Leather shoulder bag, 'Unisex'

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. With the gentleman in mind, Kunyanee designs a shoulder bag for men or women. Slightly squared, the sleek bag is hand-crafted from fine black leather. It features two inner pockets, three outer pockets and an adjustable strap. Artisan Info: "Hello! My name is Kunyanee Intarasorn and my nickname is Mon. I was born on February 22, 1967. I went to Bangkok when I was 17 and was employed in a company manufacturing leather accessories. I worked there for 14 years, training and learning the fine art of leather making. From tanning, designing, drawing and cutting patterns to sewing pieces together in wonderful accessories, I think I learned everything about leather crafting. "Then the financial crisis of 1997 swept through Asia and the company dismissed most of the employees. So I came back to my hometown where I organized a leatherwork group in 2000. The government supported us initially and we gradually became self-sustaining. Our group creates jobs and provides opportunities to villagers. So far we have 15 member artisans. Not only can they earn money but this also creates a micro-economic community that runs a financial system where apprentices can be trained. "We are now becoming well known locally. I sent some of our works to a contest, and they passed the district, province and division pre-selective levels, and the items ended up being rated 3 stars. We currently carry a whole range of contemporary accessories. Very recently we have also launched a new line mixing leather with Thai silk, cotton embroidery and also carving on leather. These are accessories made with local wisdom and the finest materials. "As a Thai woman, I'm so proud that I have my own career. My husband is also working with me at home on making leather products. Besides being able to support