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Mulberry handbag in brown leather and fabric

The Mulberry Story

The Mulberry Story

Founded in 1971 with leather offcuts and a £500 investment, Mulberry is now a truly global British brand.

Born in 1971, the roots of Mulberry are in Somerset, England. Mulberry's founder, Roger Saul, established the brand at his kitchen table, with £500 back from his mother. His sister designed our instantly-recognisable tree logo - both that, and the name “Mulberry” come from the trees he would pass each day on his way to school. The first designs were buckled leather belts, with other collections following soon after, including the original bags and womenswear. The hallmarks of these Mulberry collections - timeless design coupled with traditional quality - are threads that run through everything we make.

Mulberry's heritage is quintessentially British. Early inspiration was drawn from London's dynamism, combined with styles synonymous with English rural pursuits - hunting, shooting, fishing - and Mulberry's utterly individual style came to be dubbed "Le Style Anglais". The idea still inspires us. Between town and country, between Somerset serenity and London energy, Mulberry combines authentic, age-honoured craft with an innovative edge. Heritage meets a modern sense of rebellion - the rules are broken to make something new.

Mulberry Bayswater handbag in black leather
Model holding a Mulberry Alexa handbag in brown leather

Since 1971, Mulberry has been a leading British lifestyle brand, internationally acclaimed for the design and quality of products that are truly Made to Last. We are proud to be the largest manufacturer of luxury leather goods in the UK, supporting and training a community of craftspeople across two factories in Somerset, where over 50% of our bags are made. The most beloved silhouettes - the Bayswater, the Alexa, the Amberley, the Iris - have become contemporary classics and iconic examples of British design.

Today we see heritage as the start of our story, not the end. We continue to celebrate the contradictions of a truly British identity, revisiting our roots and looking to our archives to examine them from a fresh perspective.

Roger Saul’s successors, Nicholas Knightly, Stuart Vevers, Emma Hill and Johnny Coca, have each placed their own stamp on Mulberry as Design and Creative Directors, reinterpreting the brand to chime with modern lifestyles.