My foundation is in the craft. I completed the four-year program Creative Craftsman at SintLucas in Boxtel, where I learned to make bags and shoes using various traditional techniques, always preceded by research and design. Afterwards, I followed the Arts & Crafts program at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, where the focus was on concept development, designing, and building collections.

For me, craftsmanship means attention, a human touch, and complete control. I design, make the patterns, select the materials, and carry out the entire manufacturing process myself - from cutting and gluing to stitching and finishing. This makes each piece personal and well-considered. The most essential moment in the making process for me is behind the sewing machine: that's where the bag truly takes shape. This is the point where precision, calm, and refinement come together. Finishing is just as important here—no raw edges, no sloppy cut lines. The inside of a bag is worked out just as carefully as the outside for me.

At Deanog, the creation process is both broad and meticulous, without a fixed, strictly defined order. Working with leather means constantly switching between different operations.
Broadly speaking, every design starts with drawing and developing our own patterns. Each design requires a unique set of patterns. These are transferred to the leather, the reinforcement, and the lining, after which all components are carefully cut out.
The reinforcement and lining are glued, the panels are stitched together, and all edges are finished by hand in a ton-sur-ton colour. Fittings are attached in between at the places where they are functionally and visually correct.

It is precisely this careful alternation – between gluing, stitching, and finishing – that gives the bag its refined appearance and contributes to a longer lifespan.

Deanog bags and accessories are made exclusively from full-grain cowhide with a matte finish.

The leather is sourced from a Dutch supplier who collaborates with Italian tanneries. This leather is chrome-tanned and dyed through and through but not finished with a sealing coat of paint. This preserves its natural look and keeps the material's texture visible.

The leather is sturdy yet supple enough to be elegantly shaped. Because the leather is not 'sprayed shut', it develops a natural patina with use – not a shiny plastic layer, but a subtle aging that enhances the material's character.

Proper maintenance plays an important role in this. With the right care, the leather will stay beautiful longer and retain its balance between softness and texture. You can read more about this on the Care Tips page.

The interior of a bag receives the same care as the exterior.

• Lining: Smaller bags are lined with sturdy pigskin in a soft beige tone. Larger bags feature suedine in a beige-sand colour.
• Thread: We use thread with a thickness of 40, always chosen in a tone-on-tone colour to match the leather.
• Hardware: Depending on the design, we opt for gold- or silver-coloured finishes.

The choice of a sturdy lining is deliberate: the contents of a bag affect its shape and wear. Quality and durability are therefore always paramount—even in materials

For me, sustainability means that a product has a long lifespan, and so does the material it's made from.

By handcrafting everything in my own workshop, the entire process remains under control.

There are no unnecessary transport movements, no overproduction, and no mass inventory. Small-scale and made-to-order work are essential here.

Furthermore, sustainability stands for fair production: no underpayment, no child labor, and no anonymous mass production. Leather is a strong and repairable material.

Deanog pieces are designed to last and, where necessary, to be repaired — so they can accompany you through the years.

Just as important as what is chosen, is what is deliberately avoided.

We do not use trendy leathers such as nappa, or materials with a plastic appearance.
Many of these leathers have synthetic alternatives that detract from their natural character.

Mass production also does not fit within Deanog's vision. Instead, we work with minimal stock and a careful made-to-order process.