Rough & Tumble is the design-your-own-handbag label that's perfected customization
Photo courtesy of Rough & Tumble
There is inherent beauty in something that’s made one at a time. That’s the ethos that Rough & Tumble perfectly embodies. The Maine-based company with a flagship store in Portland and design studio in Brunswick makes handmade bags you can design entirely yourself, combining the worlds of high-end fashion and technology to create a unique and highly personable customizable luxury brand experience.
The Rough & Tumble design outpost was first housed in 2008 in Natasha Durham's home, a 1929 church on a mountain in Maine. Over the years the brand has continued to expand its reach among those that desire rugged yet understated classic, luxury pieces.
“We deliberately refer to ourselves as ‘the unbranded-brand’ and create handbags that deliver a purposeful mix of visual balance, clean architecture, and high function to achieve trend-free, heirloom-quality design in the way they look, feel and function.”
Photo courtesy of Rough & Tumble
We had the opportunity to experience the process and design our own handbag, start to finish. Here’s what it was like.
Rough & Tumble’s bags range in price from $78 to over $500.
Our Rough & Tumble journey began mid-February with an initial phone consultation with the label’s designer and director, Louise Gartland. We consider ourselves to be pretty decisive people with a particular sense of preference so prior to our call with Louise, we perused the site and already had a vision for the bag we wanted to create. There are an infinite number of possible design combinations in at least 12 different handbag styles available where personal design assistants help you navigate your choices, online, over the phone or in-person if you are local.
Photo courtesy of Rough & Tumble
We approached our call with Louise with the impression that we would simply tell her what we wanted and she would make note of our preferences and follow up over email. There is a sincere commitment to the extra effort that the Rough & Tumble experience entails. As soon as we started chatting with Louise it was clear that she had deep roots in design with profound expertise that was not at all stuffy nor arrogant in any way. Louise had such an approachable warmth to her, instantly elevating the experience for us at the outset and setting the tone for what would be a truly special process and memorable product.
When we perused the site, we were in a travel state-of-mind and specifically shopping for a fashionable backpack that we could take on adventures. We shared with Louise that we were eyeing the 1904 pack and wanted something that was fashionable but could hold its own in transit and over time. Louise recommended a popular hobo style that would achieve exactly what we were looking for: security, durability and function. We admit that hobo styles aren’t the first thing we reach for, but this particular design was unparalleled, much like the overall customization process.
Their Original Hobo Pack is a statement of visual balance, clean architecture and high function.
Photo courtesy of Rough & Tumble
When they say that each bag is made one-at-a-time by local, expert crafters, they mean it. Louise spent nearly an hour over the phone with us asking questions as specific as which shoulder we prefer to wear our bags over; how we generally prefer to wear it (i.e. over the shoulder or as a crossbody); our height and frame; the average weight of the bag load; and how soft or hard you prefer the touch of leather, among others.
It was almost like we had our own handbag epiphany as we quickly realized how our previous in-person handbag shopping experiences were significantly lacking in contrast to our Rough & Tumble experience, where not a single detail is overlooked. From choosing the shade of the zipper pull to the metallic finish of the zipper right down to the interior lining, every element of the bag is uniquely yours—and you have the experts to guide you in the sea of options available to you.
Louise sincerely went above-and-beyond in bringing our preferences and vision to life, often walking throughout the warehouse to find the pieces we were looking to see if it would be compatible for the bag. For example, we were eyeing a bright orange-hued fabric liner for the inside of the bag, and Louise went to go look for it so she could describe how the pairing looked together. Spoiler alert: It was not a good choice because she mentioned that it was making the cognac leather lambskin finish we selected look orange. We wrapped up our call at the end of our work day in California—so that meant it was well into dinner time for Louise on the East Coast.
A fews after our call, we received a design sketch of the handbag. It takes about 4-6 weeks to produce. By the 6th week, we received our handbag in very simple package—without any excess cardboard or plastic shipping material to make the delivery experience even more sustainable.
The in-person quality of the bag far exceeded our expectations. We already knew that we would receive a high-end product, considering we chose lambskin leather. But the level of craftsmanship is unlike any other. The total cost of the bag came in under $500, but the execution and precision of quality far exceeds that price point.
Rough & Tumble is sought after around the world for their exclusive collection of over a hundred leathers, primarily custom-made exclusively for the brand and meticulously sourced from Italy and France. This then touches down on their pieces, each one mixing smart utility, archival form and curated materials to mark an enduring vision of authentic, resolved and trend-free design.
“The experience goes well beyond the unique design experience. Each bag creates a deep connection and a long-lasting experience with wearers designed to be passed down from generation-to-generation. ”
This profound level of service and Louise’s commitment perfectly captures why Rough & Tumble has steadily seen a growth in its following of super fans (ourselves included) that really value the opportunity to create something very special born from a design of our own imagination. Experts like Louise guide you to bring your own personal statement to life with a special piece that you can cherish for generations to come.
