Hello! I'm Barbara Rose, designer and maker of BarMade Bags
With a passion to be as eco-friendly as possible, sustainability is an essential element of my small bag-making business.
Having a handbag that is practical but looks great with the particular outfit you're wearing, shouldn't be an indulgence that uses up precious resources. Not when so many barely-used clothes and other textiles are discarded.
Therefore, I use mainly upcycled fabrics for the bags that I make, selecting them with care to ensure that any damaged or faded parts are not included in the bags. While I'm anxious to avoid waste, I also want my bags to look luxurious. Including patchwork sections allows me to make use of smaller pieces of fabric.
Because each handbag is an original, I am able to make a bespoke bag to your particular requirements. Whether it's to match a pair of shoes, an outfit, or to go with a particular theme, I will work with you to create the bag of your dreams! Or maybe you have a garment with particular sentimental value that you no longer wear but would like to have converted into a keepsake bag. Look at the bespoke bags I've made or get ideas from other bags in my range, and get in touch.​​
Increasingly, I'm also recognised as a textile artist
Recently, I have started to create pictures, again using reclaimed fabrics.
I use a technique in which small pieces of fabrics are bonded onto the backing fabric and overstitched using variegated threads by free-machine embroidery. This adds detail to the image as well as helping to secure the fabric pieces. You can read about the inspiration behind my method and the processes involved in my blogs.
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My largest textile art collage, "Crooked Spire at Night" is currently on display at the Harley Gallery near Worksop, having been selected for inclusion in the biennial Harley Open exhibition. It will be on show there until 13th October and it would be wonderful if you could go along to see it if you're able.
