Frequently Asked Questions

  • Rae & Rue pieces are made from genuine vegetable-tanned leather, chosen because it becomes more beautiful with time. With use, your leather will soften, deepen in colour and develop a patina unique to the way you carry it.

    Keep your piece away from prolonged moisture, excessive heat and direct sunlight when storing. If it does get wet, simply allow it to dry naturally — never use a heater or hairdryer.

    Every so often, your leather may benefit from a light application of a good-quality leather conditioner. Always test any product on a small, inconspicuous area first, as conditioners can deepen the colour of natural leather.

    When not in use, store your bag somewhere cool and dry, preferably stuffed lightly to help maintain its shape. Avoid storing leather in plastic, as it likes to breathe.

    Small marks, variations and changes in tone are all part of owning a naturally finished leather piece. Your Rae & Rue bag isn't designed to stay looking brand new, it's designed to become yours.

  • Yes. Every Rae & Rue piece is made entirely by me, by hand, in my Australian leather studio using traditional leatherworking techniques.

    From cutting and tooling to dyeing, finishing and construction, each piece passes through my hands from beginning to end. Small variations in the leather, tooling and colour are part of the process and part of what makes handmade leatherwork so special.

  • One of one means the individual piece you are purchasing will never be repeated exactly.

    I may return to a favourite bag shape or pattern, but I never repeat the same tooling design. Each piece is individually considered, tooled and finished so that even when you see a familiar Rae & Rue silhouette, its artwork remains entirely its own.

    Once a one-of-one piece has found its home, that exact combination of leatherwork and tooling is gone with it.

  • Yes. Custom work has always been a special part of Rae & Rue.

    If you have something particular in mind, perhaps inspired by one of my previous pieces or an idea entirely your own. You're welcome to get in touch through my custom enquiry form.

    I'll work with you to explore the shape, leather, colour, tooling and practical details of your piece. Because everything is designed and handmade by me, custom places are limited.

  • Very little leather goes to waste in my studio. When cutting a bag, I carefully lay out my patterns to make the best possible use of each hide and minimise the amount left behind.

    Smaller offcuts are kept for things like jewellery and other small leather pieces, while scraps I can't practically use are collected and sold locally in scrap bags for other makers and creatives.

    From the largest bag panel to the smallest usable offcut, I try to find a purpose for as much of every hide as I can.

  • Every Rae & Rue piece is designed and made entirely by me in my regional NSW Australian leather studio.

    From the first cut of the hide to the final rivet, every stage happens at my workbench. There is no production line and no outsourcing, just one maker and a lot of hours behind every piece.

  • Pieces available in The Collection are already made and ready to find their new home. I aim to carefully package and dispatch ready-made orders within 2–3 business days.

    Custom pieces are made especially for you and naturally take a little longer. An estimated timeframe will always be discussed before your custom piece begins.

  • Shipping within Australia is calculated at checkout, with complimentary shipping on orders over $500.

    All bags are carefully packaged and sent with tracking so you can follow their journey from my studio to your door.

  • Don't panic, leather is made to be used.

    If your bag gets caught in the rain, gently wipe away any excess water and allow it to dry naturally at room temperature. Avoid heaters, hairdryers or other direct heat.

    Once completely dry, it may benefit from a light condition if the leather feels a little dry. Water can temporarily or permanently deepen the colour of vegetable-tanned leather, and over time these little changes simply become part of its patina.

  • The piece photographed in each one-of-one listing is the exact piece you will receive.

    As leather is a natural material, you'll see variations in grain, markings and texture throughout the hide. My hand-dyeing process also creates beautiful variations in depth and tone that simply aren't possible with a mass-produced finish.

    I photograph each piece as accurately as possible, although colours can vary slightly between screens.

    Those variations aren't flaws, they're part of the leather, the handmaking process and the story of the piece.

  • Leather has lived a life before it reaches my workbench, and I believe that story is something to celebrate, not hide.

    Natural scars, scratches, variations in grain and, occasionally, original brand marks can all find their way into a Rae & Rue piece. Where others might cut around these markings, I love allowing them to become part of the finished bag.

    If you're lucky enough to own one of these specially marked pieces, you're carrying something truly individual. A visible piece of the hide's history that can never be replicated.

    They aren't flaws. They're part of the story.

  • Absolutely and that's part of the beauty of it.

    Vegetable-tanned leather isn't designed to remain exactly as it was the day it left my studio. As you carry your bag, the leather will soften, deepen in colour and develop a beautiful patina from sunlight, handling and everyday life.

    Every mark and change becomes part of your piece's story. Over the years, two bags that began with the same leather can grow to look completely different depending on the lives they've lived.

    Rae & Rue pieces are made to age with you, not stay frozen in time.

  • Rae & Rue bags are made to be used and loved for years. In all the years I've been making them. I've only ever had to replace a couple of rivets, never anything major.

    I use riveted construction because it's strong, but also because individual rivets can easily be replaced if they ever need attention.

    My own Rae & Rue bag, one of the very first I made, is still in regular use eight years later.

    If your bag ever needs a small repair, please get in touch. I'd much rather fix a small issue and see your bag continue to be used than have it tucked away in the back of a cupboard.

  • Leather is a by-product of the meat industry, and for me, using it is about respecting the material and making sure as little as possible goes to waste.

    If an animal has already been raised for food, I believe there is value in making use of the hide rather than allowing a beautiful, durable natural material to be discarded.

    I treat every hide that reaches my workbench with respect, celebrating its natural scars, markings and character, and creating pieces intended to be used for many years.

  • My bags are generally left unlined, allowing the natural leather and construction of the piece to remain part of the design.

    It also means there isn't a fabric lining to wear, tear or need replacing over the years. Where a particular design requires additional interior elements, these will be shown and described in the individual listing.

  • Yes, international shipping is available.

    As shipping costs vary considerably depending on the destination and size of the piece, please contact me directly for current international shipping pricing before purchasing.

    Any customs duties, taxes or import charges applied once your order reaches your country are the responsibility of the recipient.

  • Absolutely. I know purchasing a handmade leather piece online is very different from being able to pick it up, feel the leather and see it in person.

    I include plenty of photographs with each listing, but if you'd like to see a particular detail, the inside of the bag, how it sits when carried, or simply a few more angles, please get in touch. I'm always happy to send additional photos or video before you decide.

  • Yes. Lay-by is available on selected Rae & Rue pieces by arrangement.

    If you've fallen in love with a piece and would like to pay it off over time, please contact me directly before purchasing. We'll agree on a deposit, payment schedule and final payment date, and your piece will be removed from sale and held especially for you.

    If you're having difficulty completing your lay-by within the agreed timeframe, please contact me before the final payment date. I'm always happy to discuss your circumstances where possible.

    Full lay-by terms will be provided before your lay-by is confirmed.