ABOUT US
"The sustainable route to raising your accessories game"
Anna Murphy, The Times
Founded by Lorna Watson, a trained goldsmith and designer, with 25 years expertise in the luxury goods industry. STELAR is the realisation of a vision to restore age-old artisanal techniques and bring them to the forefront of today's international marketplace.
Working directly with artisans in Bali to create unique, hand-woven and hand-crafted accessories that have history and meaning, STELAR is re-imagining indigenous skills that have been passed down from generation to generation to create long-term positive impact and sustainable livelihoods within the communities that most rely upon them.
STELAR is a positive impact accessories brand that reflects a new generation of social entrepreneurs, driven by a mission to re-define the concept of luxury, while balancing both people and purpose. Working in collaboration with artisan communities in Bali to re-imagine ancient weaving techniques, we create exceptional quality, hand-woven bags and accessories using locally sourced natural, raw materials, designed and made to last.
Traceability is at the heart of what we do. Every hand-crafted item is accompanied by a unique digital code, connecting you to the origins of your bag and the artisan who created it.
By referencing the past and embracing the future, we are able to breathe new life into skills that would otherwise be in decline.
With the introduction of modern design sensibilities and the addition of higher value materials, we are able to help create high quality, hand-crafted items that are relevant to today’s international marketplace.
By up-skilling and elevating this expertise, we are empowering a new generation of artisans to preserve techniques and traditions inherited from their forefathers.
These artisans become custodians, protecting their skills for future generations, and the future of fashion, lies, quite literally, in their hands.
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO AGE OLD SKILLS
Reinterpreting heritage skills and bringing the exceptional talents and stories of our artisans and their skills to the forefront through digital technology.
LEATHER WEAVING
BEDEK WEAVING
This traditional Balinese technique has been used for centuries to weave utilitarian objects such as mats and prayer baskets in locally grown natural grasses.
We have up-skilled several communities of artisans to work this weave in locally sourced, super soft lamb's leather that is hand cut and then woven into sumptuous woven panels. They are then constructed into our range of leather wallets & purses and leather tote bags.
STAR WEAVING
This traditional Balinese technique has been used for centuries to weave special objects for ceremonies in locally grown natural grasses.
We have up-skilled several communities of artisans to re-work this weave in locally sourced, super soft, lamb's leather.
This intricate technique requires high level skills to weave 6 layers of hand cut leather into sumptuous woven panels that are then constructed and assembled to create our range of leather wallets & purses and drum bags
BASKET WEAVING
ATTA GRASS WEAVING
Our atta basket bags are intricately handcrafted with organic atta grass, which is grown on the land belonging to our artisans, before being harvested by them and their families.
The materials are naturally dried in the sun, which makes our vegan atta bags robust, hardwearing and showerproof.
BAMBOO WEAVING
Bamboo is indigenous to Indonesia and has been used for centuries to weave daily utilitarian objects such as baskets and mats.
It grows easily and quickly, regenerates itself and is highly durable. The bamboo we use is grown organically and harvested by our artisan communities, then dried naturally in the sun before it is ‘split’ into different thicknesses and woven into panels.
We have up-skilled several communities of artisans tore-work traditional bamboo weaving techniques to create our unique range of vegan bamboo bags. These bags are flexible and very resilient, lasting for many years to come.
SUPPORTING TRADITIONAL ARTISAN COMMUNITIES
Working directly with our team of local artisans in Bali, we create unique, hand-crafted leather goods with history and meaning. By bringing a contemporary relevance to traditional skills, we are able to sustain this expertise whilst re-generating the communities that rely upon them.
OUR UNIQUE CODE SYSTEM
We believe every beautifully handcrafted item has an equally fine story behind it, which is why the unique code, on the disc attached to your STELAR bag or wallet, allows you to verify its origin and attributes. We forge connections between our artisans, the communities we are regenerating, and you.
