Pick up a Piper & Skye bag and you’ll understand the appeal immediately. The leather has weight yet still yields when pressed, the texture shifts subtly in the light, and every aspect of the design feels deliberate. It’s understated, but it commands attention.
The brand celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, marking a full decade since Joanna MacDonald decided to build a company that views luxury as something earned through respect, not excess. In 2015, she was working in human resources for an agricultural manufacturing company—not in fashion. That experience taught her about supply chains, waste reduction, process improvement, operational efficiency, the true cost of goods and the importance of prioritizing quality.
Later, while studying at the London College of Fashion, she began to think about how those lessons could transform the way we create beautiful things. “I wanted to make something people would love,” she said, “but only if it could be done responsibly.”
Piper & Skye’s first collection featured small, simple silhouettes in muted tones, but the reaction was immediate. Editors noticed the texture; customers noticed the feel. There was a sense of discovery in the way the leather caught the light, feeling both refined and natural. That became the signature: luxury that whispers, tactile materials that bring a smile to the wearer and materials that stand out.
Her initial solution was unconventional: pirarucu leather, made from the skin of a massive Amazonian fish that serves as a staple in South America. The meat is eaten; the hides become waste. Through a long-standing partnership with Nova Kaeru—a tannery known for its plant-based process—those hides became supple, durable leather with a quiet, water-like sheen. Each hide is traceable and certified by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), ensuring that every bag supports the communities catching the fish and protects their ecosystem.
The bags are currently handmade by artisans at the brand’s New Jersey workshop, with plans to expand production to a second facility on Long Island. Craftspeople cut and stitch by hand, and production runs remain intentionally small to reduce waste. Colors range from soft neutrals such as clay white, “Piper Pink” and cognac brown to richer shades, such as cobalt blue, lipstick red and canary orange. Each bag is designed to last and age gracefully, passed down through generations the way fine leather should be.
Over the years, MacDonald has built an internal network of craftspeople, tanneries and suppliers who understand the brand’s slower rhythm. Some have been with her since those first prototypes. The collaboration between designer and maker is deeply personal, built on mutual respect rather than scale. “Every person in our process matters. That’s how the product gets its soul,” she said. It’s no wonder the brand’s tagline reads, “We Love What We’re Made Of.”
Piper & Skye now works with other responsible materials, including wild American alligator and even invasive species like the Florida python. MacDonald calls it “designing with respect.” Her goal isn’t to chase novelty, but to keep finding innovative ways to use what the planet already gives us.
The company’s ethics reach beyond its studio. Piper & Skye’s commitment to responsible design has earned the brand the Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury—a certification awarded only to companies that meet the highest standards for environmental and social impact. That same philosophy of care and accountability extends beyond materials into community, inspiring MacDonald to create Safe Transitions, a nonprofit helping women and children—many leaving shelters after violence or trafficking—move into permanent homes.
If you ask MacDonald what matters most, she talks about endurance and values. Ten years in, the company is still growing slowly, relying on word of mouth and repeat customers who appreciate that its values are as solid as its stitching. Hold one of the bags, and it makes sense: respect, responsibility and community.
The surface of each Piper & Skye handbag features subtle irregularities that feel human—the kind you only get from craft, not mass production. “We are all perfectly imperfect,” MacDonald said. “We honor the beauty marks of nature.” There’s no heavy branding, no performative minimalism—just clarity.
Looking ahead, MacDonald plans to strengthen partnerships with her Amazonian suppliers, expand the brand’s philanthropic efforts and continue exploring the ongoing evolution of innovative materials. “The world doesn’t need more things,” she said. “It needs better ones.”
Piper & Skye isn’t chasing scale or speed. Its success has come from patience—from a belief that integrity can be just as magnetic as status. Ten years in, the brand’s promise remains simple: create with care, mean more and let quality do the talking.
