It’s not every fashion designer that gets to count THE POPE as a client. But Meg Musick-Makely does.
On February 22, His Holiness, Pope Francis, was presented a very special gift. A newly published book titled “Dear Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World”. And this book was cradled in a leather presentation envelope meticulously hand crafted by Meg Musick-Makely.
Meg was commissioned by Chicago’s Loyola Press to create a “custom portfolio envelope that evoked a sense of history and reminiscent of the leather bags used by the pony express.”
To that end Meg and her team designed and fabricated the hand-stitched 15” x 12” x 2.5” distressed saddle-colored leather envelope. Chicago’s Horween leather Company provided the leather. Details such as embossed hand-stamped inscriptions translated from Latin, the embossed Papal insignia and an antique brass collar button closure transformed the package to something truly extraordinary.
The book itself is a heartfelt compilation of letters written by children all over the world accompanied by charming illustrations. The Pope’s responses follow each letter. Chicago based Loyola Press sent representatives along with 12 children selected from the letter writers to the Vatican to present the Pontiff with a copy of the book placed inside the unique leather enclosure. Each child received a copy of the book along with their own leather stamped tag created by Musick.
ABC news was there to cover the presentation as well as the Pope spending generous time with his young visitors. The special segment aired on Good Morning America on February 25.
So now that Meg has her creation living in the Vatican, she’s back to creating beautiful items for you.
