Our Story

During Covid Lockdown I set out to design a range of luxury leather handbags using the finest quality butter-soft leather with the chicest metal fittings at a price that the high street would fully embrace.

Whilst a challenging and bold ambition I felt my 40 year’s experience working in the handbag and accessories industry would help me achieve my goal.

Just like the "Kinky Boots" story I worked in the music industry and then advertising in London before leaving the executive world to run the traditional family leather goods factory.

Our factory produced leather accessories for major fashion brands and retailers throughout the UK.

As the demand for UK produced goods waned I began to build partnerships with factories in India and China where I learnt to import high-quality leather accessories for my customer base.

After the leather goods factory closed in 2012 I was appointed Chief Executive of the BTAA (I had also been Chairman), which included hosting and developing The Fashion Accessory of The Year Awards at Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

After leaving the Trade Association I worked as a consultant for overseas handbag manufacturers and as an agent for handbag brands. This was vital in understanding what the customer actually wants, rather than what the brands want to sell you!

This time also coincided with several appearances on TV Shopping channels, selling of course handbags!

Frustrated by the brands not taking on board my suggestions I decided to create my own handbag and accessories brand, Lappella!

Designing my first collection was a joy because I was armed with the best-selling, sought-after styles, the soft leather that everyone wanted, the factories to make the bags and of course a huge database of retailers to sell them to.

My goal was to create high-quality, well-designed, butter-soft leather handbags and accessories with wide appeal but with a twist, at fair and reasonable prices.

That was a while ago now… and Lappella is now established in many independent department stores, boutiques, handbag shops, gift shops and shoe shops throughout the UK and Ireland.

So, this is it… a wearable designer collection that I hope you love from the lightweight top grain butter-soft leather to the robust yet chic fittings at affordable high street prices. It feels like the culmination of a lifetime of work, and I feel incredibly grateful to be doing exactly what I love.

Now I guess I’m excited to say that I think I’m only just beginning...

Paul Yates
Founder