Global strategy and design studio Dalziel & Pow has designed the first London store for handbag and accessory brand Islander, opening in the heart of Covent Garden and marking its debut outside Scotland.
The new space brings Islander’s distinctive craftsmanship to one of London’s most vibrant shopping destinations. Renowned for its use of authentic Harris Tweed®, alongside leather and tartan, the brand’s signature satchels take centre stage, complemented by a curated collection of shoes and accessories.
Based in Edinburgh, Islander currently operates seven standalone stores: six in Edinburgh and one in St Andrews, alongside a successful wholesale operation that distributes its products worldwide. Dalziel & Pow have partnered with the brand to support its London expansion, firstly with the Covent Garden store, located just off London’s iconic Seven Dials.
Dalziel & Pow has translated Islander’s brand identity into a retail experience that feels unmistakably and authentically its own. Inspired by the heritage of Harris Tweed® and reimagined through a contemporary lens, the store blends earthy tones, rich greens and warm, tactile materials to create an inviting, immersive space. Designed to encourage customers to explore, discover and personalise their purchases, the environment brings Islander’s craftsmanship and storytelling to life at every touchpoint.
At the heart of the store is a dedicated workshop where customers can build and customise their own bespoke satchels. Featuring flexible, moveable tables and social moments that invite customers to photograph and share their creations, the space invites collaborations both on and offline. Workshops are a huge draw across Islander’s existing stores, and Covent Garden has been designed with this in mind, with spaces for customers to create, connect and spend an afternoon.
The workshop has been designed to celebrate the richness and variety of Islander’s Harris Tweed® collection. While the display embraces a sense of abundance, the experience remains intuitive, with collections organised by bag style to make discovering the perfect tweed feel effortless without losing the joy of “the find”. Dalziel & Pow created dedicated destinations to celebrate the add-ons, including ‘the strap’ or the ‘charm bar’, showcasing the accessories that allow customers to reinvent their bags long after they’ve left the store.
Dalziel & Pow has put a big focus on the storytelling around the Islander brand and the making of Harris Tweed throughout the store. Soft projections of information about Harris Tweed, as well as the bag illustrations and wall murals throughout, build on the brand storytelling and promote the workshop space.
Dalziel & Pow is partnering with Islander on its continued London expansion with a second site planned for Bloomsbury Street, near the British Museum, scheduled to open later in 2026.
Tim Graveling, creative director at Dalziel & Pow, said: “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.”
Pei Ferguson, company director at Islander, added: “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.”
