When Simon Harvey-Potts graduated from a degree in film and photography, he decided, like most students who find themselves on the edge of the real world, to travel. And as the cliche of discovery would suggest, he did return with a new, enduring passion. Just how much did he find? No one could have anticipated the chance career path that would one day lead to a thriving, time-honoured business. One thing we're sure to tell our customers is the long...
As lockdown eases across Scotland, our showroom doors are re-opening to the public. With a few new ways to experience retail in-store, find us in the heart of Old Town, continuing our traditional trade in these historic times. Summer is off to a great start (by 2020 standards) as we were finally able to reopen our showroom doors to the public on Monday! There may be no Fringe this year, but the strength and spirit of our local communities has...
"The world's favourite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” - Edwin Way Teale Over the recent weeks our attention as a nation has been firmly fixed on the developing Coronavirus situation, both here and across the globe. As the anxiety and concern surrounding such a widespread pandemic has been consuming us all, the dawn of a new month and the arrival of a fresh season begins to sail in a ship of hope to many of us looking...
It’s an icon. A bag full of character and crafted by our talented team year on year. But where did the design come from? And how did it become so popular? This month we take a look at the History of: (our most beloved) Gladstone. The Leather Gladstone and it’s compact companion, The Gladstonette, have been firm favourites of the Mackenzie collection since we established our trade back in 1990. Sometimes known as a Doctor’s or Physician bag, our original...
Another year has passed, and the start of a new decade is upon us. We look back at the last 10 years of Mackenzie moments, celebrating the highs, and thankful for the lows that come alongside the joy of running a small business. It’s the dawn of a brand new decade here on planet Earth, and regardless of how or in what state you may have woken up in on this New Years morning, there is something significant and undoubtably exciting...
All is calm, all is bright…. Enjoy the joys of gift giving this year and be inspired by our simple but effective festive gift guide. A thoughtful offering can go a long way - and here at Mackenzie, we guarantee a lifetime. Our Christmas Elves - Andrew, Kevin, Ed and Simon - busy crafting our bespoke festive goodies in our Edinburgh workshop. The most wonderful time of the year may not always feel wonderful for some during those last remaining weeks...
A butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker – an age old definition of a flourishing hub of local business. Our leather craft workshop in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh just so happens to have some intriguing next-door neighbours who also master in ancient trades. Together, we’re redefining the famous trio of artisan to bring a contemporary place of interest for visitors to the capital – Welcome to St Mary’s Street Makers. Illustration by @EdinburghSketcher Bagpipes, Kilts and handmade Leather Sporrans. Our St...
Although we offer a wide range of handmade goods ready to collect off the shelf, we also pride ourselves in offering a completely bespoke-made service. Our talented team can make more than leather bags to order - here’s an insight into the process of a personalised Mackenzie experience. The Phone Case, crafted from our Italian Soft Hide in Matt Black, with bespoke silver initials. Image courtesy of @cmwinternational Our current range of handcrafted Italian and Spanish leather goods include our Mackenzie...
The iconic name of this essential bag seems familiar to most. But what exactly is a ‘tote’ and how did it become a well known design for handbags? This month we continue our History of Blog Series with an everyday classic: The Tote Bag. The Tote one of the most versatile bag designs in history, and is most likely present in your own home. Your current choice of handbag might be a structured leather version, or perhaps your favourite companion...
Although our products are designed to endure the years, you may want to follow our simple care guide to ensure your Mackenzie Leather lasts a lifetime. Our leather bags are the product of meticulous skill. Each piece is crafted by hand, by man not machine. As you may have already realised, we pride ourselves in only using the finest material, to ensure every single piece crafted in our workshop is of the best quality. Although leather is renowned for enduring...