About Us

About Big Bag Maker

Sewing has been part of my life since before I can remember. My twin sister and I learned to sew from our mother when we were under ten years old. She'd let us use her Singer hand-cranked sewing machine — the kind with a turn handle — and I haphazardly made clothes for our dolls. There was absolutely no way Mum was letting us near her electric or computerised sewing machines! But that vintage machine, stitch by stitch, planted a seed that never stopped growing.

In our culture, being able to "turn your hand" — to cook, clean, sew, and create — is something everyone learns, regardless of gender. That spirit of self-reliance and creativity has stayed with me ever since.

We did sewing at school too, though I wasn't exactly inspired by the horrid taupe fabric of the pencil skirt we were given — and there was absolutely no chance our mother was letting us wear a skirt with a split in the back unless it was for a performance! (We did dancing and all sorts.)

From the West Midlands to London

In 1994, I moved from the West Midlands to London, and years later, settled in southeast London. I enrolled in evening classes at college, and my tutor encouraged me to apply for a City & Guilds course in Textiles and Jewellery Making at university in east London — alongside Visual and Performing Arts. Textiles and creating have always been part of my DNA: I'm also a knitter, crocheter, and jewellery maker. After graduating, one look at the exorbitant price of cushions and curtains in a department store put me off interior sewing entirely! Instead, I taught myself to knit and crochet, and started making accessories to sell at markets.

Lockdown & a Rediscovery

When COVID hit, and the first lockdown began, I wanted to make face masks — to protect myself and others, even though I was medically exempt. The only problem was I no longer had a sewing machine.

So I started watching YouTube (I don't own a television), gathered some fabric, and hand-stitched colourful face masks with washable filters. A friend then asked me to help cut squares for lavender bags — but I knew I'd need a machine to sew them properly.

I sold a hand-crocheted shawl, headed to Lidl, and bought a Singer. A few weeks later, I upgraded to a Brother machine from a local sewing shop — and I fell completely in love with sewing again.

The Birth of Big Bag Maker

I began buying fabric remnants from a local woman at the market who made African clothing, and used them to create face masks with matching pouches, which I sold in local shops. From there, I moved into handbags, specialising in African Ankara and Dutch Wax fabrics sourced from dressmaking remnants and pre-loved clothing.

In 2021, I officially launched as a small business — trading as Bigbagmomma. At weekends, you'd find me trading at Portobello and Spitalfields markets, meeting customers face to face and falling even more in love with the community around handmade goods. It was a name full of heart, but people kept writing it incorrectly. So in 2026, it was time for a glow-up. Keeping the beloved BBM initials but making the brand more relevant for where we're headed: Big Bag Maker was born. Same maker, same soul, bolder identity.

I hand-draft all my own patterns — many from memory or a picture in my head — and now make a growing range of: reusable accessories, baby and children's apparel, travel accessories, interior accessories, and plastic-free wellness products.

Low Waste & Inclusivity

Low waste is at the heart of everything I do. I transform any remnants into lavender bags, key rings, lanyards, hair scrunchies, headbands, card holders, bunting, and reusable unpaper towels — including crocheted organic cotton face scrubbies and coasters. Nothing goes to waste. And wherever possible, I choose plastic-free materials and packaging, because the planet deserves better.

Inclusivity matters deeply to me too. Everything I make is gender-inclusive, because colour, pattern, and design are for everyone.

Our Fabrics

Alongside African and Caribbean fabrics, I also work with pre-loved clothing and fabrics from Liberty, William Morris, the V&A Collection, Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink, Alexander Henry, Tilda, Higgs & Higgs, Riley Blake, and more. You might spot a flash of these in one of my pieces — a little surprise in every stitch.

Thank you so much for reading, and happy shopping!

Marcia Hamilton