A 55-year-old woman plans to make a purse made from the skin of her amputated leg

Faced with the amputation of a leg, most people would be worried about how they would react to the loss of a limb.

But a woman has apparently decided to make the most of her situation – by having a "designer" handbag made from her skin.

Aged 55, known only as Joan, she posted her bizarre request online to find a manufacturer ready to make the custom bag.

Although she admits that some may find it "disgusting" and her family is not happy with her plans, Joan said she did not want her leg to be "left to rot" with other parts of the human body. .

Models of Joan's perfect handbag – made from the skin of her own amputated leg

And with the help of the Sewport fashion platform, she even sketched the drawing of the "handsome" handbag.

Joan of Manchester wrote: "It is very likely that my lower left leg will be amputated shortly (I have peripheral arterial disease).

"I was reading an article about the human waste scandal in which they simply dumped parts of their bodies in a garbage dump, and I do not want that to happen to me.

"I was talking to a friend about the leather and the fact that it was essentially a treated animal skin and I had a moment of glory: can I use my amputated leg to create something beautiful and useful?

"I know it's a bit weird and rude, and some might think I'm crazy, but it's my leg, and I can not bear to think it's left to rot somewhere. and I want to keep it. "

Joan, who is willing to pay up to £ 3,000 for the special accessory, said the bag should ideally be of "medium size" with a short strap.

The main section would be leather or another synthetic material, the skin of his leg being used to create a characteristic section in the middle.

She added that she was already discussing with health officials the need to keep her leg up and that she hoped it would be allowed.

Most patients are invited to donate their limb for medical research once it has been amputated. However, if the limb is unsuitable, it is incinerated with other human waste by the NHS under strict conditions.

Legally, there is nothing to prevent patients from bringing home amputee members, although they have to fill out documents at the hospital for their consent to be registered and the member can be found.

Previously, patients were allowed to keep their limbs amputated for burials or private cremations.

Joan added, "A handbag is the most logical solution. It's basically the same thing as a leather handbag, but this one is with my skin, it belongs to me, so why not?

"If we use animal skin for clothes and accessories, why can not we do the same with our skin?

Joan, 55, from Manchester, drew this sketch and posted his bizarre request online to find a manufacturer ready to make the custom bag.

"Surely there is someone who can apply the same methods. I know it's disgusting, but people keep their baby's umbilical chords and have the ashes of a family member on their display stands. So it's not so strange if you think about it. "

Boris Hodakel, founder of Sewport, admitted that the company had only spoken to Joan by e-mail, but that she was confident that her request was sincere.

He added that the London firm, which badociates fashion designers with manufacturers around the world, sometimes received unusual requests, adding: "In November, we helped a woman who was looking for a hair dress from her dead mother to find a manufacturer.

"Making a purse with your leg is very different, but different people have different needs. Not all leather manufacturers want to get involved or have the experience to do it. "

He added that the company had decided to blog about Joan's request in the hope that a manufacturer would show up. Until now, no one has been willing to accede to this unusual request, Hodakel added.