About Me

My name is Winifred Sutherland and FreKel was launched in 2016, after being a publican for 18 years I decided to embark on a new journey.

After making an up-cycled handbag for my daughter in law and following many enquiries about the bag I decided to take my hobby to a business level and it has grown from strength to strength with many customers purchasing the unique one-off bags. Their exclusive uniqueness is the selling point that customers love.

Many of the bags are upcycled from various other items and given a new life.

Having started on the kitchen table with a single sewing machine the business has grown and with it the customer base requiring the need to expand into a home workshop which was built and planned out as a workshop and display area for the business which allowed more specialist sewing machines and equipment to facilitate the manufacturing of the bags and various other unique accessories.

My Bags are made from a wide range of materials, colours and combinations.

Sustainability long term is with the upcycling of many of the materials used which is helping to save the environment and cutting back on landfill.

This business is truly a circular economy style business taking unwanted end of life leather furniture such as couches, leather jackets, old kilts, tweed jackets etc also zips, buttons, belts, metal rings and re-using into a new useful lifestyle item.

Waste is extremely minimal with even the smallest pieces of material being repurposed into coin purses, lavender bags, Christmas tree decorations, fabric pictures or applique for bags

The sustainability is from the supply chain that is constantly growing and the re-inventing of new products is constantly evolving.

Social media is a far-reaching tool for a wide customer base who is constantly striving to improve our environment whether it’s purchasing an up-cycled product or supplying materials that can be repurposed and given a new lease of life.

Every bag I make is totally unique.