Fatma Bashir crafted a vibrant, practical wallet for Steffi, blending elegant compartments with colorful patterns, tailored to her unique vision. What's your wish?
A request by Steffi from Berlin, Germany
Hi Urban Change Lab Team! I am looking for a new wallet and browsing your website I saw the customer project from Jana who asked for a leather wallet with colourful patterns and got inspired. So if possible I would like to ask for a wallet with a quite special combination of compartments. I will upload images of another wallet I found online and would like to have the same compartments with one difference: the pocket for coins does not need to be intersected by another pocket with a zipper. It should just be one single compartment opening comfortably wide to search for coins. Also the transparent compartment for a card inside the coin pocket is not necessary. For the material I could imagine two options: either leather-free but robust and colourful, or leather on the outside and colourful prints inside. As for the colours and patterns I am absolutely open to any suggestion of the artist. Do you think this is possible? Thanks so much and I´m looking forward to hearing from you, Steffi
The Journey of Creating Custom made wallet
Negotiation & Planning
Custom made wallet - design ideas and artisan proposals
Hi Steffi
My name is Fatma , I would like to fulfill your request. I am interested in understanding a little bit about your request. At you able to share your ideal size of wallet in inches -height, width and length? Will it fold once or twice? This is important for me to propose materials to work with.
Thank you looking forward to hearing from you
Fatma
Dear Fatma,
thanks a lot for your positive answer and sorry for taking so long to reply. I´m not ocmpletely fixed concerning the size. How about 6x4 inches? For the folding it should ideally fold as on the pictures that I uploaded. So 3 elements (2 for cards and notes and 1 for coins) should be connected on one side (like a book maybe) and be held together by a sort of "cover". Uff, I´m so sorry but it´s a little hard to describe. Actually the structure should be as on the pictures, just that the part where the coins go can be much simpler (no zipper case, only one case for coins). I hope this helps. If not, please feel free to ask again and I will try to explain in better words or look for more pictures. Thanks so much and all the best,
Steffi
Hi Steffi
Lovely to hear from you. I have searched an found a sample leather wallet that I think closely describes what you are seeking. Have a look at the images and advise me.
I would recommend that you work with a standard sized female wallet which is 8 inches in length. Let me know if the sample I shared in images and the size is what you want so that I can proceed to sharing with you the leather and colour full fabric options to move to the next step. Thank you
Hi Fatma,
thanks a lot. 8 inches length is also ok. The wallet you found and photographed is very good. The only thing I would like to have differently is the compartment for coins which should not close with a zipper but like on the image I´m attaching. Do you think this is possible? Cheers, Steffi
Hi Steffi
How are you? Sorry I took long I was looking at the purse you have photographed and seeing to make the coin purse. I can make with slight change so that it not bulky when full of coins and has no zip. That will be okay? I am looking for a photo to show you.
Hi Fatma,
yes that will be great.
Thank you!
Do you have any proposals for the material?
All the best,
Steffi
Hi Steffi
I trust well. Thanks for your reply. I have a few ideas for the leather and the bright colorful materials.
See images for your consideration.
Kind regards
Fatma
Hi Fatma! Thanks a lot for you proposals. The brown leather is fantastic (last leather pic). Can you maybe propose some more pattern fabrics? I uploaded a patterns I like very much. Just to give you an idea. I think I would prefer something more traditional or “tribal” (sorry, don’t know if this describes it properly). Thanks so much and many greetings front Berlin, Steffi
Dear Steffi
Hi I have gone around shops today and have found the following fabrics. This is all there is available, 3 almost like your selection. One that is different. Please advise me if you like and which exactly so we can proceed. I have noted the leather colour and sample you like.
Regards from Nairobi
Fatma
Dear Fatma,
perfect, thank you! The pre-last fabric is fantastic (blue, dark-red, black and yellow). I really think it could go with the brown leather.
Can you estimate more or less the costs of the wallet if you use these materials?
Thanks so much and all the best,
Steffi
Dear Steffi
Greetings, I trust well. I have looked at the various prices of the materials. I would need to buy the cloth in whole which is 5 yards, leather is 3 square feet and labour and so the total cost is 55 dollars. Let me know of this is acceptable so that I can proceed to finalize this.
Steffi
greetings Please see prices below.
Regards Fatma
Dear Fatma,
thanks a lot, the price is fine.
Best,
Steffi
Dear Steffi
Thanks this is well received.
I shall start the work mid week.
Regards
Fatma
Crafting Process
How to make a Custom made wallet – work in progress
Hi Steffi...
Sorry for the delay regarding feedback. So by the time I went to get your material from my supplier, someone else had already bought it. Is this other one OK?
Dear Fatma, no worries, I have no rush. Yes, this fabric is also fine.
All the best,
Steffi
Hi Steffi apologies I have just seen your message. I'll get the materials together and start work on Friday . I shall share with you images and videos as work progresses.
Fatma
Dear Fatma,
great.....no rush.
Best,
Steffi
Hi Steffi
Trust well. Apologies I fell ill and still recuperating but work is beginning today. Should be done in the next few days. I've shared the combination of the leather you selected and the Ankara cloth. Next photos will be of the cut product.
Thanks for your patience.
Fatma
Dear Fatma, the fabric and leather look very nice. Thanks for the images.
All the best, Steffi
Dear Steffi
HI please accept my apologies. There was a challenge with the production fit of the elements. So I had to go back to the drawing board to make sure I gave you a good product. I am now close to finishing it in one or two days. Please see the images I have shared. Thanks
Fatma
Dear Fatma,
Thanks a lot, the pictures look great and I´m very excited to see the final result. But no rush, no need to apologize for any delay.
All the best,
Steffi
Hi Steffi
The wallet is ready to send to you. Have a look at the pictures 😊 very nice size too. You can carry it alone or inside the handbag.
Regards
Fatma
Dear Fatma!
It looks beautiful!!!! Thank you so much, you have done a great work.
I´m looking forward to holding it in my hands. Is there anything special I need to do now or do you get everything you need through the UrbanChangeLab System?
Cheers from Berlin,
Steffi
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON002328E-8578
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
22.13
|
| Cost of labour |
26.56
|
| Cost of packaging |
1.77
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
1.33
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
51.79
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
5.18
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
5.18
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
10
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
13.71
|
| Total |
85.86
|
*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.
