The Guernsey Collection. It's Back!
The Return of the Guernsey Hides
For months, we received notes asking when the Guernsey, Brown + White hides would return.
And honestly, we were just so focused on discovering new and unique hides that we put the Guernsey on the back burner... Until recently.
I was in the leather district searching for something special, when there it was -- like running into an old friend. A Brown+White hair-on-hide hanging quietly from a rack. I moved through the hides one by one. All Brown and White Guernseys. Each uniquely different. Each with personality. Some with more subtle markings. Others bold and expressive. The brown was warm. The white, creamy and soft.
We bought them all.
What is a Guernsey Hide?
The name itself carries a certain charm.
A Guernsey hide refers to hair-on leather with warm brown and creamy white markings traditionally associated with Guernsey cattle. These sturdy dairy cows originated in the Channel Islands between England and France and are prized for their rich milk.
It's nature's design work.
The hides in this collection were chosen for their softness and movement. Each one carries its sweep of brown and a splash of white.
No two are ever alike.
To the Workshop
There’s something grounding about driving the hides through the Amish country to the workshop where so many Rellebee pieces begin.
Much of the drive winds through farmland- corn, soy beans and dairy farms stretching wide under the sky. I sometimes try to take a minute to snap a few photos of the cows. In some small way, it feels like a way to honor these beautiful creatures -- for the milk we drink, the beef we eat, and now the hides we are fortunate to work with.
I hope that the bags we create from their lovely hide- hides that thankfully are not ending up in a land fill- is another way that we can honor them.
When we spread the hides on the table and ran our hands over each one we realized something important. They were softer. More lightweight than some of the other hair-on-hides we had worked with.
These hides didn’t want to be structured into something heavy or oversized.
The bags needed to be smaller silhouettes. Effortless pieces.
Choosing the Right Shapes
We chose shapes that would not overwhelm the hide. Instead, we wanted to feature the hide- to let it tell its story.
Structured enough to feel polished, yet soft enough to let the hide shine.
A scaled-down favorite. Loved for its versatility.
Effortless and hands-free. The hide wraps around your body.
And as always, no hide is ever wasted. The remaining pieces were stitched into little Snap Wallets- smaller expressions of the same beautiful hide.
Every part used.
Every detail intentional.
A Mountain, City Kind of Mood
This collection carries a mountain-meets city spirit. It feels at home wherever you are. Relaxed, but elevated. Rustic, yet polished.
Why We’re Glad It’s Back
It's like coming home.
The Guernsey Brown + White hide has always had a loyal following, and we understand why. It carries personality without being loud. Texture without excess. Presence without trying.
Smaller runs. Thoughtful cuts. Zero waste.
Each bag tells its story-this one written in brown+white.
We are happy it's back!
