#Throwback: GN Man Bag

Throw back: Made this GN Man Purse/Contractor purse back in 2017, just found the pictures 💃🏾💃🏾 just as well cos I actually forgot that I made them 😆. I love finding pictures of old Custom projects or even seeing old Customised projects because I am always reminded of the process of making them. I am always in "Creative Panic" mode for Custom Orders, from start to when it's received 😂😂, don't get me wrong, I love it and I don't play with it but sometimes or most times I tend to block the memory of the project once it's done and delivered, case in point 👇🏾😅

Made on request in #Lagos #Nigeria

luxury #manbag #handmade #Leather #unisex #wellmade #sustainablefashion #shoplocal #buylocal #supporthandmade #madeinNigeria #bedifferent #madeforhim #Blackleather

That you for stopping by and have a great weekend. 

Xoxo

Ore Backpack Revamp

My weekend in a nutshell 🙌🙌

Pattern-remaking 😅😅 A certain #backpack is going through a major revamp...in true GN fashion 😝😝 I have taped over, covered, crossed and re-crossed, covered holes, punched holes...all in a bid to re-use and recycle 😝😝 I kinda like the chaotic look on the pattern tbh 😅 

Design goal: Make it far more minimal than the original, less hardware more hands on kinda thing. Shout out the bearers of the initial and original version though🙋 you now officially own a classic 😊😊, just a few of you 😉😉 lucky lucky you 😄😄. See samples of the Original Ore Backpacks below;

It's a long Easter holiday weekend, what are you up to? I know where I'll be 😂😂, whatever you are up to sha, stay safe and remember the reason for the season. 

Also, don't forget to participate in our Easter Extra Special Giveaway 😉😉.

#behindthescenes  #handmadelife #Handmade #theprocess #selftaught #CustomOrder #luxury #supporthandmade

Thank you for stopping by. 

Xoxo. 

Old Dog, New Tricks...

Disclaimer: The contents of this post is in no way related to the title, sorry if you came here expecting to learn how to teach an old dog new tricks... Duhhh! You can't! But, since you are here just read on why dont'cha? You might learn a thing or two 😉😄😁 hehehehe 

  

We still here, on the same hustle 😄😄.

A major secret in this business is to use what you have, no matter how errrrm #leftwing it is to get the desired effect/result...as evidenced right up there on my work table 👆😂😂. Some info for those not in the know 😒 (you are forgiven for not following us in instagram @gidannodza) We are giving an old design a major makeover, so major I'm beginning to ask myself if my head is correct sef (for my non pidgin English readers: if I am alright in the head *please read with a foreign accent, thank you) 😂😂😂...anyways let's wait and see shall we 😰😅😓. See more behind the scenes phone shots below;

Keep your eyes peeled for the finished pictures or you can follow us on instagram @gidannodza to see them in real time when they are posted 😝😝. Yes! I confess, we are much more current on thegram...a few moments or sometimes days behind but still current #ifyouknowyouknow hehehe 😁

Gotta run, them bags are not going to finish themselves 😂😂. Thank you ever so much for stopping by.

Xoxo

Forgotten Gems

Original post on instagram @gidannodza 😄

Sometimes I marvel at the "gems" I have stashed/hidden away in my #hardware cupboard. Bought on a whim and kept to be used when the "inspiration hits" 😁😁 but alas...many years down the line they remain hidden away in dust covered storage containers to be moved about as we reach for the familiar, base worn, cracked lid and sometimes food stained storage containers for those safe hardwares we use to keep up with the Joneses in this #selftaught, #handmade, small business, big dreams life. There! I've said it...I'm a closet hoarder 😂😂😂 #IswearIcantstophoardinghardwares. So, show's over folks 😝😝 back to regular programming 

It's a very VERY raining wet Saturday here in Lagos Nigeria, hope you are dry and warm wherever you are 😊 #favouritetimeofyear #rainfordays #rainlover 

#behindthescene #supporthandmade #smallbeginnings #handmadelife #closeup #Gems 

Gotta go, can't stay too long on blogville, social media is calling 😜😜🏃🏃🏃 I'm kidding 😂😂. Thank you for stopping by 😄 May the universe be kind to you always 🙏.

Xoxo

New Bag Alert! Ore Backpack

I had been meaning to do a backpack since forever, kinda like an "end of discussion'' backpack. I wanted something minimalist, I wanted something practical and not to mention nice to look at. After playing around with designs and making a prototype (See 👇🏾👇🏾) I was dissatisfied with the outcome. It wasn't siting properly as I wanted, the 2 front pouches were slanting too much towards the centre, the pouch flaps were also not working...you know what? Just look at the prototype proper first before I continue 😔😣

Ehen... Like I was saying, I wasn't feeling the overall effect. So, it was back to the drawing board and after a few back and forth plus research then BOOM!!! The Ore Backpack as we now know it was born 😆🙌🏾💃🏾💃🏾. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Ore #Backpack. Ore (pronounced as aww-ræ) means Friend in Yoruba, but "Friend" in this case is not just any friend but the ride or diiiiiiiie kinda friend! Oh yes,  because everyone needs that dependable, #rideordie #takeabullet kinda friend... In this case backpack, a dependable last bus-stop Backpack😉. Ore Backpack is #rugged it's #sturdy, it's roomy, it's errr just perfect! #youcantakethattothebank 😆 See what the Backpack looks like proper below 👇🏾👇🏾

This version has a mix of leather and webbing for the back handle. 

This colour though 😍😍

Leather combo of life!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

All backpacks feature a very roomy interior, big enough for a standard laptop (tried and tested 👍🏾) and it also has a zipped compartment which doubles as a slip slot a well. The front pouches make for extra accessible storage space small items like keys, chargers, loose change and other bric-a-brac, while double back handles are strong and adjustable. 

Also, just so you know, all bags are handcrafted here in #Lagos #Nigeria and you can purchase these bags and others on our website on http://gidannodza.net remember it's still free delivery within Nigeria.

So, what do you think of the Ore backpack? Would you rock it? Please let us know what you think...who knows you just might win something for hitting back 😉😊 Anyways, gotta run, so many things to do, so little time 🙄🙄😅. Thank you so much for stopping by and "May the odds be ever in your favour" 😉😘

Xoxo

2018: Creative Bloc and All...

It's entering into the 2nd full week in February 2018 and I think I am having one of the worst, epic, daunting, the-more-I-think-the-more-I-am-stuck, walking-on-one-spot artistic, creative, entrepreneurial bloc ever! Its like I'm afraid to make the first move for the year...I have not made and completed any project this year, Shocking!!!😱😱 Kinda like what if what I start off the year with is not something grand... it might jinx the whole year 😬 silly? 🙈I know 🙄🙄. Don't get me wrong, I have loads of ideas in my head, sketches on paper and some prototypes completed but ...

The funny thing is that I go on Social media especially Instagram and Pinterest and POW!!! I get so inspired and the itch to go create takes over me, I rush back to the workshop but the moment I get on my stool the zeal, enthusiasm, fiery inspiration, go-get'em energy evaporates 😣☹️

There's also a downside to this whole Social Media thingy🤔...it can be deflating...sometimes especially when many on said Instagram are oooing and ahhhing about how awesome 2018 already is 🙄😷 #&$\;/please 👀

Anyways, here is me praying that as we start a new week my bag-making-super-excited-I'm-ready-to-take-over-the-world mojo makes a comeback, I miss it, I really do 😅😅

Hope 2018 has been super amazing for you 👊🏾👊🏾. Thank you so much for stopping by. Go, Conquer, Repeat!

Xoxo

Store Front View #hotstuff

How y'all doing today? 2 blog post in two days...wow!😱 Now that's a record for me 😜 So I says to myself... since this blogging spirit is still strong in you today, you might as well milk it, so this is me milking it🙃💃🏾. That said, unto the crux of the matter👇🏾

This is what our store front looks like today 🙌🏾💃🏾😉 Stop by here and check them out. You might see something with your name on it 😉 While you are at it remember that it is free delivery with Nigeria and a negligible amount for delivery outside Nigeria 👍🏾👊🏾🙌🏾. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and happy shopping😅😘. 
🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾

Xoxo

Sokè Slobo Bag: The Evolution

Slobo Bag; A cross between a slouchy bag and a hobo bag (I coined this name👍🏾)

Sokè Slobo Bags in #formation

First of all I gotta get this off ma chest..."Constant inconsistent" blogging is hard 😫😰it is not beans I swear! Awon celebrity bloggers I give you hand 👊🏾👊🏾 real MVP things 😣 been at this blogging biznizz for a while now one would think it will be much easier now😒😖 I have been sitting here for a long time...too long in fact contemplating what to write, how to write and not come off sounding how exactly how I feel... which is bleh 😒😏 Maybe it's the weather 🙄 its been raining then not raining then raining then...🙅🏾🙅🏾Anyways as I was brooding it just hit me 🙀 I've made like three types of Slobo bags and I'm yet to share the latest evolution with you guys 😆 something to write about yaaaay!💃🏾💃🏾 Truth is I have several old designs that are sporting new looks and yet I'm yet to share but err this post is not about them...it is now about the Slobo Bag now named The Sokè Slobo Bag Yes!!!😝 

Let's recap shall we;

The first version 👇🏾👇🏾like I said in this post 👉🏾 here (please read to get the full gist) was the prototype. I promised that it was going to undergo changes and it did hehehehe

The next version which I blogged about 👉🏾👉🏾  here was supposed to be the last version but duh! I'm the designer 🙄 I'm allowed to change my mind every now and then ain't I? You know creative license and all that good stuff hehehehe😀😆

So it is time to unveil the new look Sokè Slobo Bag 🙌🏾🙌🏾....Drum roll please (that's funny, no Drum emoji hmmmm🤔🤔 strange😱 or did I miss it?) Kai! Back to the matter 😂 See the new look Sokè Slobo Bags👇🏾👇🏾just so you know, 2 different versions were made 🏃🏾🏃🏾

This version 👇🏾👇🏾was made on request. The owner wanted it as close to the original as possible and I can confidently say that we nailed it! We took the best features of the original and enhanced the other features 👌🏾 This leather is sooooo so soft, just right to get the perfect slouch 😉👍🏾

This 👇🏾👇🏾next version on the other hand we can confirm to be the last version of the Sokè Slobo Bag. We will only tweak it on request of course 😆and just so you know, accessorising with things like pouches, fringe, studs, outer pockets, eyelets etc...don't count 😜. What we will not do is to fundamentally change the design (fingers crossed 😅😅) So view the latest version(s) and tell us what you think 🙈

Puffed Leather Version: How cool is this version? I hear puffed bags are in 😉👏🏾😀

Snake Skin Print Leather version #nowords!

Seriously we would love to know what you think about this latest and last version of the Sokè Slobo Bag and our products in general 🤔😄...a comment or two would be nice 😆😘

Anyways gotta run 🏃🏾🏃🏾this post is too long already 🙄🙄😅. Don't forget you can buy GN products directly online now on our website and it's still free delivery within Nigeria 👍🏾 🙌🏾

Thank you so much for stopping by and "May the odds be ever in your favour" 😉😘

Xoxo

New Look: The Osayi bag

Like I mentioned in the first post about the Osayi Bag (Read here), the design has been tweaked and modified for the third and hopefully last time 😝😝. I made two but it so happens that only one of the two was tweaked, why? Well, because the "One" was a custom order and the owner wanted it as is, so we made it like what she saw 🙃and needless to say she was pleased with it 👍🏾. So for the second, what exactly did I do that was different from the first 2 originals? Well, amma tell you 💃🏾... err to be honest it's not like I did a lot of tweaking 😖 it was just one major tweak, but you will agree with me that one major tweak can make a lot of difference in the scheme of things yeah👀? Now back to the tweaking....can you guess? Lets see if  you can figure it out. Look at the picture ☝🏾☝🏾and the first 4 pictures👇🏾👇🏾...can you tell?

OK apart from the very obvious...i.e long handle is leather instead of webbing duh! 😒 🙄🙄 The tweak is that the gusset (Sides of the bag) is totally different 🙌🏾, did you get it? 😃😅. The original had no ridge between the main body and the gusset itself, it was just one piece (leather and canvas joined to form the one piece gusset 🙄) joined to the main body, but the new version has a dividing ridge-like something something 🙊, it makes it easier to tuck in and even when not tucked it hold its own, and it makes for better aesthetics... I really don't know how to explain it differently from what I just said so amma just leave it at that and hope that you got it! 😶😐
But tweaking aside, how cool are these bags? Made with quilt style dyed Canvas mixed with patent leather (my new favourite leather😚), these pieces are one-offs, there can never be two of you in a room... or a country for that matter, oh yeah 💃🏾 #cockymuch 😋 Apart from that, the overall design, fold-able gussets, stylish Handle-Through-Flap design, roomy interior and extra longer handle make these bags just 👌🏾💋😍😘 #nowords. See the custom-ordered version 👇🏾. I call this the 🔥🔥🔥 version 😜

Sadly no Osayi Bag is available at the moment ☹️👀💃🏾😜 but we can make one for you on request. Hey, we can even tweak it specially for you if you are wild like that 😀🙃😝 just hit us up on gidannodza@gmail.com and we will go back and forth with your "modifications" until you are satisfied 😉. Other items that might interest you are listed on our website, who knows you might see something that "rings" your bell 😆😌
So, gotta go 🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾 lots to do so little time 🙄. Thank you so much for coming and have a blast this week...do something new 👊🏾✋🏾Cheers 😘☺️

Xoxo

Changing the Narrative: lagos leather fair 2017 (My take😉)

Image courtesy @lagosleatherfair

I’ve been to quite a few trade exhibition fairs up and down the country; agonising over details like space, display settings, price tags, publicity and a whole lot of things not seen by the visitors to your stand. Staff, friends and family pitching in, answering questions, talking up and not to mention wearing you down. You also get to engage your co-exhibitors in the inevitable conversation about how ‘they’ (the organisers) should have done this or that better. So, on the last day of the Lagos Leather Fair Gidan Nodza was present as a spectator rather than a participant and it’s fair to say we were quite impressed with the organisers and the exhibitors. The leather ware industry in Nigeria has taken off folks! 👏🏾💃🏾💃🏾👍🏾
The proof? The sheer diversity of product offerings, the conscientious attention to detail (visitors got free parking as opposed to paying ₦400 every hour 😱), sustained flow of customers and their positive engagement with the exhibitors and just so many other things too numerous to bore you with. Below are a few pictures and also views/opinions we got from some vendors we spoke with concerning the success or not of the fair because to be honest, at this moment "we" that couldn't make it as vendors are more interested in what other vendors have to say about the whole shindig 😉🙃😝

List of Exhibitors: Image courtesy @lagosleatherfair

Brachah Leather/Gbenga Arthsmith Dada Booth: Image courtesy Imagini Photography 

 Cross Section of Booths at the Fair: Image courtesy Imagini Photography 

Image courtesy @lagosleatherfair

Going round to enjoy the sights we decided to ask the exhibitors how things went and boy oh boy! Nearly all of them would jump on the opportunity to attend the next edition. They spoke about a few other things …

On Sales: Momentous. On a scale of 1 -10? A resounding 9 😳 Awesome!!!🙌🏾😃👏🏾👏🏾

On Organisation: Many wished the space was bigger😁. I’m thinking it was really quite large but one person said too many people were clustered along the aisles and in from of their wares. Really? Too many people? Pssst, a little secret... ‘too many people’ equals very good sales and advertisement and contacts and … never mind. Trust me; too many people is good, Osheeeey!!! 🙌🏾
Publicity: The traffic witnessed on the routes to the venue bore quiet testimony to months of great publicity and all we spoke to didn’t think they could have done much better with that. Figures.

Femi Handbags Booth: Image courtesy @lagosleatherfair

Siod leather: Image courtesy Imagini Photography 

Improvements for Next Edition: You’re not going to believe this but the only improvement all wanted was to do this all over again! Sure there’s always room for improvement but I asked and not one could say what they wanted improved 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾.

Look, I left the venue feeling giddy and somewhat downcast at the same time. I missed out on all the action but then again did I? The organisers thought things through this time around and those kind of people usually think it through even better the next time around. Next edition is going to be awesome because among other things Gidan Nodza will be there, getting in on all the action 😝👍🏾🙌🏾

For now, a deep bow and doff of the hat to Femi Hand Bags and the rest of the crew behind the scenes for truly ‘Changing the Narrative’ 👏🏾👏🏾👊🏾.

So, thats all she wrote folks 🏃🏾🏃🏾😄😄😝. Thank you so much for stopping by, may the universe be kind to you always 🙏🏾💐😘

Xoxo