Drawing inspiration from the kind of time-honoured fabrics reminiscent of an old-fashioned Scottish childhood, Catherine Aitken's handbags are made using the softest mohair, rough and smooth Harris Tweeds and other tweeds and wools available from the islands and the borders of Scotland.

Though strong in structure, the handbags are also soft and tactile - inside and out - with linings of silk dupion and moleskin, tiny fringed pockets and handles encased in velvet or leather.

Also reflected in the designer's collection is a series of romantic pictorial handbags taken from antique postcards of various castles in Scotland. And on a more humorous note, the strongly Scottish motif of the Highland Cow is used on handbags, purses and toilet bags.

Catherine Aitken has recently been commissioned to make handbags, purses, make-up and toilet bags for the National Galleries Titian Exhibition as well as supplying a range of handbags for sale in the Gallery shop.

Two new ranges are now amongst the designer's collection: Munro - harris tweed and leather bags for men; and Gretna - a bespoke service using mohair and harris tweed to create romantic little handbags for the bride.