Professional Leather Handbag Design
A course by Lili StorellaLeather Maker
A course by Lili Storella, Leather Maker
Learn the foundations of working with leather to create bespoke bags using professional crafting techniques
Leather craftwork allows you to sculpt durable, functional accessories that connect with the people who wear them. Leather maker Lili Storella uses it as a way to express herself and share her story. She designs and creates unique handbags that are sold around the world.
In this course, she teaches you the foundations of working with leather to create a bespoke bag using her 3D sculpture method. Learn to design functional accessories with your own two hands and share your style with the world.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 8 downloads
Material and Tools
16 minutes, 18 seconds
Technique Foundations 1
16 minutes, 18 seconds
Technique Foundations 2
6 minutes, 29 seconds
Design
4 minutes, 45 seconds
Pattern Making
18 minutes, 51 seconds
Cut the Leather
7 minutes, 33 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know leather maker Lili Storella. She talks through how she went from a career in graphic design to crafting leather bags. Then hear about the influences which have inspired her career as a creative.
Discover Lili’s 3D sculpture method for creating handbags. Then delve into the tools needed for this course, from hardware to wax, and see how Lili uses them in her creative process. Learn more about leather, pattern making, saddle stitching, and edge painting.
Lili walks you through the steps needed to make your own handbag. Begin with a design that is both beautiful and functional before creating a drawing of the structure, making a pattern, and a sequence for assembling your parts. Prepare your materials and cut them, ready for assembling.
Learn how to crease, punch, stitch and edge paint your bag. Make your own unique padding details and closure design, which is the part of the course Lili considers the most creative! Then put all the parts together using your assembly sequence from earlier in the course.
Lili walks you through the process of embossing a logo or your initials onto the bag to customize it. Then, to finish the course, hear her tips and tricks for improving your designs, from stepping out of your comfort zone to practicing the techniques you’ve learned.
What is this course's project?
Design and craft your own refined leather handbag with an invisible magnetic closure.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in making their own accessories or learning to work with leather.
Requirements and materials
Previous experience working with leather and the materials in this course is recommended.
You will need a cutter, an electrical creasing machine, a hammer, and other materials specified by the teacher in this course.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Amazing and inspiring! But it is indeed not for beginners, I would also like to know how to treat the leather after the bag is done.
- 4 months ago
Très instructif, très bien fait, j'ai beaucoup appris et je vais y revenir. Merci
- 6 months ago
Achei muito interessante, principalmente a forma como o curso é explicado. gostei muito da experiência e espero poder mostrar meu projeto em breve.
- 9 months ago
This is a super interesting course, and well explained. I must appretiate the explanation of all the tools and what they are used for.
- 9 months ago
Türkçe altyazılı yazıyor ama Türkçe altyazı yok bu çantanın indirilebilir PDF olmasını isterdim maalesef bir şey anlamadım ve çok hızlı ilerliyor
Lili began making small items for family and friends, but soon turned her love of leather craftwork into her own brand, Mila.jito. She now sells accessories like bags, passport holders, belts, and watch straps around the world and shares her creations with over 50K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Design, Preparation, and Technique
- Design
- Material and Tools
- Technique Foundations 1
- Technique Foundations 2
- U3
Making a Minibag
- Design
- Pattern Making
- Preparation
- Cut the Leather
- Cut the Reinforcement Material
- U4
Assemble
- Assemble the Individual Parts 1
- Assemble the Individual Parts 2
- Creasing, Punching, Stitching and Edge Painting 1
- Creasing, Punching, Stitching and Edge Painting 2
- To Learn More 1
- To Learn More 2
- Make the Closure Part 1
- Make the Closure Part 2
- Final Assemble
- U5
Adding Extra Touches
- Hot Stamp Logo and Initial
- Tips and Tricks
- FP
Final project
- Professional Leather Handbag Design
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is designed for intermediate learners with some prior experience in leatherwork or crafting basics. It covers advanced techniques like 3D sculpture, patternmaking, and professional assembly.
You'll need basic leatherworking tools such as pricking irons, stitching pony, creasing machine, hot stamp machine, and materials like leather, reinforcement, thread, and edge paints. A full list is provided at the start of the course.
You'll learn 3D sculpture techniques, patternmaking, edge painting, hardware installation, saddle stitching, reinforcement, closure assembly, and custom branding for professional-quality handbags.
Yes, the course teaches you how to select appropriate leather types, reinforcement, and padding materials to ensure durability, structure, and design flexibility in your handbags.
Absolutely. The course includes both decorative techniques like edge painting and hot stamping, and structural skills such as gusset creation, closure installation, and leather reinforcement.
Some foundational skills in leatherwork or patternmaking are recommended, as the course assumes familiarity with basic techniques and tools.
The course provides step-by-step guidance on transforming sketches and patterns into 3D forms using sculpture and assembly techniques, covering everything from initial drawing to final construction.