Steven Harkin Design – British Handbags

Steven Harkin Design is a leather handbags business based in Essex which was launched in August 2006 at the London trade show PURE. Owner Steven Harkin originates from New South Wales, Australia and has more than 25 years experience as an artist, designer and maker of handbags and has gained international recognition. He started working with leather as a hobby; somebody gave him a book on traditional Australian bushcraft, which included information on leather work.

Steven Harkin Design make and produce leather bags in a range of sizes, from clutches to shoulder bags and laptop cases, for both women and men. The leather used comes from Italy and Spain but the production work is carried out by Steven Harkin himself in the company’s Burnham on Crouch workshop.  The only skins used in Steven Harkin Design’s handbags are a natural bi-product as the company does not use skins from animals that have not been ethically treated. Kangaroo leather is also sometimes used for pockets on the designs as it is one of the strongest leathers in the world.

The Collection

There are many fine pieces of leatherwork in the handbag collection from Steven Harkin Design. Here are some of our favourites;

• The BB £330 – An elegant 2-tone boxed handbag in pistachio and black
• The Eliza £465 – A slick handbag that has been selling in some of Italy’s best shops according to Vogue Italia – we love the quirky shape of this bag
• The Mew – is just design genius – it comes with its own stand so the bottom of your favourite handbag never gets ruined

For men there is the AC – £425/485 first designed for the America’s cup, this is an engineered shoulder bag available with a single leather strap or with a futuristic twisting aluminium strap.

The Flatpack £797 This strikingly luxurious leather rucksack has it all with a contemporary look aluminium handles and details. its professional yet modern, perfect for the city commuter.

We love the WORK range too – from the briefcase to the tote. Perfect for the professional, the oversize Tote bag comes in a gorgeous light grey or turquoise soft leather. The letters WoRk have been hand-cut in black leather and hand stitched to the side.

LadyM is currently coveting the Steven Harkin Ostrich leather iphone case available from Lovely & British for £35.

Steven Harkin Ostrich Leather iphone case

International recognition

Since launching, Steven Harkin Design has built up a reputation for quality products. The company has sold over 3,300 bags through 30 independent boutiques in the UK including a recent concession in a new shop in Bermondsey Street, London called Lovely & British.  They also sell in a dozen shops across Ireland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Korea and the USA.

Four of Steven Harkin’s designs have been purchased by the Museum of Fashion in Paris for their permanent collection. Several of their other bags are also at the Walsall Leather Museum as well as the Chicago Museum Contemporary Art, Takashimaya New York and WOKstore Milan. The company’s bags have been featured at the Made in Britain exhibition at the Museum of Purses and Handbags Amsterdam, along with Burberry, Lulu, Guinness, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Mulberry and Vivienne Westwood.