A one-of-a-kind handbag that converts to a crossbody bag made using upcycled denim and beautiful pre-loved vintage cotton fabric sourced from Achieve Australia’s The Sewing Basket.

Designed and sewn by Katie in her home studio in the Sutherland Shire, NSW, this bag gives beautiful pre-loved materials a second life while helping reduce textile waste.

The Details

Outside

• Made with denim from a pair of ripped jeans donated by a friend

• Gusset made from pre-loved vintage ribbon stripe cotton fabric in warm earthy tones and a pattern that is a mix of Celtic-style interlocking lines and florals.

• Reinforced with Vlieseline H630 wadding for structure and shape

• External front slip pocket made from denim with a feature strip of the gusset fabric.

Inside

• Fully lined using the same second-hand fabric as the gusset

• Reinforced with Pellon SF101 woven fusible interfacing for added strength

• One internal slip pocket, ideal for keys, lip balm or other small essentials

Strap & Hardware

• Adjustable strap made from the same pre-loved fabric as the interior

• Strap reinforced with a strip of stabiliser for added strength

• New gold-coloured metal hardware

• Secured with an 18 mm golden magnetic snap closure

• Magnetic snap has slightly mismatched finishes, with one side rose gold and the other light gold; the difference is very subtle and difficult to notice

Materials & Upcycling

The denim and fabric are both second-hand, the latter purchased from Achieve Australia’s The Sewing Basket, a social enterprise supporting people with disability.

New materials used are limited to stabilisers, metal hardware, thread and the cotton label.

All pre-loved textiles used in this bag are washed before being sewn.

By choosing pre-loved materials, this bag gives existing textiles a new purpose while helping reduce textile waste.

Measurements

• Width: 21 cm

• Top opening: 19 cm

• Height: 21 cm

• Adjustable strap: 71–128 cm long × 2.5 cm wide

• Front slip pocket: 18 cm opening × 13 cm deep

• Internal slip pocket: 16w × 11h cm

Please Note

Every FFAQ Handmade piece is individually designed and sewn by me. While I take great care with every detail, slight variations in dimensions, pattern placement and finish are an inherent part of the handmade process and make each piece unique.

The magnetic snap is a second’s component with slightly different gold tones on each side. This variation is very subtle and difficult to notice but is mentioned for complete transparency.

Care

Spot clean only. Line dry in shade. Warm iron if required.

Postage

Sent via tracked parcel post with Australia Post.