TOP ZWOELF is a small project that began during my studies in Vienna. I sewed the very first bag as a birthday present for a dear friend. From that one bag, several more soon followed — for friends, and later also for people who found me through social media. Since then, the project has continued to grow.

The name TOP ZWOELF originates from my former apartment in Vienna. In Austria, apartments are called Top and are all numbered. The idea for all of this came in number twelve. And even though I no longer live in Vienna, the name allows me to carry a small piece of it with me.

The team mainly consists of me. I design, sew, package, manage social media and the online shop, handle the bookkeeping, and take care of everything else that comes up.

Even though I do most of the work on my own, the support behind me is immeasurable. Without my family and friends, none of this would be possible. Beginning with my mom and my little sister, who first taught me how to sew. My big sister and my dad, who are always there, whether holding a camera or helping with technical know-how. My friends, who own more bags than I can count, talk through countless ideas with me, and always have an open ear for the next thought.

Thank you for your interest in my work,
Toni

How I work

Every bag is designed and made by me. I try to work in the most ethical way I can. I use faux leather for my bags. I do not use animal leather and I never will. In the future, I also plan to move away from synthetic leather and switch to plant-based leather. As I have not yet found a suitable plant-based alternative that meets my expectations in terms of colors, pricing and quality, I currently continue to use polyester-based leather. I am fully aware that plant-based leather is the most environmentally friendly and responsible option. For this reason, I do not use the term vegan. While my bags are vegan in principle, I believe this term should be reserved for products that are not only free from animal harm but also 100% ecological. That is the goal I am working toward.

The term handmade can be misleading, so I would like to explain what it means to me. Every garment is handmade. Even though clothing is produced with the help of machines such as sewing machines, cutting machines, and other tools, it is always made by people. Especially fast fashion has made us forget that behind every piece of clothing there is a production process that cannot exist without human labor. In fast fashion, workers pay a high price so that customers can pay a very low one. I use the term handmade to highlight that my bags are produced in a fair and responsible manufacturing process.

Photography: Jana Abel