I always love to accept custom jobs. This is what upcycling is all about! Last week, a client approached me with a beautiful leather jacket that had classic 80's styling and a fox fur collar. Between it being outdated and way too hot for our New Orleans climate, she found that she just did not wear it anymore. Ever. And it was a shame because it was in such beautiful condition! So - she was ready to give it a new life and do some upcycling. Here are a few shots of the coat... BEFORE:
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| Before - front |
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| Before - back |
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| Before - front detail |
So now you can see what we were dealing with! :)
She did not really have too many specifications about a bag style she wanted... just that the bag be smaller in size (she is a petite woman) and that the pockets somehow be salvaged and used creatively on the panels of the bag. She tried on a few of my current bags and I got a feel for what worked with her frame and her style.
She also definitely wanted to save the fur to "do something with it." So... off I went with my new treasure in hand to get started on my new project!
First - time to deconstruct the coat, detach the fur, and salvage the usable parts:
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| remove the lining and shoulder pads |
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| carefully detach the fur |
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| still being careful! |
OK- The fur is removed from the jacket. Here's what I have to work with now:
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| Detached the fur from the coat |
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| Another view |
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| Still thinking about what to do... What a beautiful fur! |
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| removed the waistband and cuffs |
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| Just the leather here - look how nice it is! |
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| I can use those pockets! And lots to work with thanks to that generous 80's styling! |
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| I'll figure out what to do with this later... |
Next I get lost in designing and constructing the bag. The fun part for me! Almost done:
And... voila! The finished product: a tote!
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| I was able to work a piece of the lining that had the client's monogram on it into the interior pocket! |
Now... what to do with that fur?! :) Stay tuned...
www.uptownredesigns.com
Upcycled Bags Handmade in New Orleans
Tres chic! I love the texture of that leather, and it looks great as a simple tote!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job here! I just wanna ask what did you do with the fur? It still looked so nice. I hope that you were able to create something extraordinary out of it as well. :')
ReplyDeleteJoel Salmon
Thanks, Joel! It was a really fun project. I actually ran into the client recently and she told me she carries the bag all the time now, which always makes me feel good too! As for the fur - we decided to not cut it up, but rather to use it as more of a scarf. I had left enough leather bits on either side to turn them under and create a leather backing. So now on those occasional chilly days she can simply throw it over her shoulders as a scarf/shawl and not be dragged down by an overwhelming jacket. Much better! :)
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