A special limited edition created for Down Syndrome Awareness Month, celebrating individuality and the beauty of being different.
The original Sophia 21 will be donated to the charity 21 Together and auctioned live at their 10th Anniversary Charity Gala on 9 October 2026.
Following the auction, pre-orders for just 10 individually numbered Sophia 21 bags will open to the public from 11th of October.
Sophia 21
21 Lines Inspired By Trisomy 21
Sophia 21 Charm
Soft Goat Suede Lining Inside
Includes Gold-Tone Chain And Special Handstitched Strap
Each Sophia 21 Is Beautifully Gift-Wrapped
"When I was pregnant with Sophia and we discovered she had Down syndrome, I felt completely lost. Suddenly, the future I thought I understood became a future I couldn't picture at all. What would our life look like? What would her life look like? There were so many questions and, at the time, very few answers.
Then Sophia arrived.
She was this beautiful little person who very quickly taught us that life wasn't something to be frightened of simply because it might look different from the one we had imagined. It isn't always easy — and I don't want to pretend that it is — but our lives are richer and more colourful because Sophia is in them.
Along the way, we found 21 Together, a Kent charity supporting children and young people with Down syndrome and their families. They have become an important part of our lives, giving Sophia opportunities to learn and grow, and giving us a community of families who understand many of the same experiences.
Three years ago, Sophia also found her way into another huge part of my life — my work. I created the original Sophia bag, named after her. It was a small crossbody and, as my husband Matthew always says about Sophia, ‘small but perfectly formed.’ Somehow, the name couldn't have suited the bag better.
This year, with Down Syndrome Awareness Month coinciding with 21 Together's 10th anniversary, it felt like the right moment to bring these parts of the story together and create something new.
And so Sophia 21 was born.
The 21 represents the extra copy of chromosome 21 associated with Down syndrome, while the design itself is inspired by the individuality, colour and character I wanted this project to celebrate. It is deliberately a true limited edition — only 11 (including the original piece) will ever be made, each individually numbered, and this exact design will not return.
But I also wanted Sophia 21 to give something back to the organisation that has given so much to families like ours. The original Sophia 21 will therefore be donated to 21 Together and auctioned at their 10th Anniversary Charity Gala on 9 October, before the limited edition opens for pre-order the following day.
What began six years ago with so much uncertainty has become something I could never have imagined then. Sophia 21 is a little piece of that story — created for Sophia, inspired by a different journey, and made to give something back.”
— Anya Sushko, Founder & Designer
Towards the end of my pregnancy, when we were still feeling lost and unsure of what life with a child with Down syndrome would look like, 21 Together came to meet us. What made that first meeting so powerful was that the women supporting us were mothers of children with Down syndrome themselves. For the first time, we were talking to people who truly understood what we were feeling because they had once stood exactly where we were.
Since then, 21 Together has become an invaluable part of our lives. The charity supports children and young people with Down syndrome to develop, learn and become active members of their communities, while also working with schools to help them understand how best to teach and support our children. For families, it provides guidance, practical and legal support, and perhaps most importantly, a community of people navigating many of the same challenges. There is still so much uncertainty around what our children are entitled to and how to access the right support, and being able to ask for advice from people who understand the system — and our children — is incredibly important. Over the years, we have gone from being the family needing reassurance to also being able to support those at the beginning of their journey. We know the team, we know the other families, and there is a genuine sense that everyone helps one another. 21 Together gives us the knowledge and confidence to advocate for our children and help them have the very best opportunities in life.
If you'd like to donate and be part of the wonderful support 21 Together provides, please follow this link: DONATEEvery detail of Sophia 21 has been designed to carry meaning and connect back to Down syndrome and 21 Together.
The colour palette comes directly from the 21 Together identity — turquoise as the principal colour, vibrant pink as the secondary colour and lime green as an accent. Rather than simply reproducing the charity’s logo, I wanted to translate these three colours into leather in a way that felt bold, joyful and unmistakably Sophia 21.
While developing the design, I was drawn to the return of visible hand-finishing and decorative stitching in contemporary leather goods. The contrasting black hand-stitching gave me a way to celebrate traditional craftsmanship while adding another layer to the story. Against the bright colours, the dark thread creates twisting, intersecting lines that, to me, subtly echo the complexity and intertwined structure of DNA.
The front of the bag is constructed from 21 individually cut leather strips. The number is deliberate: Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 — three copies rather than the usual two — which is why it is also known as Trisomy 21. The strips cross and twist through the centre, creating the illusion of two colours gently merging into one another, while subtly echoing the twisting structure of DNA.
The charms continue that story. 21 Together celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, so one charm takes its inspiration from the Roman numeral X. Alongside it sits a single, slender I-shaped charm — my own visual interpretation of the small rod-like form a chromosome can take. Together, X + I represent two important ideas within the design: the charity’s 10-year milestone and the additional chromosome that makes Trisomy 21 unique.
I wanted Sophia 21 to be more than a bag created in three symbolic colours. Every element — the 21 strips, the twists, the hand-stitching, the colours and the charms — has been considered to tell a small part of the story behind it.
Sophia 21 is handmade in our London studio using traditional leatherworking techniques, with distinctive hand-stitching running around the edge of the bag and along the handle.
Each of the 21 leather strips is individually cut and carefully assembled to create the twisting effect across the front. The edges are hand-painted, while the contrasting black stitching is worked entirely by hand using thick thread — deliberately visible as part of the design and giving each bag its unmistakably handmade character.
The hand-stitching alone takes many hours, from carefully marking and punching every individual hole to stitching the bag and handle by hand.
Inside, beautifully soft turquoise goat suede contrasts with the full-grain Italian leather exterior. From cutting and preparation to stitching, edge finishing and final assembly, every stage is completed with precision and care.
Selected from sustainable Italian tanneries near Milan, our full-grain leather is chosen for its strength, suppleness and longevity, complemented by beautifully soft goat suede inside. Both are tactile, luxurious and designed to age beautifully.
Only 10 Sophia 21 bags will ever be made. Each will carry its own individual edition number and be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, recording its unique place within this very special limited edition.
Every piece is handcrafted in our London studio in one of three colour combinations, with intricate hand-stitching highlighting the time, skill and craftsmanship behind its creation.
Each Sophia 21 arrives beautifully presented in a recyclable gift box, finished with our gold logo and signature branded ribbon — ready to give to someone special, or to keep as something special of your own.
Phone
Glasses Case
Key Pouch
Up to 4–5 Credit Cards
A Few Make-Up Essentials
Compact and lightweight, this bag is designed to carry just the necessary essentials while keeping an elegant, streamlined silhouette. It comfortably fits your phone, glasses case, small wallet, cards and a few make-up essentials. The adjustable strap allows you to find the perfect fit and wear it comfortably throughout the day.
Dimensions:
W: 23cm; H: 17cm; D: 1cm
Handle Drop Between: 42cm - 56cm
You can choose your Sophia 21 with the original X + I charm, or personalise it by selecting two letters that are special and unique to you.
Each Sophia 21 comes with the original adjustable black leather strap and a gold-tone chain, giving you the versatility to wear the bag in different ways.
Handstitched using thick thread.
You can choose an extra strap that can be adjusted to suit your height.
As a testament to our confidence in our products, we offer a 10-year guarantee to our customers, covering any defects in materials or workmanship. This Promise underscores our dedication to ensuring your satisfaction and the longevity of your leather product. Find Out More
Certificate of Authenticity
Each Sophia 21 is individually numbered and comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its place within this exclusive limited edition of just 11 pieces.
