THOL Fine Leather Bag Contest

Create a new bag specifically for this contest. The entry may be either an original design or a bag made from a pattern, and each will be judged in its own entry category.

A qualifying bag should be at least one-third leather by visible material or construction. Canvas, fabric, hardware, lining, and other supporting materials are welcome, provided leather remains a meaningful part of the finished piece.

There are no restrictions on construction method. Hand stitching, machine sewing, rivets, adhesives, linings, zippers, frames, straps, buckles, edge paint, burnishing, carving, tooling, dyeing, and mixed construction methods are all allowed. Choose the methods that best serve the design, structure, durability, and intended use of your bag.

The bag may be practical, formal, experimental, traditional, modern, rugged, refined, or personal. It may be a tote, satchel, handbag, backpack, briefcase, pouch, case, or another bag form. If the design is simple, the workmanship, details, proportions, materials, or function should give the piece distinction.

Give the project your best effort, but do not let perfection keep it on the bench. The purpose is to make a bag, learn from making it, and bring it to the Guild. A promising first attempt, an ambitious experiment, or a project that taught you something is welcome here. No white gloves are required. Please be prepared to briefly explain your entry, including your design choices, materials, construction methods, intended use, and what you hoped to achieve. Entries made from patterns are welcome and will be eligible for pattern-entry prizes. Original designs will be eligible for original-entry prizes, recognizing the additional design work, problem solving, and risk involved in creating a bag from the ground up.

Entries must be newly made for this contest and may not be bags completed before the contest was announced or repurposed from prior work.

Each entry must be submitted as either: - Pattern Entry: A bag made from a published, purchased, shared, class-provided, or otherwise existing pattern. - Original Entry: A bag designed by the maker, including its form, proportions, construction plan, and major functional choices. Inspiration from other bags is allowed, but the submitted piece should reflect the maker’s own design work.

The contest will have two voting tracks: - THOL Fine Leather Judging: Selected by the CEO of THOL Fine Leather. - Guild Member Voting: Selected by the members of the Guild.

That means there will be eight prizes in total (first place and second place in each voting track). A single bag may receive recognition in more than one voting track if selected by both THOL Fine Leather and Guild members.

Judges and voters are encouraged to consider the following: - Craftsmanship: Clean construction, strong seams, careful finishing, durability, and attention to detail. - Materials: Quality, suitability, and thoughtful use of leather, hardware, lining, canvas, and other materials. - Design And Function: Proportion, structure, usability, and how well the bag serves its intended purpose. - Creativity: Inventive choices, personal expression, problem solving, and distinctive execution. - Originality: Especially for original entries, the degree to which the maker developed the concept, pattern, structure, and details. - Fit And Finish: Edge work, stitching, alignment, hardware installation, closures, handles, straps, interiors, and overall polish. - Overall Impression: How successfully the bag comes together as a finished piece.

Makers should identify whether their entry is original or made from a pattern when submitting the bag. For pattern entries, please be ready to name the pattern source if asked.