In the Studio
The Expertise Behind Our New Edit
14 September 2023
Some things at Radley London never change. Like the quality of our Gold Standard leather, or the artisan craftspeople we’ve worked with since the very beginning. But we also love to bring you brand new designs, as well as updated versions of some of your favourites every month. So let us tell you about the details behind our August edit.
DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND
Our London Design Studio know a thing or two about busy days. This is what we mean when we say designed by women, for women. Every detail has been thought through, as you can see on Sloane Street. One of our favourite details has to be the detachable cross body strap. This is something you’ll find on a lot of our handbags, we asked our Designers why they feel this is an important feature.
“We design handbags meant to be used and loved forever. A detachable strap gives our customer different options for ways to wear her Radley. No two days are the same, so our handbags need to be able to adapt to your life and not the other way around.”
We’ve described Sloane Street as ‘huggable’ thanks to that luxurious leather. Sally, our Senior Designer, let us in on how they choose the perfect leather for every handbag. And of course, all of it comes from Leather Working Group-accredited tanneries.
“We always think about how the handbag will be used. For us, leather that only gets more beautiful over time is a must-have. We also think about the hardware we want to use on a design and how that will sit. We knew we wanted Sloane Street to be structured but soft so this thick grain leather was perfect.”
Did we mention Sloane Street also fits everything you could need for work, or weekend?
HOURS OF WORK
Up to 20 skilled artisans work on every single handbag we make, especially for detailed styles like Dukes Place Quilt and Liverpool Street 2.0 Patchwork. Lucy, our Designer Manager, told us all about the quilting effect over in our August Edit blog post.
The patchwork detail on this new version of bestselling Liverpool Street 2.0 is created with inlaid leather, an intricate process that involves precise cuts to achieve this jigsaw effect.
Those are the handbags you know and love, but what about the detail behind our brand-new styles? Say hello to Ansell Grove. The front panel comprises handcrafted leather panels perfectly laid edge to edge. We love the juxtaposition of the soft leather stripes against the boxy shape and resin tortoiseshell handles too.
ALWAYS INNOVATING
Hello huggable. We asked our Designers what inspired Derwent Drive, and we think you’re going to love it.
"This is the newest must-have shape, and one that’s not going anywhere in terms of popularity. It’s a modern spin on a classic cross body. It’s comfy, functional, perfect for days out and especially for travel.”
We can’t get enough of this silhouette. Or the buttery-soft, grained leather that enhances the shape.
EVEN MORE LEATHER
It’s not just about handbags. We also use our expertise in leather to make some of the most beautiful purses and footwear too.
Our Thistle Grove loafers (coming soon) are the perfect year-round footwear. Wear them with summer dresses into autumn, and with jeans or trousers year-round. This chunky penny loafer style never goes out of fashion. Just like our Check Street purse.
We hope you’ve loved getting to know more of the details behind our latest collection. There’s still lots to tell you, so keep an eye on Radley Stories.
