JJ Alcalde

Apr 17, 2020 / Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alcalde

For years, Jessica Alcalde spent her spare time revamping vintage clothing and making leather fashion pieces.

“I was in the design/manufacturing industry for a long time so I couldn't really dedicate much time outside of nights and weekends,” she explained “But I recently decided to make the jump to working on my own and building my brand.”

Through her handmade accessories line JJ Alcalde, she melds different materials together to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Emphasizing on leather, accented with different swatches and inlayed designs, she strives to minimize waste and reimagine base materials. She also donates to a rotating set of organizations with proceeds from her sales.  

Many of the bags, wallets and visors are made using ethically-sourced leather, while others evolve out salvaged pieces she has collected over the years.

“Sometimes the material comes first and that gives rise to the inspiration for a design,” Alcalde explained. “I've been carrying around some materials for years waiting for the right project for it. And the inspiration comes eventually.”

In the upcoming months, Alcalde says she wants to continue reimagining the upcycled materials she’s amassed.

“My main goals now and for the next few months are to stay open, flexible and creative with the materials that I have available to me, which is lots of cotton prints, vintage florals, vintage quilts and Sherpa — maybe an odd combination but will be interesting for sure,” she explained.

More about JJ Alcalde can be found here.