Islander Opens First London Store in Covent Garden
The Scottish handbag and accessories retailer has moved beyond its home market with a Covent Garden store centred on Harris Tweed®, customisation workshops and a design by Dalziel & Pow.
Islander has opened its first London store in Covent Garden, marking the Scottish handbag and accessories retailer’s debut outside its home market. The store, located just off Seven Dials, was designed by global strategy and design studio Dalziel & Pow.
The opening takes Islander’s standalone estate to eight stores. The Edinburgh-based retailer previously operated six locations in Edinburgh and one in St Andrews, alongside a wholesale business distributing its products internationally.
The Covent Garden range centres on Islander’s signature satchels, produced using authentic Harris Tweed® alongside leather and tartan. Shoes and accessories complete the product offer.
Craft and Customisation at the Centre
Dalziel & Pow translated the retailer’s existing identity into a contemporary London format, drawing on the heritage and material qualities of Harris Tweed®. Earthy tones, rich greens and warm, tactile finishes form the main interior palette.
The store has been designed to support product discovery and personalisation, with a dedicated workshop at its centre where customers can build and customise bespoke satchels.
Flexible, moveable tables allow the workshop layout to be adapted, while customers are encouraged to photograph and share their completed designs. Workshops already form part of Islander’s existing-store offer, and the Covent Garden space has been arranged to accommodate longer sessions in which customers can make products and spend time together.
The workshop display presents the breadth of the retailer’s Harris Tweed® collection, with products organised by bag style to provide structure while retaining a sense of discovery.
Dedicated accessory areas include “the strap” and the “charm bar”, presenting components that allow customers to update and personalise their bags after purchase.
Storytelling around Islander and the production of Harris Tweed is incorporated throughout the store. Projected information, bag illustrations and wall murals provide context around the materials and direct attention towards the workshop.
“Islander has built a strong following in Scotland and throughout the world. Our design for Covent Garden leans on the brand’s strong focus on craft and materials to resonate with both new and existing audiences, creating a space that is as much about co-creation and storytelling as it is about shopping.”
Tim Graveling Creative Director, Dalziel & Pow
“We’ve seen our business grow from our first Edinburgh shop to stores right across Scotland, and now it’s a very proud moment to open our first London flagship. Islander has always been about blending heritage with innovation, and our growth and expansion shows how much our brand is resonating with people. Dalziel & Pow’s design for our beautiful Covent Garden store invites visitors to become part of our story, to get closer to the craft, create and connect.”
Pei Ferguson Company Director, Islander
Second London Store Planned
Dalziel & Pow is also working with Islander on a second London store on Bloomsbury Street, near the British Museum. The location is scheduled to open later in 2026.
Terry Clark is the Publisher and Content Director of 365 Retail, with more than a decade of experience covering retail design, technology innovations, store openings and the wider retail industry. He also works closely with leading retailers, suppliers, agencies, events and industry awards across the UK.
