THE TALISMAN UTILITY POUCH WORKSHOP

Make your own wearable relic

In this hands-on workshop, participants will create a small leather pouch  that can be worn around the neck, at the waist, or crossbody  a small black leather pouch finished with oversized steel eyelets, steel rings and carabiners, and a long hanging ornament. And an horse hair pendant that you can use as button.

Using leather, horsehair, feathers, and steel hardware, participants will learn basic leather construction and experiment with different attachments and ornamental details. The focus is on creating not just a pouch, but a wearable totem — a personal keeper for small essentials such as keys, cards, a lighter, or other meaningful small objects.

As shown in the reference, the pouch can be styled flat against the body, with a long white horsehair tassel wrapped in leather and white feathers that moves with you. Each piece is made to sit within a layered, deconstructed silhouette.

No previous experience required. All materials and tools provided.
Provided by designer Anahita Karimi

Materials & Tools
Leather and leather straps
Horsehair — natural white and black — and feathers
Steel rings, carabiners, eyelets and ornaments
Sewing machine and thread
Leather hole punch, scissors and cutting tools

Making Process

Cutting — Cut the leather into the desired shape and size for your pouch.

Sewing — Fold and machine-stitch the leather to form a pouch, then trim and refine the edges.

Punching — Create holes for the strap, rings, and attachments as seen with the double-eyelet detail.

Assembling — Attach the adjustable leather strap and steel chain, allowing the pouch to be worn in different ways — neck, waist, or crossbody.

Customization — Create your hanging ornament using horsehair, feathers, leather wraps, and steel elements — from a minimal short tassel to a long, dramatic tail.

Outcome: Each participant leaves with a personalized, wearable leather talisman pouch — functional, sculptural, and entirely unique.