LAMA is a minimalist handmade leather goods brand based in Berlin. Our work focuses on smart construction and functionality with a sustainable approach.
Our goal is to reinvent traditional craftsmanship with sharp design, curiosity, creativity and above all, integrity.
All of products are handmade to last from top quality materials, like Italian vegetable-tanned leather & solid brass.
LAMA is not me, and I’m not her, but we sure have a lot in common. I cannot tell one’s story without the other.
I’m Dani, a proud neuroqueer afro-latina, born in the 90’s in downtown Santiago – Chile.
I “founded” this brand on 2015, after working part-time in a shoe shop where I started to try out my first creations from leftover pieces of leather. I say founded in quotes, because it was a very long and not completely conscious process.
Like for most creators I think, what started out as a hobby, started very quickly taking more and more space in my life. So I gave it a name; La Marroquinería, which simply means leatherwork or leather goods in Spanish,
Minimalism was in my mind from the start, so I though the the name was fitting, but it was too general, too long, and hard to pronounce. I decided then to keep only the first two syllables, and LAMA was born.
France was my first of many stops on this life quest with LAMA. Since then, I’ve lived many lives, worked various jobs and called several places home—across multiple countries.
LAMA’s journey has been just as varied, with at least seven different workspaces in the last decade or so. These include a corner of a shared living room in Santiago, a tiny desk in a treehouse in Normandy (yes, really!), and my small bedroom in Paris.
Join me in this ride as an independent artist, entrepreneur, and migrant woman in our current life in Kreuzberg -Berlin, our home since 2020. Thanks for being here ❤︎
In 2016, I was 23 years old and in my 4th year of engineering in a very elitist and conservative university, mainly thanks to a scholarship and my parents efforts. As a anticapitalist, socialist, feminist, queer black woman from a humble family, well, you can imagine I didn’t exactly fit in.
Growing up in Chile (or anywhere in the global south, for that matter), you just become worthy if you’re lucky enough to be able to pay for uni, and become a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer, basically. But degrees never held much appeal for me, I wanted my freedom more than anything else.
As an only child, I was expected to be the first in my family to graduate and “make something of myself,” so when I decided to leave school and move away, my parents weren’t thrilled, let me tell you.
Creating long-lasting, thoughtfully designed leather goods that embody timeless aesthetics, sustainable practices, and accessible quality, LAMA is driven by a commitment to radical transparency, ethical production, and fair pricing, prioritising quality and artistic integrity over fleeting trends and mass production.
We embrace a responsible approach to the environment by using vegetable-tanned leather from Tuscany, Italy, and high quality durable hardware like solid brass or bronze. We are committed to complete transparency in our processes and sourcing.
Scroll down to find out more about our materials.
Despite being constantly contacted by enterprises in cheaper labour countries, we refuse to take any part of our production elsewhere.
We will ALWAYS continue to produce in our own workshop, even if we grow, so we can make sure our values are held in every part of the production process.
Ethical practices are at the heart of everything we do, from fair pricing and transparency to fostering a respectful and equitable communication. We are committed to building a sustainable business that will benefit our community and respects the dignity of labor. We believe transparency is key to sustainability. Have questions? We’re happy to answer them – just send us an email.
LAMA is a story of independent creation, written with passion and a bold artistic vision. We celebrate the courage to defy convention, to express oneself freely, and to forge one’s own path. As a Chilean immigrant, our founder infuses LAMA with a global perspective, creating products that reflect the richness and beauty of diverse cultures
Our designs reinterpret classic forms with a contemporary sensibility. focusing on clean lines, functional design, and the inherent beauty of natural materials. With meticulous attention to detail, we create pieces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also bring joy to everyday life and can be cherished for generations.
In a world of mass production, it’s easy to lose sight of the value of handcrafted goods. We aim to educate you about the artistry, sustainability, and ethical considerations behind our choices.
We celebrate the quality, skill and dedication for everything handmade. By choosing handcrafted, you’re not just acquiring an object; you’re supporting artisans, sustainable practices, and a more thoughtful way of life.
Each piece is meticulously designed and handmade to last with premium, sustainably sourced materials in the heart of Berlin. We stand against fast fashion by choosing quality, and ethical practices over fleeting trends. We believe in conscious consumption and creating lasting value.
That’s why we offer a lifetime warranty.
LAMA: Beautiful objects, meaningful impact. We advocate for sustainability, fair labor practices, and social justice, using our platform to spark conversations and drive positive change. We’re committed to raising awareness and contributing to a better world. We know our impact may be incremental, but we will never compromise our values by contributing to the problems we fight against.
The foundation of exceptional handcrafted leather goods lies in the quality of the materials we select. We’re committed to using premium materials that not only enhance the beauty and durability of our creations but also reflect our dedication to sustainable practices. We believe that investing in quality materials is an investment in creating products that will be cherished for generations to come.
Our primary material is highest quality grade vegetable-tanned leather, from Tuscany, Italy.
This traditional tanning method, using natural tannins derived from tree bark, leaves, and other plant matter, results in a leather that is not only beautiful but also environmentally conscious. Here’s why we favour vegetable-tanned leather:
While leather is the star of our creations, we also utilise other high-quality materials to complement our leather goods:
