DIY Box: The Perfect Tote

Size of the bag
The shopper has the following dimensions: 43 cm wide, 29 cm high, 15 cm deep. The bottom of the shopper is 34 cm wide and 14 cm deep. The inside pocket is 26 cm wide and 13 cm high but flat. The shopper fits a thin folder, laptops up to 35 cm wide, a large water bottle, a cosmetic bag, a sweater, the matching pouch and a few small items (purse, sunglasses, make-up, keys, cell phone). The shopper is a real space miracle!

variants
If you don't need that much space and would rather wear the shopper in a bucket bag version, you can use one of three strap settings to make the shopper smaller. Then it has approximately the following dimensions: 34 cm wide (limited by the size of the bottom of the bag - the opening is still approx. 28 cm), 29 cm high and 18 cm deep.

Carrying options
The leather handles of the shopper are attached to the body of the bag with binding screws.

In addition to the regular carrying version of the shopper with the leather handles, you also have the option of attaching two D-rings inside the shopper on both sides, to which you can attach a long carrying strap (statement strap or bag chain). Then you can also wear the shopper crossbody. For this you can select the two additional D-rings with edging parts from the additional options. To attach these to the leather, you will need an awl, as the holes for these two parts still need to be punched.

In the DIY box you will find everything you need to make your bag:

Leather, reinforcement and lining

• Leather parts in the color and structure of your choice, cut out and provided with sewing holes
• Tailored bonded leather reinforcement pieces
• Tailored canvas linings in the color of your choice

Metal accessories in light gold or silver

• Magnet to close the bag
• 8 binding screws for attaching the bag handle
• D-ring and small carabiner for attaching various accessories
• Round button screw to reduce the bag to a bucket bag
• Optional pocket feet
• Optional D-rings for attaching your additional carrying option
• Optional additional carrying variant of your choice

Supplementary Materials & Tools

• Sewing thread in the matching leather color
• Saddlery needles with a blunt tip
• Document clips to hold the leather pieces together while sewing
• Leather glue for gluing lining and leather
• Brush to apply the glue
• Edge color in the color of the leather
• Basecoat as a primer before applying paint
• Edge roller pen for applying edge paint and base coat
• Abrasive sponge for edge processing
• Mini screwdriver with slot for fastening the binding screws

Step-by-step instructions & videos

• Download link to the detailed, illustrated step-by-step instructions for making your Perfect Tote (DE, EN, FR)
• Download link to the detailed instructions for the basics of leather processing (DE, EN, FR)
• Access links to our three explanation videos for the basics of leather processing (DE, EN)

You can optionally apply different personalizations to the shopper. Choose between embossing, the trapunto technique or use pocket patches and rivets to customize your bag.

embossing

The embossing is applied to the leather during production. Letters are clamped into our machine, heated and pressed onto the leather with or without foil. The letters/shapes are approximately 8mm high.

You can choose:

• Color of the embossing: Foil in silver, light gold or blind embossing without foil
• Position on the bag: bag body, inside pocket, statement strap
• Text or motif (e.g. made by me lettering, our logo or an individual monogram)

trapunto technique

Here, forms made of bonded leather are glued between the leather and the lining and shaped against a firm base with an edge former. The result is a raised 3D effect that is more striking than the embossing due to the letter height of 6 cm.

The technique is implemented by yourself (video tutorial available) and is best implemented with our smooth leather or another thinner leather.

Here you choose:

• Ready-made letters or motifs with a height of 6 cm
• Alternatively material in one piece to realize your own patterns and shapes

Patches, bag charms, rivets

We also offer other personalization options such as leather bag patches, bag charms and rivets. You can order these as separate products in our online shop.

Realizable for beginners with a little patience or for everyone who has already made one of our DIY boxes!

It doesn't matter whether you're a DIY professional or have never worked with leather before - with our step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on the basics of leatherworking, you'll get all the important information you need to make this bag by hand yourself manufacture.

Since the materials are already cut out and provided with seam holes, they fit together exactly. This way nothing can go wrong and you can start production as soon as you receive your DIY box. Here we go!

Payment options

• SOFORT transfer (login via your online banking)
• Payment via PayPal
• Payment with VISA, Mastercard or Maestro
• Payment via ApplePay or GooglePay
• prepayment via bank transfer

Shipping & delivery time

The delivery time is between two and twelve working days.

Sounds long? It is!
Since we produce most products manually to order with great attention to detail, we need this time. The production-to-order approach also allows us to offer you several products from the different leather colors instead of just one pre-produced model. Furthermore, we only produce what was actually purchased - to ensure responsible use of our resources.