Islander Harris Tweed® Mini Satchel Making Workshop

Such a fun experience with a special sentimental item to take home. There is a huge range of choice in colours for both leather & tartan. You can upgrade or change your bag style once there if you wish. Just be aware that some of the tartans change seasonally so you may not be able to get one you’ve seen in store or online.

This workshop was a great idea in theory, but I would not recommend it. Overall everything felt rushed. You are given only 5-10 mins to pick out your bag components and each step of assembly seemed like we were racing to get it done, rather than enjoying it as an experience. I had my 10 year old with me, and it was definitely too hard for them to complete on their own. Although, Victoria gets an A+ for helpfulness, the rest of the team would tend to instruct from afar and not help hands-on as much even when they knew we were having a hard time with the screws. I would say it is better just to go to the shop and buy a bag (unless you want something really custom).

BOOK IT!!!! Not only was this experience amazing, but once I share pictures with my friends, everyone was so jealous of my hand bag! The team was kind and patient. They double check your work and give you plenty of time to decide what you want to put together.

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.