Custom Made Bag For Kiki

My friend Kiki had a bag that she had soooo rocked and she didn’t want to let go...until now. I tried to make the bag as close to the original as I could but of course I still had to make it my own and I think it came out alright (I mean, if her reaction then and subsequently after that was anything to go by) Ehem... did I mention that the bag was hand-sewn to finish? My machines broke down while making this bag and I had to improvise...good thing I did because it forced me to study my Leatherworking Handbook which had been gathering dust on my shelf, how I pulled off the hand stitching thing is a story for another day cos I didn’t have the right hand tools to use but of course as an African Queen and a Naija babe to boot, I had to improvise big time.

Just so you all know, I absolutely love the challenge of making custom order bags. Just contact me with details and we will talk/write back and forth or better still send me pictures of the bag you rocked since when T-rex roamed the earth and we will see if we can spice/pimp up the bag for you (will post pix of Kiki's original bag asap)

The start up rate for a custom made Gidan Nodza bag is $125, that is N20,000.00 to you.

Have a wonderful weekend y'all.

Awele in Cobalt Blue (SOLD)

Awele in cobalt blue like Awele in brown suede is another Gidan Nodza latest but unlike Awele in brown this version has pleats at bottom of bag to create a gathered look. This bag is all blue because the blue canvas and soft blue leather is joined with blue thread and lined with blue leather and of course I need not mention that the zips are blue too hahaha! The zips on both sides are not merly decorative but functional as well and the tassels to add more zinq! A little birdie told me that cobalt blue colours are 'in' this season...So, there you have it!




Bag measures approx 18"l 12"h and 6"d. Like all Gidan Nodza bags this bag is made with hand dyed canvas, locally sourced leather and hand dyed lining.

If interested contact me for price and shipping cost; if outside Lagos.

NB While finishing this bag I listened to Wande Cole's new album back to back for like 3 days...and I must say IT ROCKS!!! It's a wonder I didn't name the bag 'Wande' lol! Click the link to enjoy the song titled 'Taboo' on You Tube

Awele in Brown Suede and Autumn (SOLD)

Awele in brown suede and autumn is one of the latest additions to Gidan Nodza, the hobo style gives it a very comfortable appeal...and comfortable it is. The suede leather used on this bag is sturdy and soft to touch. This bag is roomy enough without being 'in your face' big with zips on both sides of bag which are not merely decorative but functional for quick access. Awele design is that which I feel I will recreate in different versions. The tassels adds a little zing to the overall look dontcha think? Enjoy!!!




Bag measures approx 16"l 12"h and 6"d. Like all Gidan Nodza bags this bag is made with hand dyed canvas, locally sourced leather and hand dyed lining.

If interested contact me for price and shipping cost; if outside Lagos.

NB
While finishing this bag I listened to Wande Cole's new album back to back for like 3 days...and I must say IT ROCKS!!! It's a wonder I didn't name the bag 'Wande' lol! Click the link to enjoy the song titled 'Taboo' on You Tube

More blog love...

My girl Ciaa of Ciaafrique... one of the blog/sites I visit regularly for my daily dose of inspiration did a feature on yours truly a few days ago. What can I say?... I feel honored. Thank you Ciaa for believing in my talents and for giving me the time of day.

Read interview here.

Have a wondeful weekend y'all.

Adugo series

Adugo in Brown 

This is my most versatile design yet.

It is named after my friend Adugo and rightly so too cos it’s a bag I can see her carrying, though Adugo will most likely carry it across body at all times and will occasionally use the shoulder handle and might never use the shortest handle. Truth is I haven’t seen Adugo in ages and though I have dropped the occasional “what’s up?” on her face book wall, looked through her pictures when I think she’s not watching, once in a while flash back to those university and Law school days and missing the friendship that could have been, and even though I realize that her taste in bags might have changed… to me she will always be the person that comes to mind where cross body bags are concerned... amongst other things of course.

This bag features; 2 easily detachable handles, easy access pouch in front of bag, phone pouches and zipped compartment in the interior. Bag measures approx 14"l 12"w and 4"d. Like all Gidan Nodza bags this bag is made with hand dyed canvas, locally sourced leather and hand dyed lining.

If interested contact me for price and shipping cost if outside Lagos.

Adugo in blue

This bag features; 2 easily detachable handles, easy access pouch in front of bag, phone pouches and zipped compartment in the interior. Bag measures approx 14"l 12"w and 4"d. Like all Gidan Nodza bags this bag is made with hand dyed canvas, locally sourced leather and hand dyed lining.

If interested contact me for price and shipping cost if outside Lagos.

Adugo in Black

This bag features; 2 easily detachable handles, easy access pouch in front of bag, phone pouches and zipped compartment in the interior. Bag measures approx 14"l 12"w and 4"d. Like all Gidan Nodza bags this bag is made with hand dyed canvas, locally sourced leather and hand dyed lining.

If interested contact me for price and shipping cost if outside Lagos.

Featured on Elan...

I know it's months over due but I was actually featured in a weekly fashion journal early this year with other very talented designers as...get this "Designers to look out for in 2009" hmm lil ol me, I was actually made up, had a photo shoot...pampered, the whole works. Truth is it's just occuring to me to share this news with y'all and not just keep the journal framed up in my workshop where it has been all these months giving me encouragement for those days where you start to question your ability to actually pull things off, for days when people expect and feel justified to give you much less than you know you actually deserve, for those days when you work till very late to wake up very early to run to a day job you wish you could just quit, you know... for just those days. I know that after the publication people that didnt, started to take me seriously, I got some orders and even offers for some sort of partnership hehehe, no but seriously it's a good feeling to be appreciated...especially if it is from out of the blue. Thank you Kemi (Style Editor at NEXT) for picking me out of the blue.

More wrap around straps and cuffs

Completed these long ago. The cuffs can be worn by either male or female.Hope to finish and post the pictures of the bags I am currently working on soon... sooo look out for those.

Here is wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Amina.

Mildred'O (SOLD)

Mildred'O is the second bag in the mildred collection see Mildred Shiny. Mildred O is slightly smaller than Mildred shiny and it measures aprox 18"at widest points, 10" high and 4.5"deep, bag also has phone pouches and zipped compartments.

I am presently working on some kick ass designs and will post the finished pieces soooooon. So, on that note I wish all yee readers a fantastic weekend.

Mildred (SOLD)

Finally!!! Mildred bags are ready... It seems like I've been working on them forever! Mind you while working on these bags I came down with malaria, broke like 5 industrial machine needles, had 2 of my machines re-adjusted... but finally they are ready! I made two different looks but same design.
The piece below is Mildred Shiny and it is super! I think the dark brown dyed canvas with off white patterns and the shiny dark brown leather combo is exquisite, the orange thread and bronze accessories just adds to the overall chic look. Of course it is no secret that I like...no... LOVE big/roomy bags and this bag is just right in it's roomyness because it measures approx 18" at widest point, 12.5"high and 4.5"deep. Yes girls, I believe your laptop can fit in nicely, with enough room for cosmetic bag, wallet, pouches for phones/ipods too, there is also a zipped compartments for those extra things that we reeeeeealy need. Enough talk, enjoy the bag.





Look out for Mildred'O.

Blog of note

Ciaafrique

I am sooo loving this blog, I came across it a few days ago via Africana 's Wardrobe Diary which I came across via...I could go on all night. I have gone through most if not all of her previous posts and I must say thumbs up to her. The blog is managed by a Malian Lady and she blogs a lot about African designers home and away, African models strutting their stuff on the international scene and at home too, she gives props to legends and others deserving, she also takes the time to shine the spotlight on the unknown designers as well wow! In her words " I am planning on writing about everything concerning Africa from fashion to music, business to artists, movies to fashion and of course a little bit of politics and place to visit in Africa" I have discovered sooo many inspiring designers whose sites I know I will visit and I will write about from time to time. Kudos girl! Check out the blog here.

Utility bags

Check out these new utility bags I just made. I call them utility bags cos that is what they are, these bags can be anything you want them to be...carrier bags, traveling bags, shopping bags, communal bags, overnight bags, laundry bags... just name it.
There are two versions of these utility bags, the Emerald green version which I call the "Anthem utility" bag has my Country's National Anthem written all over it yeah! yeah!! call me patriotic...I just used the colors I would have used if I had designed the Nigerian flag...you know emerald green on white with a bit of red and brown here and there.
The Read and Brown version on the other hand I call the "Yes! We Can" Utility Bags inspired of course by the "Yes we can" slogan made very popular by President Barack Obama, what I did was to add other positive things we can all do to make our own little differences like Yes! we can protect, Yes! we can love, Yes! we can recycle, Yes! we can hope, Yes! we can forgive and so on.

These bags measure 22" high, 18" wide and 9"depth which make them HUGE! handles are adjustable, bottom is all leather. The emerald green version was custom made for AY and it has double zips so that it can be locked with a padlock while the Red and Brown version close and open easily with snap buttons. Bags are fully lined with zipped compartments and pouches. The picture below will give you an idea of what inside looks like.

The red and brown bags are available for sale, if interested contact me for price and shipping cost.

More leather accessories

I am in the accessories frame of mind. These lovely bangles are all made from leather and are also available for sale. Bangles are unique, stylish, definitely hip and will compliment the arm and compliment the wrist and... let me not get carried away. If interested contact me for availability and cost including shipping if outside Lagos.

Currently working on some utility bags so check back soon...and have a fantastic weekend.

More leather wrist straps...

Double wrap around straps

Wrist straps

Just finished these. Available for sale, if interested contact me for cost including shipping if outside Lagos. Straps are made of leather, brass buckles, rivets and eyelets, you can customize by choosing your choice of colours or size.

Have a wonderful weekend!