Ornella Feldman

Ornella, aka “Nanook” (her nickname since high school), makes vegan leather goods and jewellery in her studio in Vanves, just outside Paris. A television video editor for twenty years, she felt the need to create with her hands: after five years of thinking about it, Nanook was born at the end of 2025.

A passion born from sewing

It all started with her sister, who taught herself to sew on their grandmother’s machine. In 2019, confined to bed during her pregnancy, Ornella learned in turn through online tutorials. Since then she has sewn almost every gift she gives: bags, pouches and everyday objects designed for the person who will receive them.

Materials without animal leather

Nanook uses no animal leather, but innovative textiles made by upcycling agricultural waste: AppleSkin (apple), Piñatex (pineapple leaves), GrapeSkin (grape marc), Desserto (Nopal cactus), as well as cork. Ornella is transparent about her approach: these materials are not yet perfect, and her goal is to move, as innovations allow, to fully bio-based and biodegradable materials.

Creations

Coin purses, card holders, key rings, bracelets, earrings and pins, handmade and customisable.