Annelies Timmermans

Annelies Timmermans has been designing stylish handbags from her studio in Belgium for more than 10 years. After the designer was on hiatus for a while, she launched a new pre-order collection in 2022. 

The bags are made in a small atelier in northern Italy; to ensure production takes place in safe and fair conditions, Annelies regularly visits the facility. This direct contact also ensures that the designer has much more control over the production process and the quality of the bags. 

Unfortunately, COSH! not verify what the working conditions are like in the further links of the supply chain.

Annelies Timmermans uses cow leather sourced from European suppliers. Part of the collection is made of vegetal-tanned leather. This means that heavy metals such as chromium were not used in the tanning process. A vegetal tanning process is always based on natural tannins, derived from, for example, tree bark.

The brand also uses chrome-tanned leather in much of its collection. This tanning process uses more harmful substances, but the result is a strong and supple leather in vibrant colours. In doing so, the brand does pay attention to the production location and any certification of the leather, but unfortunately this is difficult to find out due to a lack of transparency in the leather industry.

Designer Annelies deliberately chooses not to use any lining in the bags. This makes the bags 100% leather, and easier to repair or recycle at end-of-life. 

The bags are made with an eye for detail and high-quality materials, giving them a longer lifespan. Should something do break, Annelies Timmermans will certainly help you to find where you can get a quick and free repair.

The bags are made in a workshop in northern Italy. Annelies Timmermans works with European suppliers as much as possible, but unfortunately the lack of transparency in this industry makes it impossible to trace the exact origin of the leather. It is therefore impossible for a small brand like Annelies Timmermans to trace these links in the production chain.

Annelies Timmermans does not commit well to animal welfare as the brand uses cow leather. It is not known where the leather comes from, or what conditions the animals live in.

Annelies Timmermans revived her brand in 2022 with some pre-order collections. Since then, she also launched a permanent collection of bags without a pre-order system. The brand always works with a fixed collection and small stocks. Throughout the year, new designs are occasionally added, or existing models are available in a new colour. Thus, the Belgian brand works at their own pace and according to slow-fashion principles.

The designs are stylish and timeless, often available in cheerful colours. The fine finishes show that the bag is made with quality techniques and attention to detail. This ensures that your purchase can last up to 10 years! Moreover, you will find tips & tricks on the website to make your bag shine even longer.

The collection is made of cow leather. The brand buys this leather from European suppliers to reduce the distances and carbon emissions caused by transport. 

Unfortunately, there is very little transparency in the leather industry, which makes it impossible for a small brand like Annelies Timmermans to find out where the animal lived or where the leather was tanned and processed. 

Annelies Timmermans is committed to transparency by sharing information about its production workshop in Italy. The brand also entered into a dialogue with COSH! To share more information about its supply chain.