Satchel Team

Elizabeth, founder and owner of Satchel, and a native of Covington, Louisiana, graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2005 with a BFA in Fashion Design. Hailing from a long line of hard-headed, talented German women and armed with a strong sense of independence, lots of love and a few vintage sewing machines, Elizabeth opened Satchel. in October of 2006.  Other than making things and continually learning how to run a business, Elizabeth is intensely passionate about good food, live music, campfires, cozy homes, water views, champagne, and bourbon. 

Mahala Lewis Robyn, head of design and production, joined Satchel in 2009. She also landed in Savannah thanks to SCAD.  Well versed in children's clothes, costume design, and handbags, Mahala was an easy fit.  Her "I can make that!" attitude and enthusiasm, combined with her love of a good challenge, quickly took hold.  Her other specialties include painting, raising an amazing "old soul" daughter Eisa, and keeping everyone on their toes with her sarcastic, tell-it-like-it-is humor.

Mary Kate Polsinelli is a Satchel expert, as well as designer and production coordinator. She interned at Satchel in 2013 for a required graduation credit at Georgia Southern University, and was so good that Elizabeth and Mahala didn't let her leave. A member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Mary Kate has the southern grace, manners, pep, and the best multitasking ability we've ever seen! Mary Kate enjoys party planning  anything that sparkles, the beach, shoes (all the shoes!), country music, and dessert. Specifically donuts.

Shannon moved to Savannah from South Florida to attend SCAD in 2008 where she majored in Graphic Design. With an affinity for sewing, quick wit, and some of the most masterful cut & prep skills we’ve ever seen, adding Shannon to the team in 2015 was a no brainer! Growing up the daughter of a craftsman, her skills don’t stop at leather and thread. Part-time archer, wood working novice and full time awesome, this crafty lady is 100% Satchelette. If you’re looking for Shannon after hours, she’s likely to be found at the nearest thrift store, snuggling with her cat Ash, or treasure hunting with her boyfriend Michael.

Our Website Guru Extraordinaire, Jamie, joined us in late 2018, and you have her (and the pandemic) to thank for being able to shop our entire stock online. She is from Savannah and has lived here for most of her life. Jamie manages all things website-related, handles customer service, and you can catch her silly videos on our TikTok page. Additionally, she serves as our unofficial IT specialist, with an expert proficiency in using Google. If she's not at work, you can find her hanging out at home with her husband, their dog Penny, and their cats Nermal and Ody.

Greg came to us from Lexington, Kentucky. He's our jack-of-all-trades; he fills in wherever he is needed, and always with a smile. He does everything from customer service and sewing to keeping all of our plants alive and happy. When he's not at Satchel or Port City Sewing Factory, you can find him at his happy place - the beach - working on cultivating the beautiful plants in his yard or riding around town on his lime-green beach cruiser and hanging out with Jerry and Ladybug, his adorable puppies.

Mandy joined Satchel in August of 2022 and fit right in with our shop crew. Originally from Wisconsin, she came to Savannah to go to SCAD and has a masters in performing arts. She met her now husband while in school and they moved to New York after she graduated. The pandemic brought them back south where they got married and planted their roots. She started with us as cutting and prepping bags and now she sews them too! Mandy enjoys antiquing and print making in her spare time and spending time with her husband and cats Buscemi and Tiki.

Our sister company. When we talk about "the factory" this is what we mean! Port City Sewing Factory is a small batch sewn goods manufacturing company. They support us with new in stock items regularly and batches of custom orders from time to time. These ladies are essential to satchel having things in the shop to sell!