The Oyster bag
Lies Mertens presents the Oyster Bag — the first release of the Shell Collection. A project rooted in research, shaped by a longstanding fascination with shells, and by both the joy and frustration of creation.
The collection was originally set to launch last spring, but something was missing. It wasn’t ready. So, I made the decision to wait, to give the collection the time it needed to evolve.
Now, after extensive research, development, and countless prototypes, the Oyster Bag is complete. Designed to move with the wearer, it drapes and folds naturally, following the leather’s own character.
The cut, the weight, the composition—each element is the result of extensive material research and origami-inspired techniques.
Crafted in Calfino leather, handmade by our Italian atelier
- Lies
The process began two years ago, driven by a longstanding fascination with shells. Their forms, their structure—
an endless source of study.
What followed was a period of research, refinement, and many tests. Prototypes were made, tested, reconsidered. A process of precision, shaping ideas into form.
The technique used to craft the Oyster Bag involves folding and shaping leather pieces, then carefully stitching them together — demanding precision to maintain consistency.
