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Flowers say, “I like you”, perfume says, “you’re special” … but a magnificent, handcrafted authentic leather bag or accessory from Freedom of Movement (FOM) says, “you’re a keeper”. All it takes is one quick look - oh who am I kidding you’ll be browsing for hours - through this online shop to realise that biltong and Candice Swanepoel aren’t going to be SA’s hottest exports for long.
I blame brothers Roal and Léan Boezaart for all those endless hours spent obsessing over the covetable ranges - seriously it’s all their fault! While the one is a charted accountant, the other is a civil engineer – random much? But it was their entrepreneurial spirit and love for design that encouraged the guys to start Freedom of Movement. It all began in a small room at varsity – one ambitious idea, one sewing machine, and one artisan called Benjamin. Their goal was to create a proudly South African brand that represents the spirit of freedom and individuality that they hoped their customers would embrace. Guys, I’d happily embrace all of your brilliant bags - and I’d like to see you try and pry them away.
The top quality leather products have a raw, vintage look. I love that all the items are handcrafted with the utmost care and attention to detail – hold A FOM original in your hands and you’ll notice straight away the timeless design and the quality finishes such as in the stitching. While I’m a sucker for a good bargain as much as the next girl, in this case I’ll happily pay a bit more for the quality. These items are incredibly durable and will last a lifetime and definitely save you money in the long run. Most of their raw material are sourced from local tanneries and textile manufactures, and the technique they use are a combo of traditional principles of leather craftsmanship that have been used for decades, and their own modern methods.
All FOM products have an original name - there’s everything from a sophisticated leather briefcase for the suits called The Benjamin, to a classic vintage backpack for the adventurer called The Ted, and The Ava for an elegant touch (my personal favourite). The FOM range also includes everything from flip-flops, to toiletry bags, laptop and tablet pouches (lined with wool felt for extra protection) and even travel bags. Go on … tell me FOM doesn’t tempt your purse strings, I dare you!
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Image credit: Adam Heyns and Jeanne-Marie Roux.
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