Woman, 55, plans to get HANDBAG made out of skin from amputated LEG
‘I know it’s a bit odd and gross…’: Woman, 55, plans to get HANDBAG made out of the skin from her amputated LEG
- Amputee, known only as Joan, from Manchester, posted bizarre request online
- Claims she doesn’t want her leg to be ‘left to rot’ with other human body parts
- With help of fashion platform Sewport, she’s even sketched out a design for bag
Faced with having a leg amputated, most people would be left fretting about how they would cope with the loss of a limb.
But one woman has apparently decided to make the most of her predicament – by having a ‘designer’ handbag made from the discarded skin.
The 55-year-old, known only as Joan, posted her bizarre request online in a bid to find a manufacturer prepared to make the bespoke bag.
Although she admits some may find it ‘gross’ and her family are not happy about her plans, Joan said she didn’t want her leg to be ‘left to rot’ with other human body parts.
Mock up designs of Joan’s ideal handbag – made from the skin of her own amputated leg
And with the help of fashion platform Sewport, she has even sketched out a design for the ‘beautiful’ handbag.
Joan, of Manchester, wrote: ‘It’s looking very likely that I’m going to have my lower left leg amputated soon (I have peripheral arterial disease).
‘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 light bulb moment – can I use my amputated leg to create something beautiful and useful?
‘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 bear the thought of it being left to rot somewhere. It’s part of me and I want to keep it.’
Joan, who is prepared to pay up to £3,000 for the special accessory, said ideally the bag would be ‘medium-sized’ with a short strap.
The main section would be made from leather or another synthetic material, with skin from her leg used to create a feature section down the middle.
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She said she was already in discussions with health bosses about keeping the leg and was hopeful it would be allowed.
Most patients are asked to donate their limb for medical research once it has been amputated. However, if the limb is unsuitable, it is incinerated along with other human waste by the NHS under strict conditions.
Legally, there is nothing to stop patients taking amputated limbs home with them, although they must fill in documentation in hospital so their consent is recorded and the limb traceable.
Previously, patients have been allowed to keep their amputated limbs for private burials or cremations.
Joan added: ‘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?
‘If we use animal skin for garments and accessories then why can’t the same be done with our skin.
55-year-old Joan, from Manchester, drew this sketch and posted her bizarre request online in a bid to find a manufacturer prepared to make the bespoke bag
‘Surely there is someone out there that can apply the same methods. I know it’s gross, but people keep their baby’s umbilici chords and have relative’s ashes on display, so it’s not really that weird if you think about it.’
Boris Hodakel, founder of Sewport, admitted the firm had spoken to Joan only via e-mail, but were confident her request was genuine.
He said the London-based company, which matches fashion designers with manufacturers across the globe, sometimes received unusual requests, adding: ‘In November we helped a woman who wanted a dress made from her dead mother’s hair find a manufacturer.
‘Having a handbag made from your leg is quite different, but different people have different needs. Not all leather manufacturers want to get involved or have the experience to do this.’
He said the firm had decided to blog about Joan’s request in the hope a manufacturer would come forward. So far none has been prepared to accede to her unusual demand, Mr Hodakel added.
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