Each week, the Gazette takes to the streets to unearth something being manufactured right here in Hackney. This week we spoke to leather maker Chanelle Antoinette.
A self-taught craft enthusiast has started selling her own recycled leather goods.
Chanelle Antoinette of Haggerston was given a load of leather as payment for a workshop last year and quickly went about learning how to make stuff with it.
And like this week’s start-up – which by contrast sells vegan, non-leather products – Chanelle, 35, now has an outlet for her wallets, purses and bags, with a stall at Portobello Market.
It all started as an idea to help her service users at a homeless charity.
“I suggested doing workshops with them to get them doing something that didn’t scream ‘mental health issues’,” she said.
“I’ll do my work when I’m on the go, so on the train or in a workspace. The aim now is to get more people to know about what I do.”
Check out studionelle.com.
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