Ronja Revilla

Ronja Revilla is one of the very last bag makers in Norway. Her profession is based on the knowledge of our ancestors, where the central tool is the hands. From her workshop in Telemark, she make bags from the most exquisite material: vegetable tanned leather.

For many years Ronja grew up at the family's horse farm in northern Spain, surrounded by traditional saddlery from an early age. She learned to ride and to sew & repair horse equipment early on from her father. As a third-generation craftsman she has at a later age specialized in the bag-making profession with her uncle and maestro in Galicia. Maestro Vidal Revilla, who received the knowledge of his masters and ancestors, and has even traveled to the villages to learn techniques from the elders, techniques that have been made secret through the last century. He taught Ronja that the craft and techniques are exquisite and sustainable, and inspired her to dedicate her life to the craft.

Shop objects by Ronja Revilla

“I only sew by hand with saddle stitch, and always with linen thread that has been waxed with beeswax, on natural leather. The techniques are done by hand, the materials are taken from the top shelf and there are no compromises. Every single work is based on the same techniques, but the craft is not just history - it is our future. I want to create timeless creations for beautiful outfits: A fusion between the living material and an experienced hand that adorns everyday life, with respect for the material and an attentive eye for the details.”