meet the designer handmaking beautiful vegan leather bags made to last

For those new to SABORKA, how would you describe your brand? SABORKA is a vegan bag brand that creates timeless bags for people of all walks of life. It is important to me that our products are not only beautiful to look at, but also proof that we don’t have to sacrifice our values to create beautiful items. Fair and ethical production, the responsible use of resources, and a dedication to craftsmanship can make for a truly beautiful product – because looking and feeling your best in the clothes and accessories you wear shouldn’t come at the expense of people, animals, or the planet. It’s time to shift our focus away from just beautiful design to the whole beauty of a product: its craftsmanship and design, as well as the often-hidden beauty of an ethical and sustainable creation.Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you started designing bags? I’m someone who is obsessed with craftsmanship – whether that is in the fashion space or elsewhere, I absolutely love watching people create things seemingly out of thin air. I feel like true craftsmanship always goes hand in hand with an appreciation of the materials being used, as well as an appreciation for the product. That’s what the world needs more of: to look at objects not only as something to be used but as something to be cherished and cared for. The more appreciation we have, the better our decisions will be when it comes to choosing and caring for these objects. If you love something, you are more likely to repair it when it breaks; if you care about the product, you are more likely to care about the person making it – these things are all connected. This idea of shopping your values was the driving force behind why I started SABORKA. I didn’t want to buy vegan bags made by fast fashion brands – and back then, that was all that was available in Vienna if you wanted stylish vegan bags. I wanted more than just a product that wasn’t made from animals; I wanted a bag that was beautiful and didn’t exploit the people making it. So I decided to start my own brand.Can you walk us through your creative process? My creative process looks quite different from one project to the next, but I’d say about 95% of it starts with the fabric – the way a fabric moves, whether it is stiff or super-soft, or whether the colour or texture is neutral or eye-catching, all of this impacts what I can envision creating from it. I remember when I first started working with Piñatex (a leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fibre). I was so inspired by the material and the fact that it’s rooted in nature that I began exploring other natural fibres and materials (like wood) during the design process. This inspired some of my bestsellers a few years ago, such as the Pearl Bag.

How do you decide on the shapes, textures and colours for each collection? I don’t really work in collections but usually focus on one bag at a time before moving on to create something new. When it comes to textures and colours, it depends on my personal preference at the time I’m sourcing the materials. I work primarily with dead-stock faux leather, so I love going to my supplier in person to browse the colours and materials. I’m a very analog person – I have to be able to touch everything. It’s not just about how a bag looks, but also how the material feels in your hand, how the hardware feels, etc. Once I find the materials and hardware, I usually play around with a few shapes to see what works. Interestingly, only the Farha Bag was designed with size (a mini bag) and shape (trapezoidal) first, rather than the material. I just had to make it work because I’m stubborn, haha – and surprisingly, it turned out perfectly on the first try, which almost never happens!What role does sustainability play in your work? Sustainability plays a big part in my work because I only use dead-stock material (leftover materials from larger companies), as well as my own and other companies’ production cut-offs. This means fabric scraps from the cutting room floor are sewn together to create new bags. I also take sustainability further by offering repair services to extend a bag’s life, and by reworking older products into new items for customers. Additionally, I’m always on the lookout for innovative vegan materials because I want to make better choices when it comes to the materials I work with. I’m aware that most vegan leather is still petroleum-based (so not ideal), but using only dead-stock materials is a better alternative until more natural options become available.

You’ve experimented with materials like pineapple and mushroom-based vegan leather –what excites you about working with new fabrics? Two things excite me: first, each new material has its own strengths and weaknesses, which influences my creative journey from ideation to product development. This process always feels very fluid. Second, working with these materials feels like an honour and gives me hope, knowing there are like-minded people out there creating materials that are good for both people and the planet.

What’s the most rewarding part of making bags by hand? The fact that I can take something flat, like fabric, and turn it into a 3D object that people wear and fall in love with. I also love sewing with all my heart – it truly brings me joy, and seeing people connect with my creations is wonderful.Do you have a favourite piece you’ve designed? I love all my “children” (aka bags) because each one inspires the next, and every lesson learnt improves my skills and allows me to further explore my design voice and craftsmanship. They all hold a special place in my heart. But the two I wear on repeat are the LOLA Bag in deep purple (hands down my favourite colour) and the Farha Mini, which is such a cute bag and brings me so much joy.

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far? There have been many small moments where life and business were tough, but I kept pushing, believing in my vision and dream for SABORKA. In retrospect, these moments make me very proud. One big moment was deciding to move into my own studio two and a half years ago. I was a little scared, but I did it anyway – and so many incredible things happened because of it. I’m proud that my past self was brave enough to take this leap.

How do you see SABORKA evolving in the future? I hope to continue evolving as a designer and within my craft. I’m sure I’ll keep exploring new vegan materials. There are many potential directions for SABORKA, but I’m not set on one specific path. I take things one step at a time, staying flexible in our ever-changing environment. All I know is I’m excited for what’s still to come (and that I can hopefully do this for as long as possible). 

Check out more of Sabrina's beautiful bags on the SABORKA website or @_saborka_ on Instagram.