Evelyne Wanjiku crafted a stunning cognac leather handbag for Wolfgang, seamlessly blending security and style with elegant practicality. What's your wish?
A request by Wolfgang from Seevetal, Germany
Ladies leather handbag with a zipper on the top of the bag and an additional outward facing flap with buckle (if it is feasible, otherwise with snap). The shoulder strap is attached to a swivel in the middle of each side of the bag. This allows the bag to be flipped 180 degrees if needed without the shoulder strap twisting. Thus, the zipper is at the bottom and is very securely protected from unauthorized access by the envelope flap then facing inwards towards the wearer and its closure.
Designation in the drawing
A -> Viewed from the front B -> Side view C -> Viewed from the top
1 Envelope flap with the (invisible) zipper underneath
2 Buckle fastener (push button if necessary)
3 Swivel for fastening the shoulder strap (The photo is exemplary)
4 shoulder strap
length: 30 cm, height: 24 cm, thickness: 10 cm
Color: Cognac
The Journey of Creating custom made Ladies leather handbag with a zipper on the top
Negotiation & Planning
custom made Ladies leather handbag with a zipper on the top - design ideas and artisan proposals
Dear Wolfgang,
I would be pleased to make you this bag. It's a very interesting idea.
I will attach a photo of a bag we have made in cognac leather, just to confirm that it's the shade you would like.
I also need to confirm the kind of swivel we can find here so that we see if it will work well for this bag. Once I have it I'll share photos.
09 Mar 2021 1:38 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
the color looks good, only the envelope flap and the buckle could be a bit smaller and more elegant.
Question about this: If my idea is successful after being presented in a big German women's magazine, could you or you also produce larger quantities or only single pieces or small series?
Dear Wolfgang,
Thank you for your message.
The photo was among our first experimental pieces, so one of our least favourite bags, I just wanted you to see the colour. I forgot to explain earlier.
As for your idea, we would be happy to produce it for you.
At the moment, we are a small workshop, feels like a small family unit. We have simply been doing custom orders in small quantities. However, as the orders have been coming in, we are thinking of growing and getting more tailors.
What has kept us from growing has been a worry of bringing in new people and maybe being unable to give them work or pay consistently coz I are really concerned about being fair to everyone I work with.
Incase you would need us to produce large quantities, I would just need to expand the premises and get more tailors because I consistently have good tailors coming in to ask for work. Sometimes they are lucky, we can give them a day or 2 contract. What would make me happy is being able to offer them a consistent job.
So in short, yes we can produce large quantities, but it would need preparation on my end. With a month's notice, this can be arranged.
Now that the cognac leather is what you were describing, I would like to go ahead to start cutting the pattern based on the pattern you sent through.
I got the idea of the swivel hook quite well in my head, but I have to do it practically to see if it will work. We got the swivel hook locally cast, we just need to test how well it will function on a bag.
I will send you pictures and videos as we work. I feel that this such a wonderful idea.
Crafting Process
How to make a custom made Ladies leather handbag with a zipper on the top – work in progress
Dear Wolfgang,
Thank you for the go ahead.
We will send you videos as we work.
As the week has just ended, we will start working in this on Monday, we will keep you updated throughout the process.
Have a lovely day and weekend ahead.
Evelyne
Dear Wolfgang,
Thank you for the go ahead.
We will send you videos as we work.
As the week has just ended, we will start working in this on Monday, we will keep you updated throughout the process.
Have a lovely day and weekend ahead.
Evelyne
12 Mar 2021 9:01 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for the information, have a nice weekend and I am looking forward to next week.
Many greetings
Wolfgang
Dear Wolfgang,
I hope you're well.
We are currently working on cutting your pattern.
I've attached a video so you can see what we are doing.
We hope to be done by tomorrow. We will test the swivel detail first and let you know how it's working first.
Have a good day.
Evelyne
16 Mar 2021 1:21 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for your video.
Best regards and stay all healthy,
Wolfgang
Dear Wolfgang,
I hope you have been well.
We have progressed with your bag. I've sent you the photos of how far we are.
However, I feel I need a clarification.
Since the bag will be carried upside down, I would suggest we make the zip go from one end to the next and be completely attached to the body. This will ensure nothing even coins can fall out when carried upside down.
Another things is, how do you prefer the edges? We have done them with a binding as you can see in the photos. What do you think about that?
We have the option of piping or binding. Piping would be neater especially on the edges.
If we do piping, the corners will slightly change shape to an oval.
We are waiting for the blacksmith to bring on the swivel hooks tomorrow, we will let you know once they're here.
Let me know what you think of the photos and also how the bag is coming out so far and if it's meeting your expectations so far.
Have a nice day.
Evelyne.
18 Mar 2021 4:29 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
the bag already looks good. Now just add the shoulder strap to both sides of the bag in the middle of each on a swivel and it is ready.
Many greetings and thanks for your quick work.
Wolfgang
Dear Wolfgang,
Thank you for the confirmation.
The blacksmith hasnt delivered the buckles yet, but he has finished making them. Hopefully we get your bag done by tomorrow.
Have a lovely day.
Evelyne
19 Mar 2021 4:54 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
that is no problem, there is no hurry.
Many greetings
Wolfgang
Thank you Wolfgang.
We will send the final photo hopefully tomorrow.
The buckles finally arrived yesterday, we want to try them on tomorrow and see if we got it right. We will then share the photos.
Have a lovely Sunday
Evelyne.
22 Mar 2021 4:30 pm: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
thank you very much for your info.
You also wrote that you have a blacksmith who supplies the buckles (and also the swivels?).
I have another very special hammer on order from Urban Change Lab, which I unfortunately still haven't heard anything about yet.
Could your blacksmith make a hammer and also weld it? If so, I would ask Jochen Baumeister to send you this request of mine as well, to get a sample there as well.
Best regards and thanks for your quick work.
Wolfgang
Dear Wolfgang,
I hope you're well. I'll speak to the blacksmith and get back to you on that tomorrow. I'll ask Jonchen to transfer the order if it's something my blacksmith can do.
Your bag is ready. I had to do it twice, because i wanted to be sure that the bag upside down would not pour the content. I wonder what you think of the modification. What we did was simply make the zip completely attach to the body of the bag, unlike in the first attempt.
Both attempts are here with me, just in case you like one better than the other. I'll send the one you like best. One has a piping boundary, the other has a binding.
We attached the swivel. I really want to know if this is what you had in mind. Please do let me know so we can modify it if necessary.
I look forward to hearing your opinion.
Have a great evening.
Evelyne
23 Mar 2021 11:02 am: Wolfgang
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for your info. The bag looks really beautiful. You are quite an excellent craftswoman with a very good taste in fashion!
I don't know what a piping limit is, but you are the expert and as a woman, you know best of all what looks most beautiful and is safest. I rely on you 100% for that.
For me, the bag looks perfect now and I can finally present it to the biggest European women's magazine after receiving it. With that, I will try to find a sponsor or somehow market it myself. If that works out, you're very welcome as a producer.
Perhaps your blacksmith can produce my other invention, the triple hammer. That would be desirable, because then I could finally present it to a DIY magazine.
Best regards and many thanks for all your work!
Wolfgang
Dear Wolfgang,
Thank you for the kind words.
I hope you will succeed in getting a sponsor. Here we say, the important bit in getting something done is simply getting started. The sponsors will definitely come and I'll be happy to produce for you.
I've forwarded the name of the blacksmith to jonchen's team. I hope she will be able to assist. She does a really neat job, you will see in the buckles on your handbag. That's a really nice idea you have there.
I'll send the bag to Jonchen's team tomorrow. I wish you all the best in your venture.
Best regards,
Evelyne.
23 Mar 2021 5:53 pm: Wolfgang
Thank you dear Evelyne, you are a real treasure! Even in retirement I continue to write for the quarterly company newspaper of a large German company with a print run of 3300 copies and I am planning an article about Urban Change Lab for the June issue. I really like the idea behind it and maybe the readers will want to have a bag from you or something else. First though, thank you so much for all your many and very good posts. Stay healthy!
Hi Wolfgang,
Thank you for the kind words.
I wish you the best as you continue to write your posts.
Im sorry it might take a bit longer to get you your bag as I have to redo your bag. In trying to ensure that nothing would fall out when carried upside down, we may have redone the bags sides, and also redone the rivets holding the buckle. I feel it doesn't look as good as it should. It should take just until Saturday. We want to make sure what gets to you is perfect.
Kindly bare with us. We will keep you updated as usual as we work.
Have a great day.
Evelyne.
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for your feedback. Please don't stress too much though, I'm looking forward to getting the bag eventually.
Best regards to Kenya,
Wolfgang (Automatic translation)
Happy Easter,
I hope your weekend is going well
We have redone your bag, made smaller buckles so they won't be as loud as the last version. I hope you will like it better.
We are fixing the buckles tomorrow and that is all that's left to do.
Have a lovely afternoon. I'll send you a good photo with the final version tomorrow.
Good weekend
Evelyne
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for your answer and I am looking forward to hearing from you again.
Best regards
Wolfgang (Automatic translation)
Hi Wolfgang,
We are currently fixing the buckles. The first bag had one and a half inch buckles, this one will have an inch only. I've sent you a photo so you can see how they look. I think they will be gentler on the eye than the bigger ones we used.
I will alert you once we finish
Enjoy Easter Monday
Evelyne
Dear Evelyne,
you must mean the swirls and not the buckle. As a woman and experienced fashion expert you know what looks beautiful. Anyway, I like very much what you do. Thank you very much for your work.
Best regards
Wolfgang (Automatic translation)
Dear Wolfgang,
I hope you are well. We finished redoing the bag. It should be on its way to you very soon.
I hope it will work well for you in your venture. I wish you all the best. I will be looking forward to news of how the bag will be received in Germany.
Have a great evening.
All the best,
Evelyne
Thank you dear Evelyne for all your work and I am looking forward to the beautiful bag. Do you have a photo for me, because I would like to see that again before? Best regards and stay healthy, Wolfgang. (Automatic translation)
Dear Wolfgang,
I hope you're well.
Unfortunately, I did not take a final photo before delivering to UCL.
However, the bag did not change in any way, the only part I changed was the buckles which I made smaller. Otherwise the rest remains as in the photos I had sent you earlier.
You will soon be able to see the photos on the UCL page.
Thank you for your understanding.
Have a great evening.
Evelyne
Dear Evelyne,
thank you for all your work and I am looking forward to receiving the beautiful bag. Gladly I make advertising for you and your excellent work, if someone else would like to have a bag or I later again.
Best regards to Nairobi,
Wolfgang (Automatic translation)
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON004961E-23772
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
59.38
|
| Cost of labour |
19.79
|
| Cost of packaging |
1.19
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
2.38
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
82.74
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
8.27
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
8.27
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
20
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
18.86
|
| Total |
141.94
|
*Shipping costs and VAT vary depending on your location.
Each price shown is based on a unique, custom request. Final prices may vary depending on materials, effort, and delivery location.
