Made for your unique self

I started Contra by creating custom leather goods for friends and family. One of my favourite things about design is being able to get in the mind of the person I am designing for - what their style is and design requests - and then how can I enhance their concepts into uniform, beautiful products.

These unique projects always push me to test new ideas, tools and techniques that make me a better designer. Today, many of my signature products first started as custom orders. You can read more about these under each product description.

If you’d like to create a custom project together, send me an email or fill out the form below.

A young woman with long, light brown hair, sitting on a hammock, smiling at the camera, wearing a black sleeveless top, hand-sewing a natural leather strap with white waxed thread.

My Design Framework

I work with full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, around 2mm thick. I like to use this material because it’s durable and strong, it ages beautifully, and I love the sturdy geometric shape it creates. I pair this with brass hardware and the best zippers (Riri) to last the lifetime of the leather itself.

My style is refined, not loud. It focuses on the hand-sewn details that accentuate the material quality.

A woman making a natural vegetable-tanned leather bag, with a pattern, surrounded by sewing tools.

The Custom Process

  • We start with your list of requests (this is where my architectural background comes in - we call this your non-negotiables). This could be: it must carry a certain size laptop, or have a specific closure (like a front zipper), or we could start with a couple of photos of bags that you love.

  • Then, I create a quote, project timeline, and request a down payment (50% of the quote).

  • Custom projects are a labour of love, and they invite me to test new ideas and techniques, so I like to approach each one with ample time and space to evolve.

  • The production starts with paper mock-ups, then testing details with the leather, and finally creating the final leather good.

let's make a custom bag

Why Order Custom?

I created my first leather bag because I couldn’t find the perfect bag for me. I wanted a bag that fit my body size, something that was secure, and minimal, not covered in logos.

Here are some examples of custom bag ideas/orders:

  • You have an idea of a bag or product you would like, but you haven’t been able to find it

  • You want to create a personalized gift for someone special

  • You want to create a product to celebrate a moment in time

  • You have a product that requires a certain sized bag (such as a camera or laptop)

Some of my favourite custom bags

XL Laptop Tote
Designed to fit a 15” laptop, to slide onto a piece of luggage,
and made with custom ordered chestnut red leather

A red shopping cart with a handle, placed on top of a black suitcase. The cart is empty and is inside a storage or utility area.
XL Laptop Tote
A woman in a black dress sitting at a wooden outdoor table with a large red tote bag hanging on a chair.
A woman sitting outdoors at a wooden table, opening a large red tote bag.
Person placing a laptop into a red purse on a wooden table outdoors.
Person wearing a black dress, holding a red handbag, outdoors with greenery and trees in the background.
Open red leather tote bag on wooden surface, containing a red clutch, beige folder, black headphones, and a small black electronic device.
Red leather tote bag with items inside, sitting on a wooden bench.

Custom bucket bag
Larger than our signature bucket bag, 2 sets of straps, custom ordered leather

Three brown paper grocery bags and an oval-shaped cardboard box on a wooden dining table.
A workspace with craft paper, a cutting mat, and some crafting supplies.
Close-up of a curved piece of furniture with a wooden exterior and light-colored interior material on a workbench.
Brown leather tote bag with handles on a wooden table, surrounded by stationery and crafting supplies.
Close-up of a tan leather tote bag with two handles, against a white wall background.
Person holding a large tan leather tote bag, wearing denim shorts, standing against a textured concrete wall.
Close-up of a person holding a tan leather tote bag with a black water bottle inside.
Open tan leather tote bag with a black sweater, a notebook with earphones, and a black zippered pouch inside.

Custom camera bag
Designed to fit the client’s camera plus 2 film canisters.
We also made one in black for his mom.

dark brown bag strap with metal button studs beside a hand-drawn paper measurement template on a green cutting mat
Leathercraft workbench with brown leather pieces, strap, clips, masking tape, and cutting mat
dark brown leather bag being assembled with clips on a green cutting mat
Close-up of a brown leather handbag interior with stitched pockets and shoulder straps
Vintage 35mm film camera with leather case and attached lens
Dark brown leather crossbody shoulder bag with flap closure on a concrete surface
Vintage Olympus film camera with lens cap, leather shoulder strap, and brown camera case on a concrete surface
Person wearing a white shirt and holding a compact camera in a brown leather shoulder bag beside a vehicle

SMALL CUSTOM PROJECTS

Handcrafted dark green leather zippered pouch on a gridded cutting mat with a ruler and leatherworking tools
Brown leather money clip holding a Mexican 500-peso banknote on gray fabric
Two brown leather wallets with stitched edges resting on a concrete surface.
Open brown leather wallet with cards and cash visible in its compartments on gray fabric.
Brown leather card holder wallet with blue stitching on denim fabric
Small black dog wearing a brown leather collar
German Shepherd dog wearing a brown leather collar
Dark brown leather dog collar with brass buckle and D-ring, held by hand.
Hand holding a handmade dark brown leather dog collar stamped “SAM” on a leatherworking cutting mat surrounded by tools
Handcrafted tan leather receipt holder with red embroidered Tora lettering
Open brown leather receipt holder containing a 500 Mexican peso banknote and a receipt
Hands holding a brown leather receipt holder with embroidered red letters "TORA"

SEMI-CUSTOM PROJECTS

I also offer small adjustments to my signature collection. Semi-custom orders include:

  • adding a zipper or snap closure

  • adding more pockets

  • making the pockets larger, or to fit something specific

  • shortening or lengthening straps

  • stamping someone’s initials on the leather

order a semi-custom product
Blue and black Luna cross-body bags, with custom monogrammed initials on the front, showing brass riri zippers.
Semi-custom Andi leather tote bag hanging on a wooden wall, with an added pencil pocket on the outside.
Close-up of a person carrying the Lee cross-body leather bag with a strap, with custom closure and button stud added to the design.

your bag, your story

Woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, black button-up dress, and cowboy boots, holding a custom contra bag made of tobacco vegetable-tanned leather, standing outdoors against a white wall.

“I wanted a bag with a zipper and a rolled strap that reminded me of my custom horse bridle. The process was simple and easy. I was surprised by the depth of detail incorporated and the execution of the final bag. It was just like we had talked about, each idea incorporated into a beautiful bag.”

- Julianna

Person standing outdoors, holding a custom contra bag and wallet made from brown leather.
A custom contra bag, made of tobacco-brown vegetable-tanned leather, with a shoulder strap, sitting on a wooden surface outdoors in a forest setting.

“This crossbody leather bag has become one of my favorite accessories when I travel. I take it everywhere from Mexico City to NYC. It’s understated, durable, and incredibly functional. The contrast stitching along the flap gives it a really high-end, artisan look. It feels like something that will only look better as it ages and develops a bit of a patina.”

- David

“I’m in love with this purse. I’ve purchased really beautiful, well-made purses that I’ve never used. Either the design or the quality of the leather did not work for me. Enter CONTRA HANDMADE / custom!!  I communicated my desires to Christine, and within weeks, I finally had the purse I had always wanted. Working with Christine has been an absolute delight. Her choice of materials, her skill and artistry is exceptional, and she’s really, really passionate about what she does. Much appreciation!!”

- Alexandra

Person holding a custom black and brown leather handbag in front of their waist, with a plant in a terracotta pot in the background.

“I love the built-in glasses case in this bag. My glasses are clean, they aren’t scratched, and I know where they are at all times. If this bag ever wears out and I order another bag, I will ask for two glasses slots, one for sunglasses, one for reading glasses. And, I keep getting compliments on my purse!”

- Kate