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EDITÉUR PLUS
We’ve all seen them before in airports, on
trains, in board meetings. Sometimes we
smell them before we see them. They are
all around us and we can’t miss them: gen-
uine leather bags and accessories. They are
a feast for the senses, they conjure up emo-
tional responses that leave us gasping and
sighing, longingly and wanting to feel the
texture. We’re drawn into the design and
the colour and the way the bags fall com-
fortably and splendidly over the shoulder of
their bearer.
And then we go and buy the cheaper ver-
sion because we are so-called ‘discerning
bargain hunters’, but these counterfeits do
not evoke the same emotions. Perhaps the
days of cheap knockoffs are gone. Perhaps
we should save a little extra and finally buy
a bag that will stir up the wanderer within.
As admirers of pure leather items, we need a
reliable brand that will provide the genuine
article: bags and accessories that will excite
and inspire. We need to look no further than
Wanderer Handcrafted Leather.
Mariska Claassens, the founder of the Wan-
derer brand, is passionate about leather and
adventure. ‘The brand draws inspiration
from adventure-seeking individuals who
are not afraid to wander.’ After her studies
in Clothing Retail Management, Mariska did
a course in leather crafting to hone her skills
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FIFTEENTH ISSUE
in this area. She had it in her mind to create a
high-quality leather brand, turning a passion
into a career. During that time, there was a
mentor who influenced her thinking with
regard to leather saying that an item can
become an investment if it is well made and
carefully crafted.
The high value that Mariska puts on working
well with leather and making the product as
authentic as possible is what sets it apart
from other products. ‘When I say hand-
crafted, I literally mean every single step in
the construction of a Wanderer product is
handcrafted.’
A process is followed to create each of the
different items available on the online store.
Each piece starts with an idea. Mariska car-
ries her sketchbook around to make sure
she does not miss an inspired moment.
Through trial and error, and a consideration
of what we the customers could appreciate,
designs are chosen and then developed into
physical products. The leather for each item
is chosen to match its design. The leather is
cut and constructed by hand. It is notable
that every Wanderer bag and accessory is
meticulously stitched by hand to using the
‘saddle stitch’ method.
This creates an aesthetically pleasing item
and ensures the product’s durability, an