Form and design of each small leather good (SLG) shown as part of the Sickle study highlight both cell and tissue shape through the design lens of BAMIDELE. Inspired by sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder predominantly affecting those of African descent, each SLG serves as an update to a timeless bag shape.

Asymmetry and curves are borrowed from the irregular shape of sickle cells and the intricate branched pattern of blood vessels in the circulatory system.

Color and material in the development of this study serve to highlight time as a factor to consider in the variability of disease.

This design study also unpacks the lived experience of those with silent, or hidden disabilities like sickle cell disease. Three unique iterations of the sickle pattern are displayed through the interior fabrics that line each SLG. Between quilting, embossing and jacquard weaving, each accessory hosts a uniquely permanent fabric treatment and application technique. These iterations represent different manifestations of what is commonly perceived as a homogenous condition.