Tomás López & Arancha Enríquez

Backpacks shaped by time

• Tomás & Arancha set up Pohorylle together
• They seek to make their creations long lasting
• They came to the profession following diverse experiences

Pohorylle’s bags and backpacks come into their own with time. Arancha Enríquez and Tomás López design and make them in such a way, that it is the wearing and use of them that gives them character. Their collections are handcrafted to last, The Originals and 1/1 collections have a lifetime guarantee. Arancha is inspired by painting and photography whilst Tomás is inspired by architecture and electronic music. It is this mix of inspiration which results in the unique Pohorylle bags. Haste has no place in their creative process. They carefully select materials and providers, 90 percent are local, and take the time to explain how they have been made to everyone who enters their shops.

Interview

©Rubén Crespo

©Rubén Crespo

How did you get started in this profession?

Tomás: I worked with my uncle for Loewe for four years, cutting leather pieces by hand, like in the old times. Afterwards, I joined other leather workshops. When we started Pohorylle in 2015, I taught Arancha what I had learned, and she has become a master craftswoman.

Do you remember your first creation?

Tomás: It was a tote bag made of waxed canvas. That fabric was 50 years old and there were only 20 metres left in the shop. We then manufactured around 30 limited bags and backpacks, and sold them to customers from Spain, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United States.

Do you enjoy combining tradition and innovation?

Arancha: This is a particularly interesting moment to experiment with new materials and techniques, without forgetting the traditional ones. If, in the past, a craftsperson used brass and hammer, today we have 3D printers and bio corn threads, for instance. All of them are tools and require mastery.

Is the pandemic jeopardising your job?

Arancha: Yes, very much. Fortunately, in San Sebastián there is a strong culture for local consumption. If our brand is surviving, it is thanks to our customers, who have chosen us instead of online giant shops. That encourages us to carry on.

Tomás López & Arancha Enríquez are s they began their career in 2010

Works

©Pohorylle

©Pohorylle

©Pohorylle

©Pohorylle

©Pohorylle

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