Canvas

Our canvas begins with cotton yarn sourced from merchants in Haryana — one of India’s leading cotton-producing regions. The fibres are long-staple, around 3 cm in length, giving the yarn excellent tensile strength and a smooth texture. This length is critical — as it offsets the much shorter and irregular staples found in the reclaimed cotton we blend in, about 40% post-industrial reclaimed cotton. The fibres are spun to yarn, which is then woven into a tightly structured 16-ounce canvas using a simple plain weave.

Colour

Our canvas is dyed and treated in 500 kg batches just outside Kolkata, where colour accuracy and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Using calibrated spectrophotometers and Pantone-matching systems, the 2025 dyeing process ensures consistent, deeply embedded colour across every batch. The dyes used are fibre-reactive, bonding chemically with the cellulose in the cotton to create long-lasting, wash-resistant shades. The process is fully REACH-compliant — and the final fabric is washable, rewaxable, and safe for long-term use.

After dyeing, the canvas is finished with a plant-derived stiffening agent that binds to the fabric structure, improving tensile stability and shape retention. A final rain-repellent treatment is applied, free from PFCs and PFAS, using water-based formulations that create a hydrophobic surface without compromising biodegradability.

Workshop

In late 2024, we moved operations to Kolkata and rejoined the original team who helped launch Cora + Spink over a decade ago. The Kolkata team — led by the three A’s: Abhishek, Animesh and Arpita — bring deep experience in sourcing, business, ethics and technology (to name a few). In just six months, they’ve helped turn long-held plans into practical reality — washable canvas included.

We still work in the same way we always have: hands-on, ethical and focused — but now with the added resources, skills and drive to go further. We’re building a sustainable and responsible business, while creating even more exciting products that give back to the community.

Who is we?

Tim Johnson, the creative force behind Cora + Spink, is passionately dedicated to crafting exceptional bags with a sustainable ethos. Alongside his other half, Mathilde, bring their combined expertise and vision to the forefront of the brand.

Embracing transparency and guided by a lifelong goal of fostering happiness, the Cora + Spink team in the UK and India come together with an exceptional set of talents and skills.