My Current Favorites [January 2024]: Handmade Quilted Bag, Vest, and Duvet
Being someone who easily feels cold, I’m drawn to anything quilted. It’s soft, warm, and often handmade.
Remember, I had a mini weekend bag from Nobodinoz in organic cotton. I loved it and took it everywhere Koh Phangan, until one day I left it to dry on a metal table and it got ruined by rust stains that are impossible to remove.
I wanted to replace it with the same one, but it was no longer for sale. I came across an upgraded version at Capitaine Gaufrette : handmade, with even more pockets and more details (and can we talk about those gold piping details?) ? The fabric is also organic cotton, double gauze, once used for babies, now it fits everything (clothes, bags). The zipper is plastic so the whole thing can be easily machine washed.
You can find it at Capitaine Gaufrette (link), a small business created by two sisters from Lyon. Everything is designed and handmade with love, so if some products are sold out, feel free to place a custom order directly. I’ll leave you their Instagram account. I’m not affiliated or paid for this, they don’t even know who I am. I paid for the bag out of my own pocket.
At first, I wanted the navy blue bag.
But when I was told that the navy blue wasn’t available immediately and would require waiting for the sewing, I decided to order the terracotta color directly.
Here’s the bag as I received it!!! (with a small note and some candies)
If you’re interested, the yellow and light green colors are available immediately and discounted at €40. You can also buy plushies, cushions, backpacks… go check out their site and give in to temptation.
For quilted vests, of course I have to buy from the Vietnamese. Before, they didn’t have wool in Vietnam, and the only really warm clothes in Vietnam were quilted clothes. Here are some photos of the handmade preparation of quilted fabric at Trinh Fashion. The main fabric is silk or velvet, then a thick layer is added, and a final layer of silk or cotton. All this work is still done by hand in Vietnam following traditional techniques.
I’m a loyal customer at Ao chan bong Ha Noi (Facebook page). What explains the high price of this Vietnamese brand is: not only is the quilted fabric handmade, but the vests are reversible. That’s extremely difficult to do and requires experienced and patient artisans.
The first vest I bought from them is this one! Not only is it reversible, but both sides have pockets!!! That’s a technical feat that I haven’t seen in other brands. I never tire of it and wear it all the time. Apart from the trim, everything is handmade.
The second vest I’m currently ordering from them is this one. Since it’s made to order, I asked to remove an embroidered bird, shorten it to my size, and add a hood. This model is reversible but doesn’t have pockets because the design doesn’t allow for it (the inner cotton is much thicker). The outer fabric is silk, and the handmade embroidery considerably increases the time spent on this vest. It will be worn on very cold days. I’ll show you photos when it’s finished (in February 2024).
For handmade duvets in silk or velvet, lined with cotton, quilted by hand, my friend Huong sells them at her shop Sunday in Hoi An (link), in Hoi An, Vietnam, but she also ships worldwide. These duvets have been seen in the series Emily in Paris and The Crown. Silk doesn’t require special care and doesn’t need constant washing; it’s naturally antibacterial. You can buy it here https://www.sundayinhoian.com/collections/velvet-duvets or place a custom order directly on Instagram. I’ve already bought silk masks and pillowcases from her; the quality is top-notch. She always chooses thick silk (high momme) and trendy, very Instagrammable colors.
