Hello, I’m Rachel — founder of SHREW, a handcrafted, luxury leather goods brand based in the beautiful city of Bath, Somerset.

I grew up on the outskirts of Bath and went on to study Fashion Design at Manchester Metropolitan University, later completing a Postgraduate in Creative Pattern Cutting at Central Saint Martins. My career began as a Production Manager for a high-end designer, before moving into design roles myself.

After relocating back to Bath and starting a family, I spent over a decade teaching in schools before returning to my creative roots as a Stylist at Circus Journal. Alongside this, I regularly visited local schools to talk to pupils about the environmental impact of the fashion industry — a cause I’ve long been passionate about — encouraging younger generations to make more thoughtful, sustainable choices.

I now live in Bath with my two teenage children and our affectionate cavapoo, Ted.

The Catalyst

When my lovely nan sadly passed away during Covid, she kindly left me a small sum of money. I used part of it to renovate the very 90s wallpapered house I’d just moved into, and chose to invest the rest in myself — finally pursuing a long-held dream of starting my own business.

After years of battling imposter syndrome, I found the confidence to recognise my skills and my love of working with leather, and decided it was time to turn that passion into something real.

My Mission

I create stylish, beautifully crafted leather goods for women and men who appreciate thoughtful design, attention to detail, and pieces made with care and sustainability in mind.

Working from my home studio, every item is scored, cut, sanded, stitched, and burnished by hand using traditional leatherworking tools and techniques.

Bags are made to order or bespoke, while accessories are crafted in small batches. Each piece is carefully made to suit the client’s needs — designed to be cherished and enjoyed for years to come.

See something you love but want it a little different? Get in touch — I’d be happy to make it happen.