Hi, I’m Scarlett, designer, maker, and founder of KYODAI.
KYODAI is a small London-based brand built on a love of craftwomanship, sustainability, and timeless design. Every piece is handmade by me in my south London studio, using carefully sourced deadstock Italian leathers, organic cotton, and solid brass hardware. These are materials I choose not only for their beauty and durability, but for their lower environmental impact too.
Before starting KYODAI, I studied fashion design, worked in womenswear print design and later learned the art of bag-making while working with a Japanese brand. That experience shaped the way I work today and inspired the name itself. KYODAI means “siblings” in Japanese, a reflection of where my craft began and of the ideas of connection, inclusivity, and community that sit at the heart of the brand.
Everything here is made slowly and with intention. There’s no mass production and no shortcuts, just thoughtfully made leather goods designed to be worn and loved.
Thank you so much for being here.
Scarlett
PRODUCTION
Lets have an honest chat about sustainability whilst having a fashion brand. This topic has always been the core value of my brand from the very beginning. I believe in creating high quality products that are made to love and to last but with the lowest environmental impact. And I just new it was possible… somehow.
through many many months working it out I finally created a production model that meant I am able to stay connected to my customers, have a hugely Lower carbon footprint and never sell wholesale! I only work on a made to order basis or in small batches, ensuring as little waste as possible.
But of course even if I try my hardest, I cannot be 100% eco whilst having a fashion brand because I am still putting new products out into the world. however unlike most brands almost all our materials are natural, all leather is deadstock (ALWAYS) and I only use plastic when very necessary (I go into more details below)
The only draw back of working like this is you will have a to wait a bit longer then you’re used to when you order a product! But trust me, ITS SO WORTH THE WAIT!!!!
MATERIALS
Why dead-stock leather?
Beautiful leather already exists. We don’t believe more always needs to be made.
That’s why every Studio Kyodai bag is crafted using carefully sourced dead-stock and second hand leather. These are high quality hides left behind by larger fashion houses that have overproduced or reclaimed before they become waste, giving exceptional materials a second life instead of letting them go unused.
By choosing what’s already here, we’re helping to reduce demand for newly produced materials while making the most of resources that already exist.
It’s our way of creating pieces with a lighter footprint, without compromising on quality, durability or timeless design.
Shockingly The fashion industry generates over 92 million tons of waste annually. Using dead-stock keeps these usable materials out of landfills and incinerators
Why organic cotton?
Every material we choose is considered, right down to the lining.
We use organic cotton because it’s a gentler choice. It’s grown without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilisers, helping to care for the soil, protect local wildlife and create safer conditions for the people who grow it.
It also asks less of the planet. Organic cotton uses significantly less energy to produce and can require up to 91% less water than conventional cotton, helping to reduce its impact from field to finished fabric.
No fabric is completely without footprint, but we believe in making better choices wherever we can. Choosing organic cotton is one small part of creating pieces that are made to be loved, lived with and kept for years to come.
Why solid brass?
It’s the little details that make a bag last.
We choose solid brass hardware because it’s beautifully durable. Unlike lacquered or plated hardware, solid brass won’t flake or reveal another metal underneath. Instead, it develops a rich natural patina over time.
It’s also a material that’s made to last. Strong, repairable and endlessly recyclable, solid brass can be reused again and again without losing its quality, making it a thoughtful choice for products designed to be loved for years.
Many luxury brands have relied on solid brass for generations, and for us, it’s another way of creating bags that age gracefully and only become more beautiful with time.
A note on our materials
We’re always striving to make better choices, but we also believe in being open about the ones that aren’t perfect.
While almost all of the materials we use are natural, we do sew every bag with polyester thread. We use recycled or second hand thread wherever possible, but polyester remains our thread of choice because of its strength and durability. We want our bags to be used for years, and choosing a thread that can stand the test of time is part of that commitment.
All of our leather is sourced as dead-stock, meaning it’s rescued from existing surplus rather than produced specifically for us. Because we’re working with leftover materials, we don’t always know the full tanning process behind every hide. Most are chrome tanned, and on rare occasions some may have a protective PVC finish. While this isn’t something we actively seek out, it’s part of giving existing materials a second life rather than allowing them to go to waste.
For us, thoughtful design isn’t about perfection. It’s about making informed choices, being honest about them, and creating pieces that are made to be loved, lived with and kept for years to come.
SUPPLIERS
We made the conscious decision to use UK and European suppliers for all of our leathers, fabrics and metal components very early on. We are firm believers of supporting our local businesses - and working this way also dramatically reduces our carbon footprint!
PACKAGING
Our packaging is 100% recyclable