LONDON — Radley London is shifting into luxury gear with the appointment of its first design director, Fernando Soriano Iglesias, whose résumé includes accessories roles at Loewe, Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera.
For most of its 26 years in business, Radley was known for its practical, accessibly priced handbags and wallets with a distinctive Scottie dog logo. They came in a rainbow of saturated colors and drew a loyal Middle England customer.
With the appointment of Soriano Iglesias, Radley is moving into richer, more sophisticated territory, with a broader offer, and its eyes on a younger and more diverse clientele.
“We looked far and wide for a designer who could take us on this journey, and we found Fernando, who has experience both in luxury and the high street,” said Jackie Hay, chief product officer, during an interview at Radley’s showroom near Oxford Circus.
“We’ve always had beautiful leathers, but they’re even more beautiful now, and the collection brings together design and craft in a new and vibrant way,” said Hay, adding that Soriano Iglesias’ first full collection will begin selling to wholesale customers this week, and land on shop floors in August.
“In the past, the quality had always been there, the leather had always been there, but we didn’t really push into the style and the craft. Now, we’re really there,” she added.
The company did extensive research, looking closely at competitors across the market, and at the lifestyle and desires of different age groups. It found that Gen Z wants a pouch or a small bag with a strap that fits under the arm, and preferably with no zip. Millennials, by contrast, prefer crossbody styles.
A look from the Radley spring 2025 campaign.
Unisex designs are also popular among younger clients as are bag-in-a-bag options, such as totes that can accommodate a laptop, a smaller bag or pouch, and maybe even a change of shoes.
Then there is the traditional customer, who’s been buying Radley since its launch at John Lewis department stores in the U.K. Those clients love the colors — olive, burgundy and purple — the practical pockets, and the prominent Scottie logo.
While their tastes may differ, every demographic agrees on price, and Radley is determined to keep them in check.
The company, which was founded in 1998 by Lowell Harder, an Australian architect-turned-designer based in London, has been working with the same factories in India for decades, and has always tried to offer value for money, and an honest product.
Hay said the company works closely with factories and suppliers on prices as well as sustainability, using leather exclusively from Gold Standard tanneries, and keeping waste to a minimum. Fabric and leather offcuts are used to make small accessories, or turned into embellishments or insets on bags.
Hay said the aim is to keep retail prices below 300 pounds, which puts Radley in a fast-growing segment of the accessories market. With luxury prices spiraling, Radley — and other European brands — are eager to capture customers who are hungry for style, and not obsessed with logos.
According to the shopping platform Lyst, demand has been surging for brands in the category, including Manu Atelier and DeMellier London. The Marc Jacobs Mini Sack and Tote bags are popular in London, as are fellow American brands Staud and Bode, which sell on Net-a-porter.
Fernando Soriano Iglesias in the Radley London showroom.
Soriano Iglesias, who worked for Stuart Vevers at Loewe, has made a series of changes to the Radley styles. His bags are softer, and more supple than previous designs, while the leather, stitching and finishing is of a higher quality.
The designer is obsessed with detail, proportion and touch. During a walk-through of the stylish new collection, Soriano Iglesias argued that “even three millimeters,” can make a difference to the look and feel of a bag.
He also loves when bags are “alive,” or supple enough to change shape, create different volumes, and alter the wearer’s silhouette.
He’s also introduced different materials and textures: orange suede for a shoulder pouch; lightweight woven yarn for a striped tote; nylon with drawstrings for a sporty style, and lightweight buff leather for bucket bags and two-tone tones.
The bags are stylish, but they’re also sturdy, and Soriano Iglesias said they’re built to age well. He’s prioritized practicality: lengths can be adjusted with snaps, leather totes are reversible while other, larger bags have straps as wide as judo belts.
He’s also created a new metal plaque for the bags. It’s squareish, twisted and with varying thickness, meant to mimic the soft folds of leather.
New design director Fernando Soriano Iglesias will be casting his eye over all of Radley’s product categories.
He’ll be designing four main collections per year, with drops planned for every month. The designer will also be carrying through his new aesthetic to the various Radley product categories, including luggage, footwear, eyewear, jewelry, watches and soft accessories.
The collections are sold through Radley’s two flagships, in London and Glasgow, Scotland, at John Lewis and online, with dedicated sites in the U.K., the U.S. and Australia.
In the U.S., Radley already has an established business with Macy’s, and has been rapidly expanding in the region, with plans to launch on Nordstrom.com in the coming weeks.
Hay said the traditional Radley bags, with their multiple pockets, vibrant colors and prominent Scottie dog logos will still be available worldwide, although they’ll now be a smaller part of the overall offer.
“There’s something for everyone,” said Hay, adding that Radley wants to be a cross-generational brand, as well as a heritage one.
