“Coastal living is my heart. I make products that feel like sitting on the beach or soaking in a summer night. Two things I love – the smell of New England salt air and the smell of leather – always bring me there and I want to do the same for you. We’ll bring you to the coast in all your daily adventures, no matter where you are.”
Becky McKinnell, Founder + Designer
Wildwood Oyster Co.
Our signature salt air style
Made locally in our beautiful state of Maine, sewn one bag at a time.
Our signature salt air style is known for its gorgeous raw materials combined in an effortless way:
Responsibly sourced rugged and rich leather
We love the buttery feel and rich leather smell - it only gets better with age.
Stunning dock line rope in beautiful and vibrant colors
From our signature pop of teal to ink-black, our rope handles make a statement and are comfortable to wear.
Industrial brass for a golden pop of sunshine
Our industrial brass hardware adds unexpected contrast to the soft shapes of our bags.
A Birthday Present That Changed Everything
In 2017, my sister gave me a whole leather hide for my birthday, a gift that changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. With my sketchbook in hand, I designed a bag that felt like me: stylish, durable, and infused with the spirit of the ocean. That design became the Original Wildwood Bag, a minimalist boho tote that could carry everything from my laptop to a beach towel.
When I wore it out, people stopped me to ask where they could find one. I realized this wasn’t just a personal project, it was the start of something bigger. That’s the day Wildwood Oyster Co. was born.
Rooted in the Coast
Every detail of Wildwood is inspired by my love of the water:
Dock line rope that brings me back to my hometown of Scituate, Massachusetts, and forward to my life exploring the islands of Casco Bay, Maine.
Industrial brass accents that shine like a ray of summer sun.
Rugged leather that grows softer and more beautiful with every adventure.
These elements became our signature, and they still shape every design we create today.
The Name Wildwood Oyster Co.
Before handbags, there were oysters. My family and I began growing oysters near our home in 2015, and I started a blog to share what I was learning. When it came time to name my new handbag company, Wildwood Oyster Co. felt right—it held my love of the ocean, the coast, and the beauty of living close to nature.
About Me
I’m Becky McKinnell, designer, entrepreneur, and beach dreamer. I grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts, where salt air filled my childhood, and now live in Maine with my husband and daughter. Summers find us exploring Casco Bay; winters, skiing Maine’s mountains. Alongside Wildwood, I’m also the founder and president of iBec Creative, an e-commerce agency in Portland, Maine.
I’m endlessly grateful that Wildwood has grown from a birthday present into a community of people who love carrying the coast with them. Thank you for being here.
Made in Maine
The Journey of a Wildwood Oyster Co. Bag
Local Pride
Each Wildwood bag is made one at a time in Maine by people we know. We have spent years building relationships with our community and take great pride in knowing the people behind each step of the process of bringing a Wildwood bag to life.
The Sketching Phase
Becky finds that ideas for new products come at the most unexpected times, so she's always armed with a notebook or scrap of paper to capture what's in her head. She's inspired by nature, driven to create unique designs, and loves listening to feedback from customers to inspire her next designs.
Thoughtfully Selecting the Leather
We work with our local partner in Maine to responsibly source leather from around the world. We choose leather that celebrates the natural beauty of the hide and is super soft.
CUT TO PRECISION
Each bag has it's own metal die set that is used to stamp out the leather with a hydrolic machine. Every single part of leather that is cut is hand positioned by a person to make sure we are capturing the most beautiful part of the hide.
HAND SELECTING EACH PIECE
Once we have the leather shapes precisely cut, we carefully arrange each piece of the bag to make sure that the leather looks beautiful all together. We pay careful attention to the color and texture of the leather to make sure it looks perfect.
Stitched with forever in mind
Each bag is sewn with heavy duty thread and each stitch is examined to make sure that your bag will last through all of your adventures with it. We believe in making a bag that gets more beautiful with age and doesn't fall apart
Ready for Rope and Brass
Once our bags are sewn and carefully inspected for quality, they are ready for orders! Some of our bags will get rope handles added right away and we'll save a good portion of leather bags without handles so we can accommodate custom length requests from our customers. Our rope is made in New England and our brass is hand polished by one of our partners in Portland, Maine. We love knowing every single person that has helped make a Wildbag come to life!
Capturing Beach Magic
Best Parts of Our Job
One of our favorite things is heading to the beach, the place that inspires us the most, to take photos and videos of Wildwood bags and jewelry. We love sharing a piece of Maine's magical coast with you! You can always find Becky with an armful of bags ready for their moment in the spotlight!
INSPO
Our heart lives forever on the water. We invite you to join in our love for salt air. We also welcome you to these scenes from Maine. Let’s walk through a beautiful year together.
Summer in Maine
With sand and salt air in our hair, we live outside from sunrise to sunset. Each morning brings a new adventure, whether it’s working on our modest little oyster farm or spending a lazy beach day under a wide brimmed hat. When days end alongside friends while we enjoy lobster rolls and melting ice cream cones against a pink sky, life feels magical.
Fall in Maine
Like a crème brulée, our summer days slowly ease into orange skies and auburn leaves. In this beautiful time of transition, you’ll still find us on the beach – only now with our sleeves pulled over our hands and our sweatshirt hood pulled tight against the crisp salt breeze. In a season of open fires, warm drinks, and festive plans, Maine welcomes deep gratitude.
Winter in Maine
There’s a smell in the air, and a certain shade of sky, when you know it’s about to snow. It’s when we love to sit on the beach, the world enveloped in a soft silence, and watch the sand turn into a plush white blanket. Year after year, these white flakes return to meet the white capped waves after a long absence. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes we feel honored to experience.
Spring in Maine
There’s a smell in the air, and a certain shade of sky, when you know it’s about to snow. It’s when we love to sit on the beach, the world enveloped in a soft silence, and watch the sand turn into a plush white blanket. Year after year, these white flakes return to meet the white capped waves after a long absence. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes we feel honored to experience.
Made in Maine
We are proud to be made in the USA and woman owned.
new bags, surprise sales, and salt air vibes await.
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