The quality of our bags derives from the successful interaction between a selection of raw materials, experienced leather tanners, detail-oriented manufacturers, and the use of only the finest accessories. From the leather selection to the finished product, we work directly with highly skilled craftsmen in Pakistan every step of the way.
A little more info on the founders/history of the brand
We are three co-founders in our twenties who, while working for Rocket Internet in Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh introduced and developed e-commerce companies to those fastest-growing mobile markets, but also organised the first Shoppable Fashion show, introduced the legendary Black Friday Sales (…). While working abroad we met incredible people, travelled in enchanting landscapes and most of all, we discovered Pakistan’s rich craftsmanship and fashion heritage. We believe this country’s talents should be promoted proudly as well as the quality of the raw material. Further the ability to work closely with family tanneries and highly skilled manufacturers were a key factor in our decision making. Our goal was not just to produce our bags and leave without looking back. Rather it is to produce high-end quality bags at affordable prices thanks to a shortened supply chain, to be transparent about it and try to give back by supporting a school that promotes girl’s education in Karachi. Buckle & Seam’s designs are classic, elegant, functional and can be customised with creative inside prints and engraving your initials. more info here
The founding team consists out of three founders; Marco Feelisch, Georg Wolff from Germany and Jena Bautmans from France.
Marco: Managing Director – Marketing & Finance
Georg: Managing Director – Logistics & Product
Jena: Creative Director
Our Leather Bags
In order to meet high-quality expectations on the durability and natural aspect of our products, we have chosen to work with cow leather. This allows our products to be resilient and soft at the same time. Moreover, the leather that we use is in its most natural form; entire grain – meaning that all layers of the leather have been kept and worked together. With an average thickness of 1.7mm, it is twice as thick as the leather used in conventional leather bags and thus more robust and natural in its essence. In order to ensure a beautiful surface, without any unnatural changes in the structure, we select our raw material carefully and use healthy cowhide from the North of Pakistan.
Vegetable Tanning
We at Buckle & Seam work only with long-established family tanneries who use the finest raw materials in order to create our beautiful products. While the majority of the world’s leather is tanned involving harmful chemicals such as Chrome VI, Lead and environmentally harmful chemical substances. Not only have we have committed ourselves to using the highest quality materials to create our products, we are also committed to reducing the environmental footprint of our products as much as possible. Therefore, we chose to only use vegetable tanned leather that takes approximately 3 weeks from start to finish, and requires experienced craftsmen to create.
Crazy Horse Leather
Our leather colour is called Crazy Horse Full Grain Cowhide Leather. This colour aims to preserve the natural and raw look of the leather, with as little colour additives as possible. As the leather naturally ages, our products will continue to develop a unique patina, meaning that every piece will become truly unique.
Why Pakistan?
Most of the leather goods sold in the Western world are produced in the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan, Bangladesh, India), however very few brands actually communicate this fact. The majority of leather companies prefer to add a small finish stating ‘made in Italy’ or ‘made in France’ to claim that their products are made in Europe. We at Buckle and Seam do not agree with the use of this false advertising. Pakistan is a country with an amazing fashion heritage, beautiful craftsmanship and talent we are proud to be working so closely with. Northern Pakistan is nationally renowned for its thick and high-quality leather; why shouldn’t the rest of the world know about it?
Our Girls Our Education
“BY SHOPPING WITH BUCKLE & SEAM, YOU HELP (…) EMPOWERING GIRLS BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO LITERACY, HYGIENE AND TOLERANCE AWARENESS.”
According to UNICEF statistics, Pakistan’s Adult Literacy Rate is 54.9%. Already one of the lowest rates in the world, the situation for women is even worse. Only 45% are able to identify and write their name – the only two criteria to be considered literate according to UNICEF. Such circumstance in a country vast of resources and craftsmanship, is a true inhibitor to greater growth of Pakistan and improvement of living conditions for millions of Pakistanis.
Pakistani Charity
Anum School (Anum means peace) was founded just over 30 years ago thanks to a brave woman who decided to install a medical camp in a poor neighborhood. Thanks to her effort, the camp slowly turned into a school. The students learn how to read, count, and write. They get History lessons, learn about Science, English but also about basic hygiene, tolerance, and respect. The community is thankful for the opportunity to send their children to school for a minimal contribution. Moreover, the high quality of education has made a name for itself so that the school can not nearly accommodate all the demand it faces. That is why we have decided to partner with Anum School, to see it grow and spread.
Social Commitment
We commit 3% of overall Sales (revenue) not profits – so its actually a big commitment from us.
“By shopping with Buckle & Seam, you help empowering girls by giving them access to literacy, hygiene and tolerance awareness. How? Because we committed to give part of the revenue of each bag sold to a school that promotes girls’ education in Pakistan. “
A list of products with prices and materials
Broad product portfolio out of premium vegetable-tanned leather (95 % of the leather in the market is chrome tanned and massively harms the environment). All of our bags are handmade and can be personalised with the initials of your choice. The clou with our messenger bags is that the customer has the option to select his favourite inside print. For the classic people, we have a checked or plain blue option, who likes it modern can order a dotted inner lining and who likes it funky can order our paper planes or boats lining.
