Setup For Fashion Items?

[Ellen]

Just curious is it viable to make a setup for producing things from fine chrome leather, like women's belts, bags, purses. At home.

Do that items have chance to be sold, or from designers only? Or no competition with China made items, at their prices?

Could be setup kept as simple as for vegetable tanned leather?

With hand stitching, with Leather Weld kind of white glue, not smelly contact cement, no hot press, or custom made uncommon hardware.

I understand that this is completely new setup comparing to low tech vegtan work shop at home. Is it possible to set it at comparable prices, and is it worth the troubles? Have you tried or considered it?

Thanks.

Edited November 15, 2010 by Ellen

[bkingery]

As soon as I can get my 400lb sewing machine into my house where I can get power i'm gonna try making some floppy purses, I dont think it would be that much harder to add the stuff but people still want cheap so selling is always an issue.

[BAD HIDE]

I make a few things with garment leathers without a sewing machine. I sew using a 4 prong pointed punch, then hand sew. I haven't tried it, but a glover's needle might work for some of it too, but an awl isn't practical when the material isn't stiff. If I had a machine, it'd make it much easier, but I don't have the money or need yet to buy a big machine and don't care to fiddle with a used one not optimally suited for it. The thing with garment leathers is it looks better to make bags inside out, use welts, and roll all your edges, much easier if you have a machine. I use it mostly for sides and panels and in conjunction with veg tan trim and carved panels. I'd disagree that it's a different setup - just a different construction approach. There's no tooling or finishing, just cutting and assembly.

Selling anything of this nature is a problem, but not out of the ordinary for this business. People can go spend $500 on a designer bag made of expensive chrome tan, or they can go out and buy a stylistically similar $30 bag made of cheap chrome tan and fabric. It really comes down to your style and the way you market it. I can't build a decent bag for less than $100 and still make it worth my time, so I'm already out of a lot of people's price range. I try to make my stuff unique enough that I snag the market that wants something extra, but doesn't care about designer names. You can't compete with China or the designer labels, so copying them is pointless. Just remember that you can take cues from them, but you have to do your own thing and really stand out.