D-SATA

D-SATA (or Dim Sum of All Things Asian) is the brainchild of Currie, a Canadian-Korean lawyer-turned-designer. Her delightful shop is a menagerie of unusual textiles, minority fabrics and exotic skins that have been transformed into beautiful clutches and jewellery.

One of the showroom’s main lines is called Kitsch Klutch: bags made from a range of 100 per cent natural or recycled items and sourced from all over Asia.

We love the vintage snakeskin clutches from Thailand with mother of pearl (581RMB) and the frog skin clutches from Vietnam (989RMB), which, during September, come with a free wallet (usually 489RMB).

Even more exciting is an impending collaboration with Harris Tweed for autumn/winter. Meanwhile, ‘Nibbi Munki’ is D-SATA’s jewellery line, crafted from papiermâché, recycled zippers, metal and even chewing gum wrappers.

Everysingle detail is accounted for, even down to the kamagong wood clasps, which don’t dry out despite Beijing’s notoriously bad weather.

Despite the animal skin products, Currie’s designs are surprisingly socially responsible: she is strongly committed to ensuring the women who craft her items earn a ‘living income’ as opposed to a minimum wage, and she also stocks items from the charity Craftlinks, which helps local minorities with their businesses.

Her eventual goal is to set up a cooperative in Yunnan. Throughout September, Time Out readers can clock a 15 per cent discount off everything in store. Alternatively, bring a reusable bag and you’ll be rewarded with 10 per cent off your purchase. AM