Home > Craftsmanship Stories > Emi James Bags

“My Grandmother Never Sold Her Bags… Until Now”

Written by Emily Stevens - Published: May 4, 2025
Emily Stevens is a senior writer covering artisan craftsmanship for The Handmaker’s Report.

Emi James, a 72-year-old artisan who’s closing her workshop after 52 years. (Photo: The Handmaker’s Report)

For over six decades, Emi James quietly crafted leather bags by hand in her small workshop in rural Japan. She never sold them online—until her granddaughter, living in the U.S., decided to share Emi’s story and announce her retirement. Within days, thousands of people were asking how to get one of her final creations.

She Never Considered Herself a Brand—Just a Bag Maker

Emi never chased trends or tried to build a business. She worked slowly, carefully, and by hand—just like her father taught her. For most of her life, her bags were given as gifts to friends, neighbors, and local shop owners. “I didn’t think anyone outside my town would care,” she once said. But what started as a quiet personal craft has now turned into something much bigger.

Emi carefully stitches one of her final leather bags by hand. (Photo: The Handmaker’s Report)

It Was Just a Goodbye Post… Until It Went Viral

Emi didn’t expect anything when her granddaughter posted a quiet photo of her workshop with a simple caption: “My grandmother is retiring after 60 years of making leather bags. These are her last ones.”

Within hours, the post had over 10,000 likes. By the next morning, it had been shared more than 3,000 times—and Emi’s inbox was overflowing with messages from strangers asking how to buy a bag.

Some people offered to pre-pay. Others asked if they could reserve one. Many simply wrote to say “thank you” or “your work reminds me of my grandmother.”

It was overwhelming—in the best possible way. The farewell post had unintentionally sparked something much bigger than either of them expected.

“I thought maybe a few friends would like it,” her granddaughter said. “But then the messages started flooding in.”

Emi’s last handmade creations. (Photo: The Handmaker’s Report)

This Is the Only Time Emi’s Bags Will Ever Be Sold Online

Emi’s farewell collection is now available—and pieces are selling out quickly. After more than 60 years of crafting timeless leather bags by hand, she’s closing her workshop for good. These are the final bags she’ll ever make, and once they’re gone, there won’t be any more.

Each bag in the collection has been carefully hand-stitched using full-grain leather, aged naturally, and built to last for decades. Orders have already come in from across the U.S., and remaining inventory is limited.

“I’ve spent my whole life making these bags,” Emi says. “It means the world to know people still value the way things used to be made—slowly, and with care.”

Don’t miss the chance to own one of her final creations. This is a one-time release—and when it’s gone, it’s gone for good.