Made from 4-5 ounce vegetable tanned cowhide, this bag tells a story. Back in 2024, I briefly set up my leather shop in my friends' warehouse in Cortland, NY. Around 5 am one morning, a water pipe broke right above my leather rack, soaking most of my hides. After carefully being laid to dry in a room with high-powered fans, some of the hides were salvageable. This tote was made from a hide of natural (undyed) vegetable tanned cowhide that had dye from a black hide soak into it. At first, I thought the hide was ruined, but then I realized that the pattern of the dye was actually beautiful! So there you have it, a one-of-a-kind tote bag born of an accidental flood. A beautiful mistake, if you ask me!
10" wide at the bottom, 10" tall, 4 3/8" deep. Straps are 5/8" wide and are attached with hand hammered solid copper rivets.
Leather is a natural product, and each piece we work with has a slightly different grain pattern and slight variations in color. We carefully lay out our patterns to showcase the beauty of all parts of a hide, which results in bags that are truly one of a kind.
We strive to combine traditional craft and modern design to create bags that are timeless, functional, and will last a lifetime. Every leather item is made entirely by hand by Crystal Calabrese in her studio in Ithaca, NY.
This tote is in stock and will ship in 3-5 business days!