30 December 2025
5 New Year’s resolutions for a more sustainable wardrobe that are actually achievable
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Are you looking for a classic leather handbag made from high-quality, durable leather and produced under fairer conditions? Then you are in the right place. COSH! has curated 16 stylish brands from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands that show how timeless design and responsibility can go hand in hand.
Choose a high-quality, locally made bag and support fairer craft workshops at the same time. Discover our selection below and find an accessory that will accompany you for many years.
Lies Mertens
Slow Fashion handbags
Discover minimalist handbags by Lies Mertens that combine functionality and clean design. The bags are designed in Belgium and produced in Italy and Tunisia. The label uses LWG-certified calf leather, partially chrome-tanned and dyed in Europe according to strict EU standards. In addition to the classic leather collection, vegan alternatives are also available. The brand was founded by designer Lies Mertens, who wanted to create a versatile, high-quality bag without unnecessary details. Her early collections were very personal, reflecting her own needs. Today, Lies draws inspiration from people in her environment and involves them actively in the design process. Each design is a tribute to real personalities, their dreams, and ideals.
You can discover the bags in the flagship store in Antwerp, at La Bottega in Hasselt, or rent one at Dressr in Mortsel.
Mien Kaba
Mien Kaba
Custom-Made Handbags from Bruges
At Mien Kaba, you will find handcrafted bags individually created according to each customer’s wishes. In her workshop in Sint-Andries near Bruges, Dominique makes each piece to order, avoiding overproduction and creating unique bags with great attention to detail. As a passionate craftswoman, Dominique works with various types of leather, including fish leather, and places great emphasis on quality and precision.
Would you like to try Mien Kaba’s bags or have your own custom-made? Book an appointment and visit her atelier in Bruges.
An Vandenberk
An Vandenberk
Custom, Upcycled Leather Bags
In Schaerbeek, Brussels, An Vandenberk creates handmade leather bags that combine personality and craftsmanship. The designer works with upcycled leather that she finds herself or reuses from discarded leather items customers bring in – jackets, shoes, or bags transformed into new favourites. Besides upcycling, An also offers bags made from deadstock leather or certified new leather sourced from Belgium, the Netherlands, or France. Each piece combines individuality and conscious design.
Together with you, An designs your personal dream bag that will accompany you for years. Book an appointment in her studio and discover how she turns old materials into timeless companions.
Sofie Darche
Sofie Darche
MINIMALIST, TIMELESS BAGS IN ANTWERP STYLE
At Sofie Darche, you’ll find timeless leather bags with elegant design, crafted with great care and artisanal passion. This Antwerp label stands for quality, transparency, and a more conscious use of materials. Each bag is either made by Sofie Darche herself in Antwerp or in a certified workshop in Romania, where traditional techniques meet modern design. The brand uses European leather, a by-product of the meat industry, tanned and finished in Italy. It is durable, easy to care for, and resistant to dirt and water. To avoid overproduction and waste, Sofie only produces on demand. Each piece is timeless and built to last.
You can discover the collection at the flagship store in Antwerp, at SCHMITZ&BITS or Lennertson in Ghent, or rent a bag at Dressr in Mortsel.
STN.bags
Tradition, Innovation, and Love for Craftsmanship United in One Bag
At STN.bags, you’ll find handmade bags and accessories that impress with their unique design and creative use of discarded leather. Each piece is crafted with care, combining traditional craftsmanship with a modern, circular approach. Founded in 2014 by Stien Vandecasteele, the Belgian label’s project “I once was a jacket” shows how old leather jackets can become new, individual handbags.
If you want to design your own bag or explore the collection, make an appointment and visit the studio in Gistel, where you can experience the quality and attention to detail up close.
HOIHOI
PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SERVICE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE BAG
At HOIHOI, you can have your leather handbag, luxury shoes, or belts professionally restored. The service renews worn-out favourites, removes stains, refreshes colours, and restores the leather’s original shine, allowing you to enjoy your bag for many more years. The leather repair workshop is located in Oosterzele near Ghent, where each item is treated with great care. Those who cannot visit in person can use the digital repair service to send in their items conveniently.
Would you like to give your bag a new life? Learn more about HOIHOI’s restoration methods here.
Elise Verdegem
Handcrafted Leather Art with Timeless Elegance
Elise Verdegem stands for timeless leather artistry and bags made with utmost precision and passion. Each piece is carefully handcrafted – from selecting vegetable-tanned European hides to the final finishing. With her mindful use of high-quality leather, Elise creates unique pieces that will bring you joy for many years. The limited edition collection allows you to customise your favourite model and create a bag that perfectly suits you.
Would you like to learn more? Discover Elise Verdegem’s beautifully crafted leather bags here.
ALEXANDRA SVENDSEN
Timeless Leather Goods with Danish Flair
The German label ALEXANDRA SVENDSEN creates high-quality bags and accessories, all handmade in Germany. The designs combine minimalist style with functional elegance, inspired by the founder’s Danish roots. All products follow a zero-waste principle and are made primarily from materials sourced in Germany, including certified organic cowhide from the Allgäu region, a by-product of the meat industry. The collection includes long-lasting handbags, wallets, pouches, and cases with interchangeable straps and vibrant colours.
Discover ALEXANDRA SVENDSEN’s colourful designs online and find your new handmade favourite.
Leather Be
LOCALLY MADE BAGS IN BRUGES
In the Leather Be studio in Bruges, handcrafted bags and accessories are created using recycled and vegetable-tanned leather as well as other high-quality materials. The label is run by Francine Jansseune, awarded as a Handmade in Bruges Maker in 2023, who values traditional craftsmanship. Whether you choose a custom-made piece or one from the existing collection, each design is lovingly made with attention to detail.
Visit Atelier Twee in Bruges to discover Leather Be’s collection, where craftsmanship and timeless quality come together.
Annelies Timmermans
ANTWERP DESIGN
At Annelies Timmermans, everything revolves around handbags that impress through understated elegance, high-quality craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail. For over ten years, the Belgian designer has created her stylish models in her Belgian studio, while production takes place in a small workshop in Northern Italy. Regular exchange ensures that production meets fair and safe standards and that each detail meets her high expectations. The result: timeless, long-lasting bags designed down to the last stitch.
Explore the collection in Annelies Timmermans’ webshop and find the bag that perfectly suits your style.
Meyburg
Upcycled Leather Bags from Berlin
Meyburg creates timeless leather bags and backpacks from repurposed leather taken from old sofas and armchairs. In her studio in Berlin-Schöneberg, Rut Meyburg gives forgotten materials a new life, transforming them into unique one-of-a-kind pieces with great craftsmanship. The natural patina and marks of the leather are intentionally preserved, giving each bag its own character and story.
Whether it’s a bag, backpack, or clutch, at Meyburg you can select the leather and hardware yourself to create your personal favourite. Visit the Berlin studio and see how old sofas become new design classics.
Judith van den Berg
Minimalist Arnhem Design
Looking for a minimalist yet functional bag? Then a visit to Judith van den Berg’s studio in Arnhem is worthwhile. Since founding her label, Judith has designed minimalist leather handbags and accessories that are timeless, versatile, and carefully crafted. In her studio in the fashion district, Judith makes each piece herself. She uses high-quality leather offcuts and slightly damaged hides that would otherwise go to waste, cutting them to optimise material use. Some of the leather comes from Italian tanneries that use vegetable tanning.
Visit the studio in Arnhem or explore the collection online to see how Judith van den Berg combines precision, style, and responsibility in her creations.
Eef Theys
UUnconventional & Exclusive Handbags
At Eef Theys, everything revolves around timeless, handcrafted leather handbags that combine elegance and functionality. Together with her husband, Eef makes each bag in her workshop in Holsbeek, Belgium. The designs are defined by clean lines, a distinctive handle, and detachable straps — suitable for both casual and elegant looks. Each piece is produced in small batches to prevent overproduction. The collections use Italian cowhide, a by-product of the food industry, treated with a protective layer to make the bags waterproof and durable.
Book an appointment and visit the atelier in Holsbeek to discover Eef’s collection.
hesa.design
Elegant, Geometric Designs
At Atelier hesa.design, you’ll find timeless accessories and handmade leather goods with clear, geometric lines that unite design and craftsmanship. Founded by Theresa Föhrenbacher and based in Düsseldorf, the label draws inspiration from the architecture of cities like Paris and Berlin. Each piece is made in limited editions from vegetable-tanned European leather, crafted with great respect for the material. Bespoke designs make every piece a unique slow-luxury product with a personal touch.
Browse hesa.design’s webshop and explore the connection between modern design and traditional craftsmanship.
LILU
Handcrafted Leather Bags from Brussels
At LILU, you’ll find handmade leather bags that combine elegance, quality, and local craftsmanship. Founded by designer Emmanuelle Adam, each piece is designed and made in her studio in the heart of Brussels with meticulous attention to detail and transparency. The bags are produced in small series using calf leather with smooth, embossed, or croc textures. For added strength and durability, they are lined with pigskin leather. The hides come from tanneries in Germany, Italy, and France as by-products of the food industry, ensuring more responsible use of raw materials.
Invest in Belgian design that stands for real craftsmanship and timeless elegance. You can currently discover the collection at the pop-up in Waterloo or by appointment in the Brussels studio.
O My Bag
Amsterdam-based Brand
O My Bag offers stylish bags and wallets that combine modern design with social responsibility. Founded by Paulien Wesselink in Amsterdam, the brand stands for fashion that respects both people and the planet. The bags are made in long-term partner workshops in India and Italy under fairer conditions, using high-quality leather tanned without harmful chemicals. For this commitment, O My Bag received the Sustainable Leather Award in 2015 and holds B‑Corporation certification. Discover O My Bag’s collection and find a bag that unites style, quality, and awareness.
In Germany, O My Bag is available at WESEN in Berlin-Neukölln and Kreuzkölln.
In the Netherlands, you can find it at Tally-Ho, LENA Fashion Library (city centre and De Pijp), or BrandMission in Amsterdam, as well as at Sophie Stone or Sus en So in Utrecht, and in Hilversum.
In Belgium, O My Bag is stocked at HOST in Antwerp, Goûts et Couleurs in Bruges, and Fonetik in Aalst. You can also rent bags from Dressr in Mortsel.
Those who invest in high-quality products choose long-lasting pieces that bring joy for years. Discover clothing and accessories in our shopping guide that suit your style and budget while standing out for their quality and sense of responsibility.
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