About Us

Hi, I am Marie, the owner and designer at Hot Pink Frog Designs. I am a leather artisan trained under the late Frik van Jaarsveld, one of South Africa’s most revered leather masters.  Under his mentorship, I developed a deep respect for traditional craftmanship and the art of hand-stitched leatherwork.

For many years, I have been passionately designing and selling handcrafted leather bags in Cape Town and my work reflects the timeless techniques and meticulous attention to detail that Frik instilled in his students.

 

Now, I am excited to share the patterns of my best-selling bags with you, so that you can create beautiful bags for personal use or to sell.

 

Through my experience in selling leather bags, I have found that many women gravitate towards butter-soft leather as there is just something irresistible about the way it feels. That is why our patterns are thoughtfully designed with soft, chrome-tanned leather in mind. It is interesting to note that many of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses rely heavily on chrome-tanned leather for their high-end bags and accessories. 

 

My designs are intentionally simple, making the bags easy to create even if you are just getting started. This also means they can be manufactured relatively quickly, which is a big advantage if you are planning to start a business selling the bags you make.

 

Unlike many templates, my bag patterns do not come with pre-punched stitching holes. Instead, you will learn a more professional method of gluing the seams first and then punching the stitching holes. This approach is not only quicker and more efficient, but it also helps you develop essential leathercraft skills that will serve you well in future projects.

 

Each pattern comes with a detailed instruction manual and a YouTube video tutorial which is available on our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@HotPinkFrogDesigns

 

Create your own hand-stitched leather bag masterpieces today and enjoy the satisfaction of crafting something truly unique and stylish. There is nothing quite like the pride of making a beautiful piece with your own hands!