went to!
- Canongate: A larger workshop space with an extensive range of tartans to choose from.
The experience and final results
Throughout the Islander Handbag Workshop experience in Edinburgh you will be guided through how to make your own Harris Tweed bag. You will choose your design, colours and your tweed. There are bags, wash bags and backpacks to choose from. You can also pick between either vegan leather or real leather – the latter comes at a higher price. Once you’ve made your selection then your guide will show you how to assemble it all. It is pretty straightforward and the guide is also happy to help if you get stuck or need to check if the screws are in properly. Our guide was really good – so friendly and clear with instructions. It’s good fun choosing and assembling all the pieces and especially as you get to take away the bag right away after the experience.
I chose the Barrel Satchel bag which was super cute. And I ended up picking a brown and green Harris Tweed with brown vegan leather. But I debated for such a long time before deciding on this one. Isn’t it lovely?
Want to do this workshop also? Make sure to book it easy here via Viator. It’s at no extra cost to you, and it will make sure we can keep writing our stories.
FAQ – Islander Workshop Experience in Edinburgh
You can’t join in with the experience unfortunately. But the Marshall Street venue has a café so it’s possible to grab a coffee and wait for those doing the workshop there.
Prices currently start at £70. If you don’t know what to choose then you can pay for the cheapest options when booking and then if you want to upgrade during the experience you just pay the difference afterwards.
You get a little kit with extra parts so you have more in case a screw would come undone once you are back home.
Yes, you can visit the shops and buy one of the many designs they have in stock. So you don’t have to make your own Harris Tweed bag to bring one home as a souvenir from your time in Edinburgh.
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
Chris made the wet workshop interesting. T hey active flew by now trying to add my new bag yo a full suitcase. Can’t wait to use the bag!
Author
Thank you for your comment! So glad to hear that you had a good time and hope you managed to find space for the bag in the suitcase. What design did you choose?