CLASSY AND FABULOUS Make Your Own Leather Handbag by Rosanna Clare

The most exciting element of Rosanna Clare’s leather handbags is the story of their previous lives. Her main ethos is to use leather that was formerly a jacket or piece of clothing, or to use offcuts from the furniture and interior design industry, and ‘upcycle’ them. Inspired by designer, Max McMurdo, she believes in his definition of 'upcycling' as ‘make do and mend’ and brings this into every aspect of her craftsmanship. When you think about it, generations past have lived by this philosophy, and thankfully, we seem to be returning to it of late. ‘Upcycling is definitely coming back into fashion and this can only be a good thing for the environment’, Clare says.The beauty of this approach is that no two bags are the same. Each has its own identity, look and feel. Buttons are added to make a bag look stylish and smart, original pockets create a more laid-back style and even lapels are used for zip tags or handles. In this one-day workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to design, craft and create your own handbag, tailored uniquely to you. Choosing between a tote bag or fold over clutch bag, you’ll learn about the origins of leather and how to select the right style and cut for the bag of your choice. You will also discover how to insert a lining, create an internal, zipped pocket as well as how to make and attach handles. You have the option of bringing in your own leather to work with, and, if time allows, you may choose to emboss your initials onto your bag, making it exclusively unique. Tea and coffee will be served throughout the day and there is a café next door for lunch. With your very own hand-made bag nestled snugly under your arm, there’s no doubt you’ll step out of this workshop feeling both classy and fabulous. Even Carrie Bradshaw would be jealous!