Handmade Brown Teddy Leather Bag

Palmyra, a 2000-year-old city lying to the northeast of Damascus, was one of the two cities famous for sandals in Syria. The Wadah family had lived in Palmyra for generations, and Wadah’s Leather Sandals Shop was a well-known landmark. The outbreak of civil war and the subsequent spread of the Islamic State, however, not only destroyed ancient monuments but also had a profound effect on the lives of civilians. Wadah and his family spent all the money they have and fled to Turkiye. He became a low-wage worker ($1 a day), desperately trying to feed his family. Seven years after Wadah came to Turkiye, he met the Founding Director of the Taiwan Centre, Mr. Cho. Cho asked, “What products can you make with leather besides sandals?” “Everything.” Wadah smiled. That’s how the brainchild of Wadah and Cho — the Teddy Bag — is born. Chiu provides Wadah with essential tools, a desk, and even a heater. And Wadah creates cute bags using an old skill passed down through generations. Now, Wadah’s 12-year-old son learns leatherworking from his father, cutting and punching leather during his spare time. The Teddy Bag is not just a bag. It symbolizes the Resilience of the Syrian People.