Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth made Jutta a leather tote that feels feminine, elegant, and easy for everyday life, shaped with care to suit her style. What's your wish? →
View material & custom-made details
The Bespoke Leather Tote Bag With Zip Top was made as a dark brown everyday leather handbag with a feminine look, secure top closure and organized interior. Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth completed it as a useful example for anyone considering a custom leather tote with personal details and practical storage.
- Request: A standard-size dark brown leather tote bag was requested with a more feminine feel, long shoulder straps, a zipped center compartment, a key finder and personalized name engraving.
- Final result: The finished bag was a dark brown leather tote with a full zip top closure, cotton lining, shoulder straps sized for comfortable carrying, and a personalized engraved name.
- Design details: Inside, the bag included a middle compartment with a zip for separating essentials, while the phone pocket was left out to keep the layout cleaner and closer to the owner’s preferred use.
- Fit and use: With 65 cm straps and a secure zipped top, this style suited daily errands, commuting or travel when a tote needs to stay easy to carry but more secure than an open shopper bag.
- Process: Progress photos showed the leather cut, stitched and finished step by step, and the completed bag was warmly received, with feedback praising the workmanship and the finished leather bag overall.
Every unique piece tells a story. What’s yours?
This design was custom-made exclusively for Jutta. Let it inspire you: customize this design to fit your vision or start with a completely new idea. You chat directly with our artisans, and we handle the secure process.
A request by Jutta from Hamburg, Germany
I would like to have a feminine leather tote bag.
Size: Standard
Color: Dark brown.
The Journey of Creating Bespoke Leather Tote Bag With Zip Top
Negotiation & Planning
Bespoke Leather Tote Bag With Zip Top - design ideas and artisan proposals
Hello Jutta, I am happy to provide an offer for your order.
I am a Kenyan leather artisan based in the Nairobi.
I will line your bag with cotton on the inside as it is in the picture attached.
I have also attached leather sample which will be used in the project
I would like to understand how many compartments you would like in your bag. I can put a compartment in the middle of the bag with a zip.
We can also include a phone pocket.
What length would you like the straps to be?
I can also engrave your name on the bag if you'd like that.
Hello, like a compartment in the middle with zipper, a keyfinder, gladly with my name. The straps 65 cm, no phone pocket (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, your requirements are well understood and will be done as per your request.
Crafting Process
How to make a Bespoke Leather Tote Bag With Zip Top – work in progress
Hello Jutta, please confirm that you want a zip at the top (to close the bag)
Yes that is correct (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, this is well noted and will be done.
Thank you for your work (Automatic translation)
You're welcome Jutta.
No questions open (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, I have attached photos of a sample tote bag that I will be making for you.
Please ignore the colour as we will be using dark brown.
We will.also put a compartment in the middle as previously discussed.
Kindly confirm that this is similar to the tote bag that we are making for you.
Looks very nice (Automatic translation)
Great! I will now proceed.
I will also attach photos and videos of the progress as we move along.
Thank you (Automatic translation)
You're welcome.
😊 (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, I should be able to send you pictures of the progress of your order tomorrow (Monday)
Regards.
Thank you and greetings (Automatic translation)
Hi Jutta, the leather is cut up ready for stitching.
Hello dear jakie, well done, kindly regards (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, you're welcome.
I have started the stitching and I have attached photos of the progress.
Great, kindly regards dear jakie (Automatic translation)
You're welcome Jutta.
Gteat, with kindly regards (Automatic translation)
Welcome.
Dear jackie that looks great (Automatic translation)
Thank you Jutta.
I hope you are fine (Automatic translation)
Yes I am fine Jutta.
The stitching of the bag is complete and I will engrave the name today - Saturday.
I am looking forward thank you (Automatic translation)
You're welcome Jutta.
I always brstätige belomme but always a reminder? (automatic translation)
I will send you pictures of the finished bag tomorrow with the name engraved.
Super thanks jakie (Automatic translation)
You're welcome Jutta.
Love jutta (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, your bag is ready!
I have uploaded some pictures.
Regards,
Jackie.
Hello jakie I am very excited, thank you and very dear greetings (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta, you are welcome.
The bag is now ready for shipping.
Very nice (Automatic translation)
Should we go ahead and ship?
Yes very much (Automatic translation)
Okay Jutta.
Looking forward to my bag (Automatic translation)
Hello Jutta
My name is Noel Waiganjo, local operations manager, Urban Change Lab. I'm currently doing the quality review and whereas the quality of the bag is good, Jackie added her own company logo as indicated in the pictures. Does this work for you? Kindly let me know and we'll ship the items as soon as possible.
Regards
Noel
All right (Automatic translation)
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON006257E-33779
Cost structure of this project
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
72.83
|
| Cost of labour |
36.42
|
| Cost of packaging |
8.09
|
| Local Transport to photoshoot and parcel drop-off |
4.05
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
121.39
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
12.14
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
12.14
|
| Total (excluding shipping & taxes) |
145.67
|
- Secure: Transparent ordering & approval
- Personal: We support you at every step
- Fair: Direct local value creation in Kenya
Note on shipping & taxes
The cost breakdown above shows how the value of this individual project is composed.
Shipping costs and any applicable taxes (e.g. VAT) depend on the delivery country and the specific setup and are therefore not shown as fixed amounts here.
All additional costs are communicated transparently before placing a binding order.
If you have any questions, you will find our contact details further down this page.
