A Closer Look at the ABURY Leather Bucket Bag Rosa

 

“I'm always afraid to try new things. I did not understand what Pam wanted to do with just a weaved object but then I saw the fusion with the leather and my heart warmed - 'I did this!' - I shouted!”

credit to artisan Rosa, maker of the Leather Bucket Bag Rosa

The Leather Bucket Bag Rosa is one of the six products of the A Non Existent Tribe Collection, which was handmade by local artisans in Ecuador. Brought into life by Zimbabwean designer Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, the collection was the outcome of the very first edition of the ABURY Design Experience. The variety of different cultural influences allows the collection to shine with a strong design language and add another series of handbags under the principle of sustainable and fair trade production.

To be precise, Rosa was handcrafted from high-quality leather in a small village called Salinas, in Ecuador, combining sophistication and playfulness. By fusing smooth leather and sturdy bast materials with hand-stitched seams, Rosa knows how to create a striking look. At the same time, the simple silhouette and natural colours make for a timeless design and ensure a stunning look for any occasion. Let's take a closer look at the details hidden in between leather and bast elements:

Name of Product: Leather Bucket Bag Rosa
Collection: A Non Existent Tribe
Colours: Brown, Beige
Size: one size 35 cm x 20,5 cm x 20,5 cm

LEATHER BUCKET BAG ROSA MATERIALS

Main Material: Cow leather
Material Composition: 100% cow leather
Origin of material: Salinas, Ecuador
Leather tanning process: Vegetable tanned
Dye ingredients: natural roots and tree leaves
Origin of dye ingredients: Salinas, Ecuador

The cow leather is sourced from local farmers in Salinas, Ecuador. Cows are very special and important in South America. In fact, they are holy in some parts. The whole process of tending cows from birth till they are made available as meat is done in a meticulous and respectful way and it is seen in the process of caring for the skin and tanning. During the process of tanning artisans use natural dyes combining ingredients such as natural roots and tree leaves. This is done at a large scale with the women going out into the woodland to pick the required ingredients that are prepared for days before the process begins. The villagers have been doing this for decades, and while the process appears exhausting from the outside, the care of the environment and respect for nature is truly breathtaking.

Material of Bottom: Natural bast
Material Composition: 100% natural bast
Origin of material: Tropics, Western Ecuador

Bast is picked from the mountains and is available in most woodland parts of Ecuador. In particular, the material used for the A Non Existent Tribe Collection was picked in the Tropics, west of Ecuador, where it grows in abundance, because of the rain in that area. What is interesting is that the bast of the A Non Existent Tribe handbags remains in its natural condition, which means that the artisans do not dye it. It appears to be a lime greenish colour as it is weaved almost fresh from picking, but with time it changes colour because of the sun. It browns

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

© Franziska Uhlmann

Place of design: Salinas, Ecuador
Year/Month of design: July - September 2015
Duration of design: 1 month
Name of designer: Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri

Place of production: Salinas, Ecuador
Duration of production: 22 hours
Number of artisans involved in production: 1
Names of artisans involved in production: Rosa
Tools used in production:
Standard leather craft tools:
Scissors, knives, hole punches & mallets
Sewing machine
Traditional needle

Artisan Rosa ©Franziska Uhlmann