Skyeskyns benefit from HIE innovation support

Skyeskyns turned to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), working with Senior Innovation Manager, John MacKenzie to shape their idea and access essential experts and R&D support. This support enabled the company to collaborate with two key partners - a leading marbling artist in New York, and the product design team at Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) Highlands and Islands campus in Forres.

“That combination was a game changer for us,” says Jess. “The marbling expert helped me build core techniques and develop our colour aesthetic, while GSA supported everything from brand development to designing our first capsule collection. Their input allowed us to turn an idea into a tangible, design-led product line.”

The project has resulted in a developing accessories collection grounded in Skyeskyns’ ethos of sustainability and low waste. Offcuts from larger items are transformed into jewellery and small goods, while the hero product - a handcrafted marbled leather bag -anchors the wider range. Early prototypes will soon be soft launched in Skyeskyns’ retail shops.

The company is now preparing for its major wholesale debut at Shoppe Object – an independent home and gift show taking place during New York Design Week in February 2026, followed by UK wholesale rollout and a planned appearance at a European trade. The new range will open opportunities across North America, UK and Europe, helping Skyeskyns reach new demographics and markets. The goal is not to stray far from the brand’s essence of featuring across smaller independent shops. 

For Jess, the support has been transformational:

“This whole project is about growth and diversification. We’re stepping into fashion and accessories for the first time, building a new product line from scratch all whilst working with another endangered heritage craft.”

Looking ahead, Skyeskyns is already exploring a second phase of R&D with HIE Innovation for this collection.