Marie Bernadette Woehrl creates unique and sculptural leather bags and accessories in her Antwerp atelier. She studied fashion design in Accademia Costume e Moda in Rome and worked as an accessories designer for different companies after graduating. Disillusioned with the world of commercial fashion she decided to settle in Antwerp, the European capital of avant-garde fashion, where she could nurture her creativity and embrace a more independent way of life. “The corporate design world no longer felt like the reality I wanted to grow in, and Antwerp promised an alternative, more independent and creative way of living.” she says. “Starting my own label had always appeared too daring a task to try, but events unfolded naturally and organically."

She launched her first collection in May 2023, utilizing mainly a technique of weaving leather and hand stitched finishes that was born out of initial limitations in equipment. She works from a dress form and sculpts everything by hand. Collaborating with a small, passionate team, she meticulously designs and constructs her collections in-house using high quality Italian leathers, deadstock from the fashion industry and leathers repurposed from existing clothing  - her favorites are veg-tan vachetta – a luxurious naturally dyed leather favored by artisans, as well as the supple nappas of lambskin and goatskin.

All the pieces offered by the atelier are handmade, either in limited series or upon direct order. We firmly believe that our creations should be cherished and worn, rather than stockpiled. Due to the nature of the craftsmanship involved, the hand stitching, and the diverse sources of materials, no two pieces are identical.