Stella Gikonyo crafted a beautifully sleek leather wallet for Michael, blending practical elegance with biker style, fulfilling his wish for a unique, personalized design. What's your wish?
A request by Michael from Frankfurt, Germany
I would like to have a wallet with the external dimensions of 13 x 10.5 cm. I have attached a drawing.
– Thick leather, but overall wallet as thin as possible.
– I am thinking of a saddle leather quality in brown (rather lighter brown).
– Stitching should be done with coarse lighter (maybe beige) sturdy thread.
– Overall, the wallet would be visually similar to so-called biker wallets, but much thinner in use. Therefore I think of only a few layers of leather (open to 2, closed to 4).
– On one side should be two “credit card compartments”, in each of which 2 stacks of cards each 3 to fit cards (so a total of 6 to 8 cards).
– On the other side there should be a coin compartment (without snap fastener etc.), which is closed by folding the whole wallet in the middle.
– In the “central” fold of the entire wallet should be a bill clip (so-called dollar clip) can accommodate bills. How such a clip is connected to the leather, however, I do not know.
I think the wallet can be made even from one piece of leather. If necessary also from 3 pieces of leather or from 5 pieces of leather (see drawing).
The Journey of Creating Custom Made Leather Wallet in saddle leather quality
Negotiation & Planning
Hello Micheal,
My name is Gikonyo and i am happy to provide you with an offer for your bikers wallet.
As per your illustration, the wallet is to close up with a snap lock right ?
I look forward to your response.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Stellar,
thank you for your message.
The photo is just an example of a good saddle leather.
The drawing, on the other hand, shows the design that will be implemented.
- No, the drawn "snap" is not to close the wallet. It is supposed to represent a so-called bill clip (also called a dollar clip). This is to hold the bills in the center of the wallet (centered in relation to both the horizontal and vertical shape of the wallet). Therefore, there should be no bill compartment. I'll send 3 more photos of a sample design implemented (with bad leather) in a moment.
- So there should be only 3 "compartments", 2 for credit cards and 1 for coins.
- The wallet, including the coin compartment, should not have any closure, it is simply closed by folding it shut. Therefore, please make sure that coins can not fall out when the wallet is closed.
- Unlike the new 3 photos, the credit cards should be able to be pushed a little deeper into the 2 compartments provided for this purpose,.
- I have tried to show on the drawing where a sewn double leather layer should be, namely only in the area of the 2 compartments for credit cards.
Please contact me, if there are still ambiguities.
Best regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Hello Micheal.
The details are clear.
Polite request, please share the images of the wallet that was not up to par.
In the meantime, i will sit down with my team as discuss the design after which we wil seek clarifications on what is not clear.
Kind regards
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Stellar,
nice to hear from you, so I can attach the 3 announced photos (attaching was technically not possible after sending my last message).
Regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Hello Micheal.
Thank you for your feedback.
The photos are clear and informative.
We will proceed with creating the pattern towards production.
Kind regards.
Gikonyo Stellar
Crafting Process
Artisan’s Progress Updates
Good day Micheal,
We are happy to receive your order.
We shall proceed with procuring all the required leather and accessories as we get started.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Good day Micheal,
We are happy to receive your order.
We shall proceed with procuring all the required leather and accessories as we get started.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Hello Gikonyo Stellar,
all right, see you then.
Greetings Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael,
We have procured all the materials and generated the pattern.
We will proceed with the production and keep you updated.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Greetings Michael,
We have procured all the materials and generated the pattern.
We will proceed with the production and keep you updated.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Thanks for the pictures. The leather looks good on it.
I have a hard time interpreting the drawing though.
I can't attach another picture right now that shows how the purse should look when folded. It should then look something like a symmetrical small leather bound rectangular book. (Automatic translation)
Hello Micheal,
The pattern wallet will come together as per your requirments.
We are currently trying to see and we be able to use one piece of leather or two.
We will have an answer in the new week as we plan for production.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar.
Hello Micheal,
The pattern wallet will come together as per your requirments.
We are currently trying to see and we be able to use one piece of leather or two.
We will have an answer in the new week as we plan for production.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar.
Good evening, just now from my vacation I attached an admittedly rough drawing of the purse in the closed state.
On the question of one or more pieces of leather: I think if you take one piece, two 180 degree bends are required. Maybe that is against the goal of a thin wallet. But maybe it is possible, for example by tight stitching. After all, that's for you to judge.
Have a nice evening
Michael (Automatic translation)
Good day Micheal,
Your feedback is well received.
Allow us two days to work on the design after which we will share the prototype for your approval.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Good day Micheal,
Your feedback is well received.
Allow us two days to work on the design after which we will share the prototype for your approval.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Ok, see you then.
Greetings Michael (Automatic translation)
Hello Micheal,
Please bear with us.
The design is taking longer than we anticipated and we will get there this weekend.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Micheal,
Please bear with us.
The design is taking longer than we anticipated and we will get there this weekend.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Good morning Gikonyo Stellar,
Ok
Greetings
Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael,
We have made progress and we made the first sample.
The wallet wil be two pieces joined together so as to keep the functionality.
I will have the final product in the next two days.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Greetings Michael,
We have made progress and we made the first sample.
The wallet wil be two pieces joined together so as to keep the functionality.
I will have the final product in the next two days.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
All clear
Michael (Automatic translation)
Good day Micheal,
We have finalized on the wallet.
The 10x13cm size is a bit squeezed to accommodate the cash, cards and change pocket.
We have adjusted the measurments to accommodate 8 cards, coin pocket and money clip.
Please find the photos for your review.
Kind regards,. Gikonyo Stellar
Good day Micheal,
We have finalized on the wallet.
The 10x13cm size is a bit squeezed to accommodate the cash, cards and change pocket.
We have adjusted the measurments to accommodate 8 cards, coin pocket and money clip.
Please find the photos for your review.
Kind regards,. Gikonyo Stellar
Sorry, I only get to reply today. Thanks for the implementation and the pictures.
The adjustments of the size is ok, also the further implementation, except for one exception: what should not be like in your photos is the big leather flap with the push button. Obviously, this leather flap should close the purse and I therefore suspect a second push button (the counterpart of the push button on the leather flap), but it is not visible in your pictures.
But the purse should not have a clasp and no snaps (see my drawings). After all, it should be carried folded, for example, in a pants pocket and is then held by the pants pocket in folded state. In addition, the large leather flap is another leather layer that can be dispensed with to make the wallet as thin as possible. Also paired snaps would make the purse a little thicker, which is to be avoided.
It may be that the large leather flap with the snap can simply be cut off, but probably then interferes with the 2nd snap I suspect.
Therefore, if you should make a second purse without the large leather flap, one more suggestion about the seams. It would be nice - if possible - to have seams that look like the one in the photo I attached as an example of a good saddler's leather. But it does not necessarily have to be like that.
Please contact me if anything is still unclear. Until then greetings
Michael (Automatic translation)
Thank you Michael,
Allow us sometime to review your feedback for implementation.
Best Regards.
Gikonyo Stellar
Thank you Michael,
Allow us sometime to review your feedback for implementation.
Best Regards.
Gikonyo Stellar
All right, see you then
Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael,
We are recreating the wallet with your guidelines, we should have feedback for you in 4 days incase of further questions.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Greetings Michael,
We are recreating the wallet with your guidelines, we should have feedback for you in 4 days incase of further questions.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
All right
Greetings
Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Micheal,
We are making good progress with the design.
I will be sharing photos In the coming week.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Greetings Micheal,
We are making good progress with the design.
I will be sharing photos In the coming week.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Gikonyo Stellar,,
All clear
Greetings
Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael,
Kindly bear with us, it has taken more time than we anticipated.
We are almost there.
Thanks
Gikonyo
Greetings Michael,
Kindly bear with us, it has taken more time than we anticipated.
We are almost there.
Thanks
Gikonyo
All right, I am not in a hurry. Greetings Michael (Automatic translation)
Thank you for patience.
We will have everything ready in the new week.
Best Regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Thank you for patience.
We will have everything ready in the new week.
Best Regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Ok, see you then
Michael (Automatic translation)
Thank you Micheal, for your allowing us the time.
We have understood your requirments and are in production.
We will have an update in 5 days.
Kind regards
Gikonyo Stellar.
Thank you Micheal, for your allowing us the time.
We have understood your requirments and are in production.
We will have an update in 5 days.
Kind regards
Gikonyo Stellar.
Ok (Automatic translation)
Hi Michael,
We trust you are well.
Thank you for patience. We want to make sure we get the design right.
We are almost there
With thanks,
Gikonyo Stellar
Is all right, until then
Michael (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael,
Thank you for your patience, we will see to it we get the design right.
Kind regards.
Gikonyo Stellar
Okay (Automatic translation)
Greetings Michael.
Pardon us for taking so long.
We are now sure of being ready in a week's time.
Kind regards, Gikonyo Stellar
OK, I am curious (Automatic translation)
Hello Micheal.
We are delayed in our timelines as we try to figure out how to fit the bills in the money clip without extending the size of the wallet.
I believe we are not far from fixingthe problem.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Ok (Automatic translation)
Good day Micheal.
We are embarrassed for this delay.
We are committed to finalizing this project this coming week.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Yes, I would be happy if it should work out now.
Regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Good day Micheal.
Please find the photos for your review.
Do let us know if we have captured your requirments.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Gikonyo Stellar,
Thanks for your message and your five photos. The wallet looks good, but there is still that expendable "leather tab" that creates an avoidable 5th layer of leather when the wallet is closed. That can go.
I had written at the time about this "leather flap", which I have copied here following purely:
What should not be as in your photos, is the large leather flap with the push button. Obviously, this leather flap should close the purse and I therefore suspect a second push button (the counterpart of the push button on the leather flap), which is not visible in your pictures. But the purse should have no clasp and no snaps (see my drawings). After all, it should be carried folded, for example, in a pants pocket and is then held by the pants pocket in folded state. In addition, the large leather flap is another leather layer that can be dispensed with to make the wallet as thin as possible. (End of copied text).
Unfortunately, I do not succeed just now to attach pictures on which I could have marked this dispensable "leather flap" on your photos.
Best regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Hello Mr. Michael,
We apologise for taking this long.
We have reviewed the conversation to see where we are
misunderstanding your requitments and we believe we have understood our error which we have corrected in. Our demo wallet.
We will cut off the additional flap to keep the wallet two part only ie coin pocket and card pocket.
The two sections will close up and yes this can be one piece of leather only.
Let me know from the attached photos if we have understood your requitments.
Also lets us know if the card pocket should be separated into two sections as per the image or we need to keep it as one pocket.
We look forward to your response.
Upon confirmation we proceed to finalize within 24 hours.
Kind regards
Gikonyo Stellar.
Hello Gikonyo Stellar,
yes, now the demo wallet looks good (as for example on the picture card-separater.jpg). And yes, the card wallet should remain divided into two sections (also as on card-separater.jpg).
Best regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Good day Micheal,
Please find the photos for your review.
We look forward to your feedback.
Kind regards,
Gikonyo Stellar
Hello Gikonyo Stellar,
Yes, now it looks good and right. That's how I take it.
Thanks and best regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
Hello Michael,
This is the local operations manager, I have shared photos of your wallet showing the external dimensions and the fit of the cards in their slots. Kindly have a look at them and confirm that you are completely satisfied with the wallet before we proceed with the shipping. Feel free to reach out for any further clarification.
Kind regards,
Vicky Achieng.
Hi Vicky,
Thank you for the quality review. For me the wallet is ok.
Best regards
Michael (Automatic translation)
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON009064E-46341
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
14.64
|
| Cost of labour |
10.98
|
| Cost of packaging |
0.73
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
2.2
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
28.55
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
2.86
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
2.86
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
30
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
6.51
|
| Total |
76.48
|
*Shipping costs and VAT vary depending on your location.
