How everything began

The journey started in 2006 in the Chatuchak market's deadly heat in Bangkok, Thailand. On my first visit to this colorful country, I was on the hunt for something special I could bring back with me. After hours of strolling around the stalls that offer everything from pets to furniture, I finally discovered it. Hanging from a vintage store's raw metal structure, I saw a beautiful weekender bag.

It took me 20 minutes of bantering to call the bag mine. I was 19 years old and just started design school in Bremen, Germany. I was extremely proud of the bag. Since then, this bag was a brave companion for me. And I wasn't the only one excited about it. Friends and people on the street would approach me and ask where they could get it. I couldn't answer but promised to find out. So on the next trip to Bangkok five years later, I jumped again in the market's vivid atmosphere. But even after two days of searching, I wasn't able to find it again.

I finished my degree, worked as a designer for some years, studied Marketing, and was still carrying the bag. So after the final graduation, I set up a small studio and began to get into leather craftsmanship. I learned everything from the basics of hand sewing to setting up my online store to start my brand Manuel Dreesmann. So now I can create this special something for others.