OSSA - RIB BAG
Category: Accessories
Competitions: International
The OSSA RIB BAG uses the human body as a source of inspiration rather than a literal representation. Influenced by the structure of the rib cage, it abstracts the body's internal framework into a sculptural leather form. Rather than directly replicating bones, the design captures their rhythm, curvature, and structural qualities. The curved black elements are made from thick vegetable-tanned leather, dyed black, and wet-molded over a cardstock mold. As the leather dried, it retained the mould's shape, allowing it to create the bag's structure without the need for metal or additional reinforcements. These curved leather forms provide both the visual language and the structural framework of the bag, supporting the red cowhide panels and defining the rib-like silhouette. The thick vegetable-tanned leather and red cowhide are joined using a shoemaking technique known as closed-channel stitching. The upper layer of the black leather is folded and glued over the stitch line, concealing the stitch, which increases the rigidity of the structure, while still maintaining flexibility. This method echoes the role of ribs within the body, where strength and support are achieved through form rather than mass. By relying solely on pattern cutting, molding, stitching, and leather construction, the bag achieves a sculptural quality without metal or rigid synthetic components, offering a more sustainable approach to a structural/sculptural design. The interior lining is stitched to mimic the musculature of the chest, creating a subtle dialogue between the exterior and interior of the bag. By placing the rib structure on the outside and the muscle detailing inside, the design reverses the body's natural anatomy. This inversion reflects an interest in revealing what is usually hidden, celebrating the beauty of internal structures, and making them the central focus of the piece rather than something concealed beneath the surface. The bag challenges conventional associations with the skeleton by attempting to present its structural qualities as elegant rather than macabre. Through abstraction, the rib-inspired forms become decorative and structural, inviting a new appreciation of the human body's complexity while avoiding direct imitation.
