From a Young Woman’s Craft to a Lifetime of Leather Bags: My Story

Hello everyone! I’m Zanele, from My Leather Bags.

For over thirty-four years, I’ve had the joy of sharing my passion for handcrafted leather bags with wonderful customers around the world.

From a young woman learning to stitch her very first bag in a tiny workshop in Johannesburg, to the older artisan now preparing to close the doors of her beloved store, my journey has been filled with hope, challenges, and countless cherished memories.

This is my story — and my final farewell.

34 years of craftsmanship — 2,000+ leather bags carried across South Africa.

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The Spark That Started It All

I was a young girl when my mother first took me to a local market on a warm Johannesburg afternoon.

There, an elderly leatherworker was shaping a bag with such patience and skill that I couldn’t look away. My mother noticed how mesmerized I was and bought me a small handmade pouch.

I still have it VANDAAG.

That was the moment I fell in love with the craft. Every leather bag felt like more than just an accessory — it was character, memory, and art stitched together by human hands.

“The day my mother bought me my first handmade pouch... the moment that sparked a lifetime of craftsmanship.”

A School Trip That Changed Everything

When I was eighteen, I visited a traditional market in Durban for the very first time.

Opening My Little Dream

Fast forward to 1990... I finally made it happen.

I had saved every rand I could from small sewing jobs and a modest inheritance from my mother.

My workshop was tiny, tucked away on a quiet street in Johannesburg, but it was mine.

I painted the walls myself, placed every leather bag with intention, and arranged the shelves with the care of someone building more than just a business.

Walking through that little workshop for the first time, I felt like that young girl again... full of hope, excitement, and dreams far bigger than the street my shop stood on.

Life Tried to Knock Me Down

It wasn’t always smooth sailing.

In the late nineties, a harsh economic downturn nearly forced me to close my doors. I remember sitting on the workshop floor at night, surrounded by leather bags I couldn’t afford to sell at a loss, wondering if I had made a terrible mistake.

But I reminded myself why I started — the love for the craft, the customers who trusted my hands, and the spark that first inspired me as a young girl.

Slowly, step by step, I rebuilt. Every setback made me work harder, care deeper, and refuse to give up on the dream I had stitched together with my own two hands.

“Hard times tested me, but the craft always brought me back.”

More Than Just a Shop

Over the years, My Leather Bags became so much more than a place to buy bags.

Mothers brought their daughters to choose their first handmade purse, travelers stopped in to find a bag for their journeys, and neighbors would drop by simply to share a warm conversation.

I celebrated birthdays, weddings, and even goodbyes alongside my customers. Every bag carried a story, and every conversation left an imprint on my heart.

My workshop wasn’t just mine anymore... it was ours.

Closing This Chapter 😢

Now, after more than 34 years, it is time for me to retire.

My hands are slower, my steps a little heavier, but my heart is full.

Closing My Leather Bags is bittersweet, yet I leave with deep pride.

Every bag sold during my final farewell sale carries a piece of my journey — a journey that began with a young girl enchanted by a handmade pouch in a Johannesburg market, and grew into a lifetime of craftsmanship.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives.

Take a Closer Look at My Work

“After thirty-four years, I’m setting down my tools, with a full heart and endless gratitude.”

See the collection I've spent a lifetime creating.

VISIT MY WEBSHOP

30-day money-back guarantee

See the collection I've spent a lifetime creating.

30-day money-back guarantee

What Our Customers Say

“I’ve carried my My Leather Bags tote almost every day for five years. Through rain, travel, and long work days, it still holds its shape and looks as beautiful as the day I bought it.”

Carmen J.

Verified Customer

“I carried my My Leather Bags handbag to my daughter’s graduation. The number of people who asked me where I got it was unreal. It’s such a timeless piece.”

Melissa D.

Verified Customer

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when my leather bag arrived, I understood the hype. It feels sturdy, timeless, and made with love.”

Sarah F.

Verified Customer

“I ordered one of the final bags online. When it arrived, it even smelled like the workshop — leather, warmth, history. That’s something you don’t get anywhere else.”

Sofia T.

Verified Customer

My Final Collection Is Now Available

Handcrafted by Zanele himself
80% off site-wide
Free shipping within South Africa

VISIT MY WEBSHOP

Just picked up my new Henry's cap couldn't wait to try it on. The craftsmanship is unreal, and it fits like it was made just for me.Been wearing. caps my whole life, and this one's easily the best."

Elizabeth M.

Verified Customer

Customer Favorites (limited stock)

Biustonosz Jelly — bezszwowe podtrzymanie bez fiszbin

Biustonosz push-up bez ramiączek — szczegóły

Biustonosz push-up bez ramiączek — dopasowanie

Biustonosz push-up bez ramiączek — niewidoczny pod każdą sukienką

Colombiana Curve Sculpt — tabela rozmiarów

Colombiana Curve Sculpt — modelujące body wyszczuplające

VIEW ALL

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

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Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Roodekrans, Johannesburg, 1724, South Africa

+27 110 251 127

myleatherbags.za@gmail.com

Our support will respond within 24 hours.

VISIT MY ONLINE STORE