Secret Agent
As promised, I wanted to spend some time this holiday season posting about a few awesome Canadian retailers. Today’s pick is near and dear to my heart, as someone that is constantly preaching about buying eco-friendly gifts.
Agent Reclaim is the brainchild of designer Shannon O’Hara, a Torontonian with an eye for style and transforming upcycled leather into seriously beautiful statement pieces. After a client came to her with a pair of due-for-the-dustbin leather chaps and asked they be transformed into something wearable, Shannon jumped into the business of making old leather new again. Her raw materials range from old jackets, skirts, and pants to cutouts from cars and furniture, and are sourced from all over the place.
The store itself features a few dozen items at any given time – but Agent Reclaim’s real specialty is custom, one-of-a-kind creations. If you want to give new life to your favourite leather jacket or that old sofa in your basement, you can work with Agent Reclaim directly on creating a special custom bag or accessory. Simply strike up a dialogue by clicking on “Request A Custom Piece”, or purchase a gift certificate so your family member or friend can work some wardrobe wizardry for themselves. Turnaround on custom orders for the holidays is typically about 2-3 weeks, so if you opt to go the custom route this year, be sure to jump on it in the next week or two if you want your loved one to have something to open on Christmas Day.
I like to look at upcycled pieces like an original work of art – you are literally the only person on the planet that owns your piece. So wear (and buy!) it with pride, and remember that items like this are a serious investment for your wardrobe. The prices are typically in three ranges. Ready-made full-sized bags are in the $175-$400 range, and make an excellent choice for your wife or a new mom (check out the diaper bags!). Clutches like the striking cherry red ‘Nora‘ bag above go for about $110, and are ideal for stylish ladies at any age.
Finally we’ve got the accessories, which start at $8 for a child-sized cuff and climb up to $40 for a mini-clutch. I for one am in love with the beautiful reclaimed leather cuffs pictured above, which are a bargain at $15 a pop. Pick your favourite colours and hand them out to your friends and sisters for the holidays. Want a head start? I’ve got three Reclaimed Leather Cuffs to give away! How do you win one of these beauties? Read on.
1. Visit the Agent Reclaim website. Come back here and leave a comment below with the name of your favourite purse or accessory by November 19th. Be sure to include your name and email address (the latter of which only I can see) so I can get in touch with you!
2. Entries are limited to one per person per email address (or 2 if you get the bonus entry below). A random draw will be conducted on or around the 19th to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3. Entries are limited to Canadian residents that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.
4. Want a bonus entry? Subscribe to my blog – not just the comments on this post – before the 19th and you’ll automatically get an additional entry in the draw. If you’re already a subscriber, you’ve still got a chance to score a bonus entry: just leave a comment below, and if I see you’re in my subscriber database, I’ll put you down for two entries overall.
For full rules & regs, feel free to contact me at canadiangiftguide -at- gmail -dot- com. Happy browsing!
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[…] Leather – $24 – $225 More Canadiana from the truly talented Shannon O’Hara, who I first wrote about over a year ago. Since then, Shannon has teamed up with Canada’s premiere leather goods shop […]
Canadian Gift Guide 
Lucinda Bag in Cognac reclaimed leather
Thanks Lillea! As a subscriber, you’ve earned a bonus entry into this post’s draw. Best of luck!
Subscribed!
I can’t even imagine the amount of time and effort that goes in to upcycling the former leather garments in to these very current and oh so fashionable bags! My fav is the “Med Tote in Deep Plum reclaimed leather” Personally, I think the colour really accents the amazing seam details.
Thanks Kiki! As a subscriber, you’ve earned a bonus entry into this post’s draw. Best of luck and stay tuned for many, many more contests in the weeks to come.
My favorite bag is the Medium Tote in Deep Plum.
Thank Suzanne, you’ve earned a bonus entry into this post’s draw. Have you had a chance to enter today’s new LUSH giveaway?
My fav is the cherry red ‘Nora‘ bag. The colour is beautiful!
Mine favourite is also the Medium Tote in Deep Plum made from a reclaimed leather jacket.
Thanks Debra! As a subscriber, you’ve earned a bonus entry into this post’s draw. Have you checked out the awesome LUSH gift set I’m giving away?
my wife’s fave is the red clutch
spynaert@hotmail.com
I love the Med Tote in Deep Plum reclaimed leather purse, it’s gorgeous!
Margaret Imecs
margaret.imecs@gmail.com
I also love Shannon’s cuffs! I bought a handful of them for my daughter and her friends a couple years ago. I still wear mine almost every day. It’s the most comfortable accessory I own. This talented lady also made my husband a monogramed guitar strap with reclaimed leather. It’s awesome! …now if only I could get my hands on a custom made reclaimed leather purse! ;). (The Lucinda bag in cognac is fantastic)!
I like the Convertible Day Bag with pull out laptop case in reclaimed black leather. I am a subscriber!
Thanks Susan, you’ve earned a bonus entry into this draw!
my favorite is the reclaimed leather work bag
The red clutch is my fave.
I like the Med Tote in Deep Plum reclaimed leather
Nora clutch in soft brown is my favorite
The Red Nora Bag is GREAT!
kimhorsnell@gmail.com
🙂
They’re all nice bags. But I like the red one the best.
Definitely the med tote in deep plum – that colour is absolutely stunning.
LOVE! The everyday carryall. Those braided straps are to die for. Thanks again for letting us know about this Brittany!
Nora clutch in soft brown reclaimed leather, beautiful!!!
I like all the bags, hard to choose! And like the cuffs also!