Natalie Anne by Natalie Haigh Bag Maker & Denim Upcycling Practitioner
Natalie Haigh is a textile artist specialising in handcrafted bags and fashion-edited denim clothing, working under the label Natalie Anne. Her work brings together sustainability, creativity and practicality, resulting in original, bespoke pieces designed to be both beautiful and functional.
Working primarily with reclaimed denim and fabric offcuts, Natalie favours natural fibres such as cotton, while also incorporating vegan leather and waterproof canvas when it suits a bag’s intended use. Each piece is individually handcrafted using high-quality zips and hardware, with close attention paid to durability and finish. While many of her creations are commissioned—crafted with a specific personality or purpose in mind—her latest work has taken a new direction.
For Hampshire Open Studios, Natalie has created a special series titled The Recovery Collection. Designed from her own perspective of what makes a bag truly useful, stylish and fun, these pieces reflect themes of restoration and renewal: recovering textiles from landfill, and her own personal journey of recovery from illness, which led her to begin sewing.
Denim, with its hard wearing charm and capacity for reinvention, is at the heart of her practice. Whether left simple or elevated with embroidery, paint or mixed textiles, it offers a rich canvas for creative reuse. Much of Natalie’s inspiration comes from observing everyday life—individual style, street fashion, and practical needs. Alongside her studio practice, she has led hands-on workshops in denim bag making and continues to take on occasional commissions, creating everything from everyday handbags to travel bags—as well as one-of-a-kind reworked denim jackets and garments.