Ashley Macomber  Models one of the Colorful Bags for Sale at Rough & Tumble in the Old Port of Portland.  These Bags Have Lots of Interior Pockets!

Men’s “Ditty Bags” are Available for $108.00 as Shown by Ashley Macomber.  Other Men’s Leather Products are Also Available Here.

Leather Bags Come in a Variety of Sizes and Colors as Seen in the Above Photo.  Egg Plant is a Particular Favorite Color of This Blogger.

Leather, leather and more leather bags are the colorful core of  the flagship store of Rough & Tumble that opened earlier this year at 176 Middle Street, at the corner of Exchange Street, in the Old Port of Portland.  The location was formerly the site of the controversial coffee shop owned by  Starbucks Coffee Company.

But there is nothing controversial about the high quality and appeal of the  leather bags and accessories available at this recently opened boutique.. Rather, there is much to commend here.  All the leather products come in numerous colors which are particularly welcome during the sometimes colorless days of winter.  Egg plant is a particularly appealing color to this blogger.

Natasha Durham, boutique owner, uses ethically sourced leather – much of it is a bipoduct of the meat industry  according to Ashley Macomber, assistant sales manager at the boutique,  A lot of that leather comes from Italy and France.  Durham also uses leather from tanneries from around the US. As a former Portland restaurant owner, this is an industry with which Durham is well-acquainted.

All manufacturing is done in Brunswick at the Fort Andres Mill, 14 Main Street..  In other words, these leather products are not mass produced.  “There is an inherent beauty  in something made one at a time,” said Natasha Durham.

And remember that Valentine’s Day is coming soon!  R&T is open seven days a week for your shopping convenience.