Hi! I’m Niki, CHELA’s creator. After years of looking for the perfect convertible bag, I decided to design one myself. That is how the idea of CHELA was born, almost two years ago!
CHELA quickly transforms from a gorgeous functional backpack into a stunningly chic tote.
Each CHELA will be handcrafted by artisans in Argentina, using highest quality leather. Decades of tradition and mastery are woven into every cut and stitch, resulting in a leather piece you will enjoy for many years.
It took 17 prototypes to develop CHELA, iterating between materials, mechanisms, and sizes. I have been personally testing it for two years and I’m amazed by how this high quality leather looks better and better with time.
Through the 17 prototypes, years of testing, and all the feedback we received, we added several features to CHELA. Here are some of the features that make CHELA the perfect accessory:
Day-to-night. Carry everything you need for your day and be prepared for the unexpected. We designed CHELA’s interior so that everything you carry is organized and easily accessible.
CHELA has many functional pockets: a laptop cushioned sleeve, a bottle holder, 2 easy-access back pockets, a hidden pocket, and a key holder. And yes, you can detach the interior.
Pack it all. Take everything you need with you. CHELA will look amazing both as a shoulder bag and as backpack.
This is one of CHELA’S most exciting features. If you need extra space, simply unzip the interior and duplicate your carrying capacity.
We made the interior machine washable so that makeup accidents or beverage spills are easily remedied.
Interiors are interchangeable so you can transfer the interior – with all its contents – into a different CHELA
All colors will be available in two sizes.
Once the Kickstarter campaign is complete we will survey our backers for their preferred color. There are 6 color options for the exterior and you can choose between a light or dark interior.
When it comes to material we demand the best and accept nothing less. With Chela you will be getting the best Argentinean leather.
As years go by, the leather will become softer without losing its durability. CHELA is a bag you will keep forever. Leather handcrafting is a pillar of the Argentinean tradition, alongside dancing Tango, drinking Mate and playing soccer.
CHELA’s construction is of the highest quality, with extreme attention to detail.
I am an architect born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My passion for design was born when I was 12 years old and my grandmother (“La Bobe“) bought me a sewing machine and taught me how to use it. Since then, I have always created and altered my own clothes and designed my own leather jackets.
Two years ago I moved to New York City and realized I didn’t have a functional and chic bag that could be used the entire day. I didn’t like what was on the market so I started working on CHELA.
I began with a cardboard model, and from there I made the first leather prototype. On a trip to Buenos Aires I started working side by side with a family of leather artisans who have three generations in the craft. We worked on every improvement and design tweak together.
I started using CHELA every day and people stopped me in the subway or on the streets to ask where I bought such a great bag. I realized then that there are other women with the same needs, and that I wanted to share CHELA with everyone.
Our goal is to offer 6 color options, in two sizes, with dark or light interior lining. We will never lower our quality standards. We will personally review every single CHELA we deliver. This project will require us to be involved in procuring raw material, take part in production, and handle fulfillment. This end-to-end process can take from 4-6 months. We are relentless, we will deliver high quality CHELAs, and we will make sure to surpass our backers’ expectations.