Delphine's parents' jacket and bag N° : SM-064

Delphine entrusted me with her father's Compagnons jacket and scarf and her mother's leather bag to create two wallets and a coin purse to celebrate their (regular and wedding) anniversary. A project full of challenges and truly inspiring.

👥 I met Delphine at a Bouge ta Boîte female entrepreneurs' meeting, where she was attending as a wood worker and where I was giving a professional presentation.

🪵 She reworks history-laden wood, so I was very excited about the idea of a wood-textile collaboration in my field, or even a commission for my home.

👛 We met again some time later to show her my workshop and discuss projects. She came back a little later still to ask me to create several pieces for her father's birthday and her parents' wedding anniversary. She and her brothers wanted to give an original and meaningful gift.
🧥👜 She entrusted me with her father's Compagnons jacket and matching scarf, her mother's leather bag, a shirt, her grandfather's felted wool berets, her mother's embroidered handkerchiefs... all pieces full of stories and very inspiring.

✏️ After discussing models, choosing an existing pattern, designing a custom pattern, and deciding on the fabric distribution, I got to work. The deadline was close, and there was a lot of work to do.

🪡 I carefully dismantled the jacket and the bag, cut and interfaced/stabilized the various pieces, and then assembled everything. Just in time! Delphine came to pick them up at the workshop, and they were a great success!

Thank you very much again, you took on the challenge and the result is really top top top [...] my parents were very surprised and delighted! And the little nod to my mother's mother in her wallet pleased more than one in the family [...] Just like my father's wallet which [...] made him as happy as a kid! ☺️ [...] In short, I think we can say it was a success ☺️

Other beautiful stories

Amanda's babywearing wrap

Amanda was a babywearing friend before becoming a customer. She entrusted me with a large number of her scarves for various conversions: many shawls (single or lined) and snoods, as well as a few bags and wallets.

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After

Marie A.'s boots

This is the story of a pair of snakeskin boots that had been sitting bored in its cardboard box for several years... and of how it transformed in a beautiful and useful bag that I enjoy everyday.

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After

Cindy's babywearing wrap scrap and wax offcut

Cindy had this babywearing wrap and this wax fabric to which she was very attached, and she knew in what specific type of bag she wanted to showcase them: a “Hobo” bag.

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Browse the designs I have my idea All your stories

Want to tell your story too?

Did one of these stories inspire you, and do you feel ready to write your own? Book a free phone or video call (on Zoom) to tell me about your fabric, budget, schedule, and ideas.

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Photo of Marie Alhomme

Common questions

Can I transform the clothes of a loved one who has passed away, as part of grieving?

Yes, and these are among the most deeply moving projects I get to work on.

Your father's jacket, your grandmother's coat, the jumper you can't bring yourself to give away because it still smells a little like her... These fabrics carry something irreplaceable. Transforming them into an everyday object means giving them life again without erasing them, and for many people, this is part of the grieving process itself: the memory is no longer folded away in a drawer, it's worn, or displayed.

I approach these projects with particular care: we take time to talk about the person, the story behind the fabric, what you want to preserve and how. The finished piece isn't just a bag: it's an object that continues to bear witness.

And if several family members each want a keepsake made from the same garment? That's possible too. One piece of fabric can give birth to several different pieces, for several different people. We look at what the material can offer, together, without wasting any of it.

Are technical fabrics (sport, dance, running) as sturdy as a classic fabric once transformed?

It depends on the fabric, but in most cases, yes. The stretch and fineness of some of these materials (lycra, softshell or technical jersey, for example) are actually an asset for Kinusaiga panels, and conversely, they're compensated for very well in leatherwork with reinforcements (interfacing, lining), just like any other delicate textile. These fabrics also tend to have excellent resistance to abrasion and friction, which is a real plus for bags and wallets.

We talk it through together during the discovery call.

What's the difference between 'Essentials' and fully bespoke?

Both options use your fabric, benefit from the same care, and come with the same level of support. The difference is the starting point.

The Essentials
These are tried-and-tested pre-designed models (crossbody, coin purse, tote, slippers...) that I personalise with your materials. The silhouette is set; you choose the textiles, colours, and finishes. Perfect if you don't have a specific shape in mind yet, or if you want to keep a tighter rein on your budget. The result is still unique, because your fabrics are.

Fully bespoke
Everything is open: the shape, size, carry style, pockets, materials, threads, hardware... You can come with an existing pattern, a sketch, an inspiration photo, or just a vague idea to explore together. It's the most open-ended option, and therefore the most personal.

In both cases, we start with a discovery call so I can understand your fabric, your needs, and your vision. And in both cases, almost anything is possible.

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