Welcome to my story
Hello, my name is Zanele.
I’m so glad you found your way to my little shop. I opened it in 1994 and never imagined it would last this long. Back then, it was just a small space in my garage — but it was enough for me. I had a workbench, a few well-worn tools, and a love for leather bags I remembered from my youth.
Meine allererste Ledertasche
I still remember the year 1981 very clearly. I was 28 years old, had little money and even less experience — but a big heart for true craftsmanship. In my small apartment, at a wobbly wooden table, I stitched my very first leather bag by hand. I had no idea then that this moment would grow into an entire life shaped by leather, needle, and thread.
The dream of my own boutique
In 1994, I fulfilled my greatest wish: I opened my own small leather workshop. It wasn’t a big shop, but it was warm, filled with the scent of wood and leather, and every customer was welcomed like a friend. I spent countless evenings there — sewing, repairing, refining bags, and sharing many wonderful conversations.
My first true success piece
In 2008, one of my most beloved creations came to life.
A simple, elegant shoulder bag — not too big, not too small, timeless, like a cherished memory.
Many customers returned just for this very model.
It still moves me today to think that a bag I crafted with my own hands became part of their everyday lives.
A Quiet Farewell
Today, I am 72 years old. My hands are no longer as strong as they once were, and the workshop has grown quieter. After more than five decades filled with passion, patience, and love for craftsmanship, I must close my boutique. It is hard for me to write these words. Everything I have done is filled with memories — of my youth, of my customers, of a life that smells of leather