Belgrave Crescent is a British accessories brand founded in 2014 by Roséline and PFM in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a goal of blending understated elegance with exceptional craftsmanship, the founders embarked on a remarkable journey that led them to the workshops of Britain’s last traditional leather makers in the West Midlands, to centuries-old French saddleries, and to the tanneries of Tuscany. Each Belgrave Crescent piece embodied this uncompromising pursuit–English bridle leather hand-finished by master curriers,
brass hardware hand-forged in Paris, designs refined through countless iterations until perfection was achieved. For a decade, Belgrave Crescent maintained these exacting standards, building a loyal following among discerning clients who valued the brand’s commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship. Today, the brand has moved to bespoke commissions and white label manufacturing, allowing new brands to benefit from their decade of expertise in fine leather goods and accessories.
EXCEPTIONAL BRITISH HANDCRAFTED ACCESSORIES: LUXURIOUS ESSENTIALS FOR EVERYDAY
Belgrave Crescent is the intersection of timeless design, exceptional craftsmanship, and premium materials. As a modern luxury brand, we have a deep admiration and appreciation for the care and artistry of the past – from ornate opera houses to romantic cobblestone streets. Our mission is to create products that withstand trends and stand the test of time.
MADE IN ENGLAND
Our accessories are handcrafted in the West Midlands, a region with a rich legacy in leather craft dating back to the 1800s, deeply rooted in the equestrian trade. By the early 20th century, this area accounted for nearly a third of all Britain’s saddle and harness makers.
The rise of the combustion engine led to a decline in the leather trade, prompting a shift towards producing lighter leather goods like luggage and wallets. In the 1960s, increasing global competition drove the remaining companies to pivot towards the luxury market. Today, the region is experiencing a resurgence in demand for high-end British-made leather goods, and we are honoured to play a role in preserving this storied heritage and tradition.
HEIRLOOM-QUALITY HARDWARE
Our satchels feature solid brass hardware sourced from one of France’s oldest saddlery houses, established in the 1800s. Initially focused on military equipment during the First World War, the company later shifted to producing equestrian leather goods, which has been its primary focus since the 1980s.
Owned and operated by four generations of the same family for over a century, this prestigious atelier supplies fittings to some of the world’s most esteemed luxury brands. Their handmade, hand-polished hardware is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and has earned numerous accolades.
PREMIUM MATERIALS
We use two types of premium leather in our satchels and tablet sleeves. The Kensington and Roxburgh are crafted from traditional English bridle leather, while the Balmoral and Lanarkshire feature Italian hides sourced from France.
For our Kensington line, we partner with J&E Sedgwick, renowned tanners who produce some of the world’s finest bridle leather, primarily used in luxury goods. Their vegetable tanning process, which has changed little since the early 1900s, is a meticulous, labour-intensive affair. Each hide is hand-finished by a skilled leather currier, who meticulously hand-sets the leather to ensure a flawless grain.
After currying, the leather is hand-stained and treated with natural fats, oils, and waxes, imparting a rich, luxurious finish. Leather currying is a rare, specialized skill, which is why J&E Sedgwick maintains an active apprenticeship program to pass down this tradition.
SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
At Belgrave Crescent, we choose to work with vegetable-tanned leathers for two key reasons: they are environmentally friendly, as the tanning process utilises natural tannins from bark, and they yield the highest quality, most durable leather.
Our Dakota Tuscan leather, featured in the Balmoral satchel, is sourced in Brittany, France, and then tanned in Tuscany, a region renowned for producing some of the world’s finest leather since the Renaissance era. This aniline-dyed vegetable-tanned leather boasts a beautiful, natural grain.
By upholding sustainable practices and prioritising timeless craftsmanship, we strive to create luxury accessories that will be loved for generations to come.
IT ALL BEGAN in the summer of 2011, when we set out on a quest for the perfect iPad case—one that exuded refined simplicity and impeccable style. Incredibly, at the time, there was not one that suited our design aesthetic, and so our search proved unsuccessful, until P had a revelation: why not design our own?
What followed would be a two-year adventure across three countries in search of the perfect materials—the finest leather, hand-forged and polished brass hardware from Paris, and most importantly, someone who could bring our designs to life, a craftsperson who still created using the traditional, age-old techniques from times gone by. The search for makers would prove to be the most difficult, and we are very fortunate to be working with some of the best in the West Midlands, the heart of where the craft began and the centre of leather manufacturing in Britain for the past two hundred years.
From a single iPad case, our collection grew to encompass two elegant designs in an array of rich leathers and custom colours, plus coordinating accessories. Over two years of design and research, the original case underwent three prototypes before we were completely satisfied with the final result. During that time, we worked with one of the oldest and best equestrian houses in Britain, along with one of the most prestigious saddlery houses in France, collaborating to interweave their old-world mastery with our contemporary aesthetic in a beautiful merging of design, materials and craftsmanship.
The road had twists and turns—setbacks, false starts, losses and delays, homes and cities changed. And through it all, we were always in love, with each other, and with this, our latest adventure. In the end, there would be a wealth of knowledge about the design process: different types of leather and the tanning process; manufacturing and sourcing the best materials and hardware from Italy, France, and Britain. We would learn a great deal about patience and determination, and the truth that love is indeed in the details. But most of all, we would learn about ourselves.
Perhaps this is just the beginning of our story. We are thrilled to finally share with you, at long last, the realisation of that fateful summer dream.
From us to you,
P&R, January 2014