MY STORY
What is YooNeeYak?
I’m Sarah Uniacke (pronounced YooNeeYak!) and I make bags in my garden studio. I live with my husband and two kids and our dog Mindy and the lovely Babs, our elderly cat in The New Forest.
I started making bags about 20 years ago in between jobs as an editor and developed a love of fabric and creating! While making a bag for my sister in law I stumbled across lots of glorious hardware, in terms of clasps, zips, d-rings and their captivating descriptions by the seller (Lisa Lam) inspired me to investigate further. But it was when I couldn’t find a “nice” baby changing bag when my son, Oscar, was born that I really started exploring different designs and fabric choices. All the bags on the market were plain or heavily branded so I decided to make my own. I was hooked!!
The fabric of the story…
The search for a tough fabric for my bags was long and frustrating! I really wanted something waterproof and nice looking and I wanted my bags to last and not get a soggy bottom. Then I discovered Cordura which is fantastically tough, sun and rot proof and easy enough to sew through but it wasn’t snazzy enough. Soon after that I discovered cork. It ticked nearly all the boxes. It’s only drawback that I can see is that you can’t bung it in the washing machine but I don’t think I have ever washed a handbag in my life!
Cordura Washbags
But the rising costs of materials and shipping and the resulting poor returns on my hard work lead me to discover boat vinyl. Well, actually it was my friend Lisa who suggested it. Thanks Lisa! It turns out that boat upholsterers cannot recycle their left over fabrics and usually hoard them because they cannot bear to throw it all away.
What inspires me to make a bag?
I absolutely love adding a surprise pocket lining with something funky. A rollerskate, a golden octopus or a cool rainbow. Could be anything!
And because I hand make in small batches I can change the linings and zips whenever I find new and exciting stuff. This means that each of my bags is a unique piece.
I am now ‘making’ pretty much full time (in between school runs and dog walks!) to supply my ever growing audience. Thank you so much reading. Contact me for any bag building bequests or subscribe for regular or rather quite irregular news flashes!
Hi Sarah, thank you for inviting me to be at the pop up event in November, I am really excited about it!
Very excited about your website – congratulations! Also excited about ordering some Christmas presents and saying, smugly, ‘my friend made it’. ❤️
Thank you so much Jo! What a lovely comment. X
I really like the wash bag and purse you gave me Jo. X
Congratulations on the new website, it looks brilliant. Also wanted to say that the wonderful bag you made for my wife as a birthday present from me is still her favourite, she uses it every day…just perfect.
Thanks again
Ah wow thank you so much David. That is so kind to say. And so wonderful to hear it. x
Really like the wash bag and little purse I was given. Lovely bright colours and good quality. Thank you.
Thank you so much Selina. I’m so glad you like the bags. Jo has very good taste!