Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Amputee Posts Request For Handbag Design Using Flesh From Her Lost Leg

Amputee Posts Request For Handbag Design Using Flesh From Her Lost Leg
Sewport.com

A 55-year-old woman from Manchester, England recently reached out to Sewport, a service that connects customers with clothing manufacturers, to find a bag designer who would make her a handbag.

A handbag out of her amputated leg.


The woman emailed the service explaining that she is most likely losing her leg to amputation because of peripheral arterial disease.

She went on to discuss the "human waste scandal" where body parts are simply discarded and forgotten. She didn't want her leg to meet this fate, so she came up with a creative alternative.

Sewport posted a screenshot of the inquiry letter.

Realizing how strange her request sounded, they defended her before people proceeded.

"Before you say 'ew gross!', we've spoken with the woman and her reasoning behind it is actually understandable and very personal."
"We thought who are we judge? The designer in question is desperate and struggling to find a professional who can help her, we've helped mock up designs so all we need is someone who has worked with animal skin like leather, and is willing to treat a small amount of human skin and use it to make a handbag."

They went on to share her letter.

Sewport

The woman's request stated:

"Hi there,
"I'm a 55 year old woman from Manchester and I'm hoping you can help me."
"It's looking very likely that I'm going to have my lower left leg amputated soon (I have peripheral arterial disease) and I was reading about the human waste scandal where they just dumped body parts in a dump to rot and I don't want that to happen to me."
"I was chatting to a friend about leather and how it's essentially just treated animal skin and I had a lightbulb moment – can I use my amputated leg to create something beautiful and useful?"
"I'm finding out whether I can keep my leg after the surgery and the discussions have been positive so far, so fingers crossed!"

She went on to explain why she was inquiring into their service.

"If I do get to keep my leg, I'd like to have a professional already lined up to make it into a handbag. I'm thinking a medium sized bag with a short strap and a section down the middle that will be made with my skin and the rest will be made with another material, which can be confirmed later I guess."
"To demonstrate how I envision the handbag, I've done a drawing of it that's attached. I think a handbag is the most logical route to go down, it's basically the same as a leather handbag but this one is with my skin, it belongs to me so why not?"
"From my own research the person making this handbag will need to know how to preserve skin like with animal/leather products."

She also covered the financial aspect of the project.

"I have £3,000 set aside for this, which I hope is enough. If it's not I can be flexible, but I can't spend a fortune on this unfortunately."

Last, she was sure to own up to the fact that her request was far from ordinary.

"I know it's a bit odd and gross, and some might think I'm crazy, but it's my leg, and I can't bare the thought of it being left to rot somewhere. It's part of me and I want to keep it."
"More than happy for you to pass this onto your manufacturers, but would you mind keeping my full name private please? My family aren't exactly happy about my idea to do this."
"Joan"

Sewport also provided their mockup of what they believe Joan's bag could look like.

Sewport

Despite the sentiment behind it, people can't help but be grossed out by Joan's request.



The Twitter post says:

"Here one Madame from Manchester is looking for a freelancer to make her a leather bag ... from her own amputated leg. It. Highly. Strange. News. Does anybody want?"






Others don't really see the issue.



Not sure it's the route I'd go, but I hope a manufacturer extends a helping... uh, leg... to this woman.

More from Trending

TikTok screenshot of @jamesisnotverynice; Tesla Model 3 in traffic
@jamesisnotverynice/TikTok; Li Jianguo/Xinhua via Getty Images

TikToker Drags Furious Tesla Driver After His Attempt At 'Road Rage' Hilariously Backfires

A guy on TikTok—and his over 13 million viewers—got the last laugh after a Tesla driver's road rage hilariously backfired, all thanks to a Tesla safety feature.

TikToker James (@jamesisnotverynice) couldn't wait to get home to share his story with viewers. But he had to because, according to his story, he was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two kids on a tire swing
Kelly Sikkemai/Unsplash

People Explain Which Things From Their Childhood They Didn't Appreciate Until Later

As kids, we didn't know we had a good thing going until we acquired wisdom and life experiences.

But upon reflection, it's true for many people that they've taken a lot of things for granted. This epitome, of course, comes later in life and all we're to do is dream of the good 'ole days.

Keep ReadingShow less
People Divulge The Dumbest Things They Were Ever Fired Over
three women sitting beside table
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

People Divulge The Dumbest Things They Were Ever Fired Over

"You're Fired."

Two words no one ever wants to hear in their life (connotations to a certain reality star turned politician notwithstanding..)

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Pattinson
Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Robert Pattinson Reveals He Made Up Bonkers Story About Seeing A Clown Die In 2011 Interview

Robert Pattinson recently revisited one of his most infamous moments: claiming in a live TV interview that he witnessed a clown dying at the circus when the clown’s car exploded.

Unsurprisingly, the actor later admitted that the story was a complete fabrication, leaving fans both bewildered and amused.

Keep ReadingShow less
Valerie Bertinelli
Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Valerie Bertinelli Schools Body-Shaming Trolls Who Criticized Her Empowering Underwear Selfie

Valerie Bertinelli isn’t letting internet trolls dim her confidence.

After posting a mirror selfie in a two-piece outfit on Instagram, the 64-year-old chef and actress addressed body-shaming comments with a powerful response.

Keep ReadingShow less