Leather Paper Bag Workshop - New Bottega anyone?!
What? You heard that right. We’re gonna teach you to make a forever brown paper bag out of leather! Very fashion, very sustainable. You’ll even have an opportunity to customize them with patches.
In this hands-on workshop, Kiki & Bouba will walk you through the process of constructing a leather bag in the shape of a classic brown paper bag like the one you used for lunch (except its 1.5 times the size girl!) built to actually last. You'll learn to cut, shape, rivet, and reinforce the structure so it holds up as a real, functional bag. You'll even have some time to add some personalized patches and closures if you work fast :)
The paper bag silhouette is one of the most iconic shapes in fashion. Bottega made it a status symbol. Now, we're going to teach you to make one yourself, out of leather, for keeps.
The session will open with a walkthrough of the construction process. We'll cover how to cut and shape the leather, how to fold and form the bag structure, and how to reinforce the bottom with rivets so it actually holds weight and keeps its shape over time. This is not a decorative craft project, it’s a real functional bag. It's nice because you can hold it down to make it a chic evening bag or jam it full of our daily essentials for a catch-all bag!
Once the structure is solid, we'll move into customization, should you choose but you can choose to keep it at its original brown paper bag look! The Kiki and Bouba team will be around the whole time for fit and design questions, or just to help when an extra set of hands would come in handy.
By the end of the session, you'll leave with a finished leather bag that looks like you bought it somewhere very expensive.
Materials Provided:
Leather sheets precut to size. Please note: leather colorways will vary depending stock.
Rivets, setting tools and all materials needed to construct your bag
decorativ ribbons and buttons
Reinforcement materials for the base
Work surface
Sewing machines
What You’ll Walk Away With:
1 finished leather paper bag, ready to use
A working knowledge of leather construction basics
A customized piece that's genuinely one of a kind
What to bring: Just yourself! All materials and tools will be provided. If you have patches or appliqué you've been saving for the right project, this is the moment. Feel free to bring them along.
About Kiki and Bouba Craft Lab: Kiki and Bouba is an experimental craft lab run out of our private studio in East Williamsburg. Artists ourselves, we spend our days tinkering away so that we can bring you exciting and new crafts that you won’t find anywhere else!
What to expect at our workshops: This is not a paint-and-sip! We specialize in 2-4 hour workshops that teach you the fundamentals of skills that have taken us years to hone. Because of that, our classes can be skill intensive and hands-on. We have a very small seat capacity so that everyone can get the attention they need. Ditch the templates and come ready to embrace the learning curve, because the skills and satisfaction you walk away with are always worth it.
Refund Policy: Kiki & Bouba Craft Lab is a small, artist-run studio led by just the two of us, Adrianna and Zolzaya. Every ticket directly supports the materials, space, fees, and care that go into each workshop.
Because of this, all ticket purchases are final and non-refundable, so we encourage you to book thoughtfully. If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to pass your spot along to a friend. Just email us at [email protected] so we can update the registration.
Photography & Video Notice: We take photos and videos at our workshops for promotional use. By purchasing a ticket, you consent to being recorded and potentially featured in future marketing materials. If you prefer to not be included, please let us know in writing prior to your class. Thank you so much!
Please Note: Participants will receive a liability waiver by email before the class begins, required to be completed prior to class. Please arrive on time to maximize your making time.
We can't wait to see you there <3