CHA CHA

Every piece at Cha Cha is made by hand with reclaimed leather. The re purposing of materials is a thoughtful process that has many stages. First I go hunting, I hunt through second hand stores, vintage stores, grannies closets or anywhere else you might find a garment that needs a new life. Then I deconstruct the item, draft a pattern and create a brand new, one of a kind handbag. I could stop there, the bag is already special up to this point but I don’t. I want the inside of this bag to be just as special as the outside. To get the lining ready I start with natural canvas, I hand dye it with vegetable dyes, then to finish it off I silk screen a few of our original graphics to give a bit more character. Each piece is really a labour of love. Every item at Cha Cha is made in Canada.

Designer Lori Chalmers:

I have sewn most of my life. I was sewing in the background for many years while I worked as a waitress, student, graphic designer, clerk at terribly boring tea cup store, freelance designer, cook, the list could go on. One rainy, locked myself out sort of day in 2007, I realized that all those other jobs had run out and rent was due soon. I had no other choice but to do what I loved and make it work. I set up a blog that night and started selling handbags.

For more info visit www.chachalifestyle.blogspot.com.

CHA CHA

Every piece at Cha Cha is made by hand with reclaimed leather. The re purposing of materials is a thoughtful process that has many stages. First I go hunting, I hunt through second hand stores, vintage stores, grannies closets or anywhere else you might find a garment that needs a new l... show more »