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After 40 Years of Handcrafting Leather Bags, Catherine Blythe Is Saying Goodbye

By Elizabeth Harrington – Published: 26 August 2025 – Updated: 4 hours ago

Elizabeth Harrington is a senior writer covering artisan heritage and British craftsmanship for Handcrafting News.

A Life in Leather

For more than four decades, Catherine Blythe has been a familiar presence in Bath, quietly working in her workshop just off a cobbled side street. Since the age of 21, she has been hand-stitching leather handbags with patience and pride, using the traditional methods passed down through her family.

Now, at 65, Catherine is preparing to close her workshop for good.

“It’s time for slower days,” Catherine says with a gentle smile. “Afternoons with my grandchildren, pottering in the garden, and quiet walks through the countryside.”

Her farewell is not just the end of a workshop, but the closing of a chapter in Britain’s artisanal story.

A Legacy That Endured

Catherine’s journey has never been without challenges. In the late 1990s, a burst pipe flooded her shop, destroying tools, stock, and decades of work. Yet, with the loyalty of her customers and the determination that has always defined her, she started again—this time from a modest rented studio.

Her resilience became part of her legend. Years later, when her daughter shared her story online, women across Britain found themselves deeply moved. Her handbags were no longer seen as mere accessories, but as pieces of heritage worth treasuring.

Why British Women Cherish Catherine’s Bags

💬 “It reminds me of the kind of handbag my mother carried to church on Sundays—timeless, elegant, and built to last.” – Mary S., Kent

💬 “The craftsmanship is outstanding. It feels like something you’d find in a boutique tucked away in Bath’s historic lanes.” – Judith R., Yorkshire

💬 “This isn’t just a bag—it’s a family heirloom I’ll proudly hand down.” – Fiona H., Edinburgh

The Final Collection

Catherine is now releasing her last ever collection of handbags, each one unique and handmade in the same quiet, deliberate way she has worked since her first creation: a tan tote stitched under her father’s watchful eye.

“This is my thank you,” Catherine explains. “Every bag carries a piece of my life’s work. I’d rather see them loved and carried than locked away in storage.”

Once these are gone, there will be no more. Her Bath workshop will close its doors forever, ending a remarkable era of British craftsmanship.

More Than Just a Handbag

To Catherine, a handbag has always been more than a simple accessory. It is a reflection of memory, tradition, and care.

Her work recalls a time when quality came before speed, when every stitch was made to last, and when a bag could accompany its owner through a lifetime of occasions—from market days to theatre evenings.

Owning one is to carry not only a bag, but a story—crafted in Bath, rooted in heritage, and built to endure.

Own a Piece of British Craft

For women who value British tradition, timeless style, and lasting quality, this is a rare opportunity to own the last works of one of the country’s most dedicated craftswomen.

Once the final pieces are gone, they will never return.

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