Jane’s Legacy
Closing a Chapter, Carrying the Memories
Hello, I’m Jane, and I’m truly touched that you’ve found your way here. This little space is where I want to share a few words from the heart as I prepare to close Jane’s Bags. After so many years of crafting and creating, it feels like the right moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you for being part of this journey.
How It All Started
I stitched my very first bag at the kitchen table many years ago, using scraps of leather and a lot of patience. Every seam was done by hand, every detail chosen with care. Those early pieces were simple but strong, and I like to think some of them are still being carried today, softened with age and full of stories.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky to hear from so many of you who’ve shared where your bags have travelled. Weddings, holidays, commutes, and everyday errands, each one becoming part of your lives. Knowing that something I made has been with you through those moments has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
As time went on, I began to reflect more deeply. I thought about the way the world is changing, about the waste we create, the animals we use, and the impact we leave behind. I knew in my heart that if I was to finish this chapter with peace, I had to listen to those feelings and do things with greater care for the world around us.
Finding Materials with Meaning
When I began looking for alternatives to traditional leather, I knew it had to be something that felt genuine and lasting. Many of the “vegan” options I first came across didn’t sit right with me. They looked too shiny, too plastic, and often caused their own kind of harm to the planet.
After a long search, I finally discovered something I could believe in: a plant-based vegan leather, made from upcycled natural fibres. It’s strong, soft to the touch, and created in a way that respects both animals and the environment. No harmful chemicals, no hidden costs to nature, just a material that felt like the right step forward.
Still, I’ve not forgotten where I started. My Classic Leather designs, the ones many of you have carried for years, remain close to my heart. They sit alongside the newer vegan pieces, each one with its own story to tell. Whether you’re drawn to the tradition of leather or curious to try something new, I hope you’ll find a bag here that feels like it was made for you.
Holding On to What Matters
People sometimes ask why I would choose to change the way I work after so many years. The truth is, I’ve come to realise it’s never too late to make gentler choices. For me, this was never just about bags, it was about what they stood for. Care, intention, and leaving something behind that feels true.
As I prepare to close this chapter, you’ll find some of my final pieces made with vegan leather. They are a small reminder that tradition and change can walk side by side, and that what we carry with us should reflect not only style but also values.
The Way I Work
- Made in Small Numbers. I create only what feels right, keeping waste to a minimum and giving each piece the time it deserves.
- Meant to Last. Every bag is carefully crafted so it can be part of your life for years to come, ageing gracefully with use.
- With Care at Every Step. From the first cut to the final stitch, I work with intention, making sure nothing is rushed and nothing is wasted.
The Last Stitches
As I prepare to leave the workshop behind, I do so with a full heart. This little space has been my world for so many years, filled with quiet hours of stitching, the smell of leather, and the satisfaction of shaping something with my own two hands. Letting it go is not easy, but it feels like the right time.
What I will hold onto most are the people who believed in me, who carried these bags into their own lives and made them part of their stories. Your encouragement has been the thread that kept me going, and it means more than I can ever truly say.
With Gratitude
Thank you for walking alongside me on this journey. Whether you’ve taken home one bag or many, or simply paused here to read these words, please know you’ve been part of something truly special. Your support has shaped this little workshop and kept it alive all these years.
If you decide to carry one of my final creations, perhaps even one made with the new vegan leather, I hope it stays with you as more than just a bag. May it remind you that small choices carry meaning, and that every stitch was made with care and love.
With heartfelt thanks,
Jane
Founder & Maker, Jane’s Bags
