Islander Harris Tweed® Mini Satchel Making Workshop

My daughter and I attended a workshop while on family holiday in May 2026. I wasn't needing a purse, but signed up for the workshop so she could build two. The purses are high quality and worth having a couple with all the different color and style choices. The workshop was full, but everyone was able to build the purse they wanted - colors were available for everyone. The staff running the workshop (leader and assistant) were fantastic. They were knowledgable, friendly, helpful and would get involved as much or as little as you wanted them to. We learned a lot about assembly and maintenance making all the customers very able to care for the purses we had built. All came with dust bags. Great experience - would highly recommend.

Was super fun,instructors were very helpful,everything was easy to put together and you get to leave with an amazing bag

Thank you Suzy for a great workshop. Easy to follow instructions, good selection of tartans and colours to choose from. Very pleased with my bag I made.

Whilst I am thrilled with my finished handbag, the overall experience was marred by the lady leading the workshop. Beatrice (Edinburgh), repeatedly referred to everyone as hun! (Short for honey?) but not in a particularly pleasant way. We were treated passive aggressively, and criticised when we didn’t use the handbag screws in the order Beatrice had laid them out. Such a shame as this could have been a very special experience.

If you like handbags do it, great momento of my holiday here in Edinburgh would recommend, Kirsty and Helen thank you

This is classed as a luxury experience and it certainly wasnt that. I was really looking forward to “make your own bag” with my cousin. The experience at Islander Edinburgh Workshop - The Arches was unfortunately so disappointing caused by a terrible rude instructer called Beatrice. The explanation at the start of the class was rushed and the overall experience wasn’t very welcoming by the host. The instructor Beatrice's treated us like children and her manner was so rude, saying you have been given the screws and put in order for a reason as some people had accidentally moved the screws from there order. She was so condescending calling people 'HUN' throughout the session of the class. Due to her manner it made it hard to enjoy the process. I certainly wont be recommending this location due to a rude instructor.

Fun, but probably not worth the money. Would have been more authentic if taught by a true Scottish person.

Annalise was a great teacher and it was a lot of fun. However, as soon as the class was over, we were rushed out of the door, even though everyone was trying to purchase additional items we were rushed out because they were closing. I don’t feel like this was great customer service.

The entire process was very fun. You get some history of the bags/lids and enjoy the people around you as you put your chosen bag/colors together. The folks running the workshop were very helpful and fun.

My family and I was on a short visit to West Scotland and as someone who LOVES Islander Harris Tweed bags, I thought this workshop in Edinburgh would be great and boy it was. We were a group of four, amounts a larger group and the atmosphere was positive. We had Zoe and Clare (I think). Zoe was amazing. We had a great experience and even bought extra items and bags. We believe this workshop was worth the price paid. I will definitely be going back to the workshop as I like the fact I can create my own unique bag and I can see a new one is opening here in London.