MAKE YOUR OWN LEATHER BACKPACK

A full-day hands-on leathercraft experience in the heart of Newlands.

Spend a day working with your hands, learning traditional leathercraft techniques and creating a beautiful, functional leather backpack that you take home with you.

Saturday 19 September 2026

10:00–16:00

Montebello Design Centre, Newlands

R1,800 per person

No previous leatherworking experience needed. All materials and tools are provided.

CREATE SOMETHING YOU’LL ACTUALLY USE

Forget mass-produced bags. Spend the day making something with your own hands — a backpack designed to become part of your everyday life.

You’ll be guided through the process from raw leather pieces to a finished backpack, learning the foundations of traditional leathercraft along the way.

At the end of the day, you’ll leave with a backpack you made yourself.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

During this six-hour workshop, you’ll be guided through the essential stages of making your backpack:

• Working with and preparing leather
• Measuring and cutting
• Punching and preparing stitching holes
• Working with leather hardware
• Traditional hand-stitching techniques
• Assembling your backpack
• Finishing and refining your piece

The workshop is designed to be accessible to beginners while still giving you genuine hands-on leatherworking skills.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Your R1,800 workshop fee includes:

All leather and materials

Use of professional leatherworking tools

Step-by-step instruction throughout the day

Your completed leather backpack to take home

Tea, coffee and refreshments

There are no additional material costs.

A DAY OF MAKING AT MONTEBELLO

Set in the leafy surrounds of Newlands, Montebello Design Centre is home to artists, designers and craftspeople.

Come for the workshop, stay for the atmosphere.

This isn’t a rushed class where you simply follow instructions and leave.

It’s a full day to slow down, learn a traditional craft, work with beautiful natural materials and connect with the satisfaction of making something yourself.

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?

This workshop is for anyone who:

• Loves handmade and natural materials
• Enjoys making things with their hands
• Wants to learn a traditional craft
• Appreciates quality, functional design
• Is looking for a creative day away from screens
• Wants to make rather than simply buy
• Would love to leave with a unique, handmade leather backpack

You don’t need any previous experience.

You just need to be willing to get your hands dirty and give it a go.

MEET YOUR FACILITATOR

Summer Francisco — Leatherworker & Craft Educator

With 20 years of experience working with leather and natural materials, Summer will guide you through the process step by step.

Her workshops are centred around learning through doing — giving you the knowledge, confidence and space to create something genuinely your own.

YOUR DAY

10:00 — Welcome & introduction to leathercraft

10:30 — Materials, design & preparation

11:00 — Cutting and preparing your leather

12:00 — Construction & hand-stitching

13:00 — Lunch break

13:30 — Continue construction & fitting hardware

15:30 — Finishing touches

16:00 — Take your handmade backpack home

THE DETAILS

Date: Saturday 19 September 2026

Time: 10:00–16:00

Venue: Montebello Design Centre, Newlands

Price: R1,800 per person

Experience: No previous experience required

Places are limited so that everyone receives individual guidance throughout the workshop.

COME MAKE SOMETHING THAT LASTS.

BOOK YOUR PLACE