When I discover something brilliant I have to share it with you.

When I discover something brilliant that's also repurposing - well, just read:

Shannon South is a very talented young designer who repurposes
old leather jackets and coats into stunning handbags and totes.

  Shannon scours her favorite thrift shops for vintage
leather jackets that are appropriate for recycling.

She draws a sketch for each individual creation.





Buttons and zippers are used, too.

A custom label is sewn on the lining.

 The lining is hand sewn from recycled thrift store blouses.

ReMade USA

The one-of-a-kind new purse is ready for an extended life of style.
Visit Shannon's blog here to view her other repurposed creations.

Here are more photos of beautiful bags
made from repurposed leather coats:

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Crafty Staci ingeniously turned an out-of-style long leather coat into a smart
short jacket and had enough leather left over to make a grommet bag:

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Click here for the step-by-step pictures
of how Staci created such darling items.

Check out this charming seude bag
that was a coat in a previous life:

This leather tote is designed to look like a paper bag:

Link


Repurposed bags don't have to be fancy to be beautiful:

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In fact, simple is often best.  Lovely.

I doubt if many (any?) of us have a commercial sewing machine that's sturdy enough to sew on leather.  But the next time we decide to purchase a leather bag for ourselves or as a gift let's remember to check out repurposed purses and totes online.  It jut makes $EN$E!