Dhe broad band has knotted itself as if by chance. This is what the strap of a bag by the Frankfurt label Tsatsas looks like. It’s called Tape, which means package tape, because that was the inspiration for this clutch. However, the knot is not purely decorative, says designer Dimitrios Tsatsas: “Every element should have a function.” In this model, the knot becomes a handle.
Clear shapes, functionality and sustainable leather: These are the components from which Tsatsas and his wife Esther Schulze-Tsatsas design timeless bag models in Frankfurt. When they founded their company in 2012, they were advised not to even try in the luxury segment. Her clutches, shoulder bags and suitcases are now selling all over the world. Four employees make them by hand in Offenbach.
The city was the center of German leather craftsmanship for centuries. The two designers continue to play with the tradition of the leather city to this day. “We’re not nostalgic.” For example, they rethought a tote bag by giving it just one handle. The bag can be closed with a magnet, the soft calfskin of the simply cut model is cleverly folded.
bags in the blood
Dimitrios Tsatsas came to Offenbach from Greece with his family. There the father opened a bag maker’s studio, producing for MCM, among others. “I really liked the craft,” says Dimitrios Tsatsas, who helped out in his parents’ factory when he was still at school. “Even as a child, working with my father sensitized me to perceive objects differently.” For her, design is not a linear process: For the Tape bag, for example, they first designed the handle and then thought about which bag could go with it. Actually, the clutch should one day become a men’s handbag.
The designers of the label: Esther Schulze-Tsatsas and Dimitrios Tsatsas
:
Image: Frank Röth
The designers source the leather from companies that have committed themselves to environmentally friendly production. “Leather is the oldest recycled product in the world,” says Esther Schulze-Tsatsas. From the point of view of the two, sustainability also means that a bag does not just last for one season. Quality is everything, they say. The zippers are made of metal, the fittings are made of recycled brass. “The bag should also feel comfortable when you put it in,” says Esther Schulze-Tsatsas. Each piece therefore gets a blue leather lining. This not only looks good, but also lasts longer than fabric.
To mark the founding of the brand ten years ago, the German Leather Museum in Offenbach is now dedicating an exhibition to the label. The design pieces will pass the visitors on a conveyor belt. With the help of sketches, patterns, paper models and mood boards, the designers trace their thoughts – right through to the finished tape clutch.
“Tsatsas – Insight, Retrospect, Outlook” can be seen from April 1 to October 30, 2022 in the German Leather Museum in Offenbach.