Unique, Personal, Sustainable
in my BrusselS leather atelier
I transform existing and surplus leather into one-of-a-kind creations that carry stories, yours, the material’s, or both.
From a jacket that belonged to someone you love, leather trousers or a skirt you can’t bear to part with, the saddle of your favourite horse, the leather from your grandmother’s old armchair, or your mother’s designer boots from the seventies, to a carefully selected surplus hide with no story yet of its own. Every object becomes a one-of-a-kind Composite, where your essence meets the essence of the material. Not every project starts with loss or memory: some simply start with a material that speaks to you, or a business identity you want to carry with you. Either way, I never copy an existing brand or model. Every piece is designed from scratch, around you.
Have a leather jacket, bag, garment, saddle or another piece of leather you would love to transform into something new? Or have you fallen for a surplus leather with a character of its own? This is where an existing material becomes the starting point for a new, one-of-a-kind creation.
In my Brussels leather atelier, I transform existing, vintage and surplus leather into new handbags, accessories and unexpected objects. As a recognised craftswoman, I work with the character and possibilities of each material, designing every piece from scratch and crafting it by hand in my studio in Schaerbeek.
An Vandenberk is a Brussels leather artisan and Material Shaman, specialising in the transformation of leather with a past, a story or simply untapped potential.
A project
that begins with you
Every transformation starts with a conversation, online or in person. I want to understand the material you bring, why it matters to you and what you would like it to become. Sometimes its history is deeply personal. Sometimes you simply see beauty or potential in a piece of leather that deserves another form.
We can work with leather you already own, a jacket, bag, saddle, garment or another treasured object, or with surplus leather from my atelier archive. Its character, dimensions, traces and possibilities become part of the design process.
The hardware? That’s up to you too. Think gold-plated buckles, minimalist closures, or subtle vintage finds. Every detail is considered in relation to you, the material and the piece it is becoming.
Each piece is imagined, designed and crafted in the Brussels leather atelier.
What my clients say
“This jacket meant everything to me. Now I carry it again – as a bag, close to my heart. It’s more than leather. It’s memory, love, comfort.”
— Dominique, Rixensart
“I fell for the leather of the vintage jacket before I even knew what it would become. Together, we shaped it – a MILA handbag that’s elegant, practical, and completely me.”
— Ilse, Kapellen
“Two old bags, full of memories. I couldn’t part with them. An turned them into one powerful piece – personal, meaningful, and made to last.”
— Els, Puurs
More
than handbags
A transformation does not have to become a handbag. Depending on the material, its dimensions and what you would like to carry forward, it can take many different forms.
I also create cardholders, belts, jewellery cases, keyrings, ceremonial pieces and other one-of-a-kind objects from existing and surplus leather.
I also craft:
- cardholders, belts, jewellery cases, keyrings
- accessories for weddings, ceremonies or gifts
- or even your wildest idea—like a handbag made from a leather guitar strap or a bag inspired by your old riding saddle
From traditional handbag shapes to sculptural objects, custom-made leather accessories are all part of what I do.
Many of these smaller pieces, a cardholder, a document holder, a laptop bag, are commissioned by self-employed women and men who want their personality, and their business, to speak through a leather creation on their own terms. If that’s you, take a look at my Corporate Composites →: the same philosophy, applied to your company’s identity.
Each item is either machine stitched and hand-finished, or fully hand-stitched using the classic saddle-stitch method. It depends on your preference, budget, and the story we’re telling.
The atelier also offers advice on leather care, maintenance and the transformation of existing leather pieces. Discover more about leather repair, care and restoration in the Brussels atelier.
Leather artisan
A Leather Artisan Atelier in Brussels
An Vandenberk is a recognised leather artisan based in Schaarbeek, Brussels. In her atelier, every piece is imagined, designed and crafted by hand. This small leather studio is not not a factory or production line. It is a place of experimentation, repair, transformation and creation. A place where materials are given a new life and where each object carries a story.
Clients come to the atelier with materials they would like to preserve, reinterpret or give a new purpose. Vintage jackets, treasured bags, saddles and other pieces of leather can become handbags, small leather goods, accessories or entirely unexpected objects.
I never copy an existing brand, model or silhouette. Every piece is designed and shaped from a blank page, around your material and your story.
Discover more about the philosophy behind the atelier and the approach to sustainable craftsmanship.
Why
handmade?
In a world flooded with fast fashion and synthetic imitations, handcrafted leather bags, accessories and objects offer something different:
- Authenticity
- Quality
- Timelessness
- And above all: emotional value
I don’t mass-produce. I don’t cut corners. Every piece is slow-made with care, by hand, in Brussels.
Curious about what a truly bespoke leather piece means? Discover the philosophy behind bespoke leather creations crafted in the atelier.
Ready to talk?
Looking to turn an old jacket into a custom bag or object? Or just curious if your idea is even possible?
You’re warmly invited for a free, no-obligation meeting—either at my Brussels atelier or online.
Let’s explore your ideas and see what kind of story we can tell together.
Yes, this is one of the most meaningful projects I make. We look together at which part of the material matters most, and preserve as much of its character as possible in the new piece.
Not at all. It might be leather trousers or a skirt you simply love, the saddle of your favourite horse, leather from an old armchair, vintage boots, or simply a material whose colour, texture or character speaks to you. It does not need to carry an emotional history to deserve a new form.
If you would rather start from scratch with leather selected specifically for a new creation, discover my bespoke leather handbag service.
Yes. Many self-employed clients commission a bag or small leather good that carries their own identity and their business’s, at once. Take a look at my Corporate Composites for more.
No. I don’t copy existing brands or models. Every piece is designed from scratch, shaped entirely around your material, your story and your proportions.
Yes. The first conversation and any follow-up can happen entirely by video call, and your piece is shipped anywhere in the world.