Revamped leather handbags are functional, eco-friendly and -- hallelujah! -- roomy

Handmade, one-of-a-kind leather handbags for $150? Yes Virginia, they do exist. On a recent trip to Ballard, I found them at Velouria. They're called Revamped, and while you won't mistake them for bags by Balenciaga, you also won't go broke buying one.

Amy Roeder of Bellingham designs the collection of one-of-a-kind bags using leather and suede remnants and vintage material, so the eco-conscious can rest easy. "I work with the materials I find and what I have at hand," Roeder says. "It makes for a more interesting bag."

The designer often mixes contrasting materials for the exterior of the bag, such as suedes, shiny metallics and brushed nickel hardware, while the interior is lined in fanciful vintage fabric, which she often finds at thrift stores.

She constructs each bag on her industrial sewing machine while tending her tots. She knows well the value of functionality, so she designs her bags with easily accessible pockets both inside and out.

Roeder's bags tend to be large, and her collection includes an "all-access" bag, shoulder bags with detachable cross-body straps, and a "deadwood duffel" for traveling, which is inspired by carpet bags from the past. She often finds a roomy vintage bag and dismantles and revamps it, bringing it into the 21st century.

For fall, look for her new line due out in mid-September, featuring dark, earthy tones. Most Revamped bags cost between $75 and $150, with travel bags a bit more at $200 to $300. The bags are available at Velouria in Ballard and Bouncing Wall in Queen Anne.

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