Dong Cloth Skirt-Inspired Shoulder Bag
Why we like this bag
Handcrafted from traditional Dong cloth, this limited-edition tote bag carries a legacy over 2000 years old. From cotton grown by hand to fabric woven on wooden looms, each piece undergoes more than 30 meticulous steps—a process that can take up to a year to complete. The cloth is dyed multiple times with indigo and plant ash, naturally dried under the sun, and hammered thousands of times until it glows with a soft sheen. A final layer of cowhide glue adds lasting strength and rich, natural color.
The entire process is 100% plant-based and chemical-free, honoring nature while supporting sustainable craftsmanship. With every purchase, we donate a portion to empower Dong artisans, especially rural women, helping preserve this ancient tradition and support their families.
The design beautifully blends heritage with modern elegance. Inspired by the flowing rhythm of a gathered skirt, the silhouette shifts gently with light and shadow. A custom silver gourd-shaped clasp offers a unique focal point, while the hand-twisted, beaded shoulder strap adds a touch of ethnic charm and contemporary style.
This tote is a wearable work of art, ideal for fine dinners, cultural events, and special occasions where timeless beauty makes a lasting impression.
Specification
Care & Maintenance
Shipping
- Enjoy world wide free shipping on orders over $100 USD
- We offer a 7-day return policy. Enjoy simple returns and exchanges at your convenience within 7 days. See Return & Exchange Policy for details.
Dong Cloth Skirt-Inspired Shoulder Bag
Soft Well Structured
Our Premium Nappa calfskin is made from carefully selected rare calf leather, crafted through a combination of chrome tanning and softening techniques. The leather feels as smooth and supple as skin, with fine and clear pores that provide breathability, lightness, and elasticity. When used to make bags, Nappa calfskin offers both softness and durability—it can be easily folded and placed in a locker, suitcase, or even a carry-on without worrying about deformation, and it quickly returns to its original shape for the next use.
While retaining the natural fragrance of leather, it also preserves the hide’s unique markings, making each piece truly one of a kind, combining luxurious texture with exceptional value.
Our design takes inspiration from the Dong ethnic group’s traditional craft of making Dong cloth, where manual kneading and crushing is an essential step. Working with skilled artisans, we adapted this hand-crushing method to premium leather. After many trials, we created a textural marvel that embodies the soul of the Dong craft while meeting the standards of contemporary luxury.
Over time, this hand-crushed texture deepens in character, developing a unique gloss and richness that only age can bestow.
Dyed with seasonal plant ash and fruit peels, this premium European top-grain leather carries warm, earthy tones and a subtle herbal aroma—completely free of chemical additives. A special heat-shrink process strengthens the leather’s structure and enhances texture, while a plant-oil tanning process allows it to mature gracefully, developing a rich, natural shine that becomes uniquely yours over time.
This craftsmanship results in bags that are durable, eco-friendly, and effortlessly stylish—perfect for casual business meetings, art exhibitions, coffee salons, and more.
Arts heritaged from 2000 years ago
Dong cloth comes from a thousand-year-old tradition of the Dong people. Every piece is made by hand and takes over 30 steps to complete — sometimes it takes months, or even a whole year, to finish just one.
What makes Dong cloth truly magical is how it changes with time. As you use it, the colors and textures slowly reveal themselves, becoming more beautiful with age. And because it’s still made by hand, it can’t be mass-produced — making every meter even more precious.
Every Dong bag you purchase helps building their tribe
Where is Dong tribe
The Dong tribe lives deep in the green mountains of Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangxi, China. For over 2,000 years, they have preserved a beautiful tradition of hand weaving and embroidery — a craft deeply woven into everyday life.
In the past, life here was very hard. Far from cities and modern opportunities, many families had to rely on the land, their hands, and skills passed down through generations. Women spent months making Dong cloth — not for fashion, but for warmth, weddings, and family needs.
Yet from this quiet struggle, something extraordinary emerged. Dong cloth is more than just fabric — it’s a living story. For the Dong people, weaving is not just a skill; it’s their pride, their memory, and their way of life. Each thread holds generations of love, strength, and wisdom — a legacy born from resilience.
What makes Dong cloth special?
For generations, Dong women have passed down this craft, which uses only natural materials—cotton grown in the fields, hand-spun thread, plant-based dyes, and traditional weaving methods. Each piece takes months to complete, and even with great effort, a village can produce only 100 to 200 meters a year, making its production very limited.
What makes Dong cloth truly exceptional is not just its scarcity, but its character. It carries a unique deep blue-violet sheen that seems to glow gently with time, a look that can’t be replicated by machines. It’s soft yet strong, natural yet refined, rooted in heritage yet timeless in style.
How do we help them together?
When you purchase a Dong-cloth bag, a portion of the proceeds is donated directly to the Dong community. But our support goes beyond donations. We are committed to standing together with the Dong people by building a cultural center to preserve their heritage, regularly purchasing Dong cloth, and sharing modern aesthetics and customer needs with them.
Through these efforts, over 10,000 locals are actively involved in producing Dong cloth and gaining sustainable livelihoods. Together, we help them stand on their own feet — empowered by their own hands and traditions.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, within 24 hours on weekdays.
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Shipping Information
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- For Shipping Fee regarding orders under $100, please refer to our Shipping Policy.
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Customer Support
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