Charlie Laurie – Entrepreneur Inspired By Ancestor To Start His Own Business

Charles Laurie London is a leather goods company and manufacturer founded by craftsman and designer Charlie Laurie in 2016.

With 15 years’ experience in the industry, Charlie and his team design and manufacture everything in house by hand, using a combination of modern and traditional techniques. Alongside his own collection, he also manufactures leather goods for some of the UK’s high end luxury brands. Additionally, he offers a bespoke commission service for both the fashion and interior industries.

Inspired by his ancestor, Sir Peter Laurie, who had a saddlery business on Oxford Street in the 1800’s, Charlie began his leatherwork journey at Capel Manor College in 2009. After graduating and receiving the ‘Excellence in Saddlery Bursary Award’ from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, Charlie went on to be an apprentice for one of London’s finest leather goods manufacturers. Here he was taught by some of the country’s most experienced and talented leather workers, some of whom have been in the industry for over 50 years. Having gained extensive knowledge and skills in leather craft Charlie was inspired and ready to start his own venture in 2016. Charlie was awarded the Cockpit Arts prestigious Leatherseller’s award and bursary for three years in a row but then after Covid, Charlie made the move up to Rutland where his studio is now based.

Since starting Charles Laurie London, there have been many highs but also lows which anyone who has their own business would know. It takes many years to build up a strong trade customer base and when Covid hit, it certainly shook things up but now on the other side of it, Charlie feels his business is in a much stronger position. Covid actually gave him time to re-evaluate the direction he wanted to go, with manufacturing currently taking centre stage.

Charlie feels that a huge part of setting up and building his business was receiving the bursary from the Leathersellers whilst he was in London. They helped fund his studio space at Cockpit Arts in Deptford for three years, giving him the time and space to develop collections and get his business off the ground.

His advice to anyone wanting to get into the leather industry is to start out in a leather goods business learning and soaking up all the skills you can to gain extensive knowledge and perfect your craft. A few tips for wannabe entrepreneurs would be not be afraid, just to jump in and go for it. What is the worst that can happen? You are bound to make mistakes along the way, like everybody does, but you will learn from those mistakes and it will become easier with time. When things go right, it is so rewarding.

Website: https://charleslaurielondon.com/