Amelia Massetti - A Second Life

Category: Accessories

One bag into my bag-designing career, I felt that a day bag would be a fun next challenge. My goal for this bag was quality. I wanted it to be something that, if I saw it in a store, I wouldn't think twice about buying. I think I achieved that. The exterior of the day bag is 100% leather. The navy leather was gifted to me from leftover scraps after a competition, while the chocolate brown leather was purchased by me. The shape of the bag was inspired by vintage gym bags from major sports brands like Nike and Adidas. I loved their tapered, boxy silhouettes and incorporated those proportions into my pattern design. Each leather panel is lined with denim from thrifted jeans I found at the Goodwill Bins. The denim provides both structure and a durable lining. Jeans are one of the most commonly donated garments, so why not continue the theme of repurposed materials inside the bag as well? I also created a quilted bottom panel lined with foam to provide additional rigidity and finished the edges with handmade piping for extra visual interest. This project taught me that quality isn't just about expensive materials it's about thoughtful construction, careful craftsmanship, and giving overlooked materials a second life. For only my second bag ever, I'm incredibly proud of the quality of the stitching and of seeing a flat material like leather transform into a functional product through the work of my own two hands.

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