Combining Crafts: I Can Make Bags x Hand & Lock London
Featuring embroidery by Hand & Lock London, handcrafted leatherwork by I Can Make Bags, using premium A & A Crack leather.
We’ve been keeping this one under wraps for a little while… but we’re so excited to finally share it with you! Our latest collaboration is with none other than the incredible Hand & Lock London, the world-renowned embroidery house that has been perfecting their craft for over 250 years.
If you’ve ever wanted to see what happens when luxury leatherwork meets fine embroidery, this is it. Together, we’ve created something truly special - a one-of-a-kind version of our Leather Top Handle Bag, reimagined with Hand & Lock’s stunning machine embroidery, hand embroidery and goldwork.
A Collaboration Rooted in Craft
This isn’t our first time working with Hand & Lock. A few years ago, we teamed up on a pair of embroidered shoes - and we’ve been itching to do something again ever since. When they reached out to us with the idea to explore embroidery on one of our leather handbags, we jumped at the chance.
Together we set out to create a piece that celebrates the best of both crafts - combining their extraordinary embroidery expertise with our love of leatherwork, structure and design.
From Concept to Creation
Once the idea took shape, the creative conversations began. We talked about colour, texture, and the challenge of bringing embroidery to life on leather - a surface that’s far more complex than fabric.
We selected the beautiful Bottle Green leather from A & A Crack’s Italian Softee range - a smooth hide with a medium temper that holds its structure beautifully. It has just the right balance of suppleness and strength, making it ideal for both the precise embroidery work and the clean, structured silhouette of our Top Handle Bag.
Hand & Lock developed a stunning embroidery design that blends machine precision and delicate handwork, adding depth, dimension and a touch of gold to the surface. Once complete, the embroidered panels made their way to our studio, ready for transformation into the finished bag.
Bringing the Bag to Life
Every I Can Make Bags piece is handmade using traditional leather craft techniques - carefully cut, shaped and hand-stitched for strength and longevity. But this bag presented a unique challenge, we had to build the bag around the embroidery, ensuring the seams, structure and handle all complemented the design rather than interrupting it.
The result is a piece that feels truly collaborative - the embroidery and leather working together to create something very special.
Why Collaborate?
For us, collaboration is about curiosity and craft. It’s a chance to learn from other makers, explore different materials and create pieces that push us creatively.
Working with Hand & Lock - a studio with more than 250 years of history - is a reminder that traditional skills are still thriving, and that when makers come together, something magical can happen.
This project also reflects what we value most at I Can Make Bags, making high-quality leathercraft skills accessible to everyone, and showing that with patience and practice, anyone can create their own beautiful, luxury leather bag from home.
Watch the Journey
🎬 Watch the video: Combining Crafts – I Can Make Bags x Hand & Lock
Our video takes you inside both studios - from the first ideas and stitching tests to the moment the finished bag was revealed in our East London Studio. It’s a love letter to craft, collaboration and the beauty of making things by hand.
Feeling Inspired?
If this project has sparked your creative side, join us to make your own luxury handbag.
At I Can Make Bags, we teach traditional leather bagmaking - helping makers of all levels make beautiful, long-lasting leather handbags.