House in ul. Kurkowa 51, or how the story began
The story began when a film crew arrived in Wroclaw in October 2014 to prepare a setting to "St. James Place", Spielberg's new production. Ul. Kurkowa and its unusual architecture turned out to be a perfect spot to shoot an espionage thriller set in the Cold War times. The director offered a leading role to his favourite actor Tom Hanks.
The work on the setting was coordinated by producer Marianna Rowińska, who is friends with many prize-winning artists in Hollywood and has worked on such famous productions as "The Reader" or "The Chronicles of Narnia". While preparing documentation to "St James Place" she popped in to "Krokodyl", a shop Andrzej Czajkowski had been running for 35 years.
She took an immediate liking to handmade leather bags and a homely atmosphere. "We're friends now, she is extremely amiable and not at all snooty, unlike many others in this business" says Andrzej Czajkowski. As she was looking for a bag for herself, Marianna Rowińska came up with the idea to order bespoke bags for Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Leather messenger bag for Tom Hanks
Which bag would be the best for the actor? "Marianna chose the leather type and the colour and told me that a tablet, a script and a large phone had to fit inside. The bag also had to have a pen pocket to the side," says Andrzej Czajkowski.
A lining selected to match bags presented to Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg / phot.Tomasz Walków
The producer liked raw hide, also known as pull-up hide, which slightly changes its original colour as it comes into contact with the clothing. "I asked the only designer who can do the job in Wroclaw, Marian Makowski, to lend me a hand and we later on selected a suitable lining," explains Andrzej Czajkowski. This is when Marianna Rowińska took the craftsman by surprise. "She suggested we should put the following inscription at the back of the bag: Made by hand on location in Poland, Wrocław by Andrzej Czajkowski from Krokodyl for Mr. Tom Hanks - November 2014," Andrzej Czajkowski shows us a piece of hide with the inscription.
Special prints on the bags presented to the actor and the director / phot. Tomasz Walków
"I've got one more print as a keepsake because we were afraid it wouldn't work, and it costs 350 PLN to make it," he adds. A similar print, without a name though, was put on Steven Spielberg's bag. "It was a great idea, I wouldn't personally dare to suggest it even though it's a great ad for my business," says Andrzej Czajkowski. The craftsman needed about a week to make bags for the director and the actor.
Tom Hanks tries on the belt
As the shooting was coming to a close, Andrzej Czajkowski was told that Tom Hanks wanted to visit his shop because he was simply delighted with the bag and was using it all the time. "I nearly got into panic because our shop is so modest, and I asked everyone to wear our company overalls and stay at the shop at all times," says Andrzej Czajkowski. Marianna Rowińska told him that the actor would come on his own and without notice, the way he likes best. Tom Hanks knocked on Krokodyl's door in ul. Kurkowa 51 a day before the last take. "He came in and said "Cześć, Andrzej" [Hi, Andrzej] and thanked me for the bag," Andrzej Czajkowski is visibly happy. The Academy Award winner came with his daughter Elisabeth, who chose a cycling linen and leather rucksack, his assistant Sooki Raphael and a production manager from Berlin. A happy and open man, still wearing a coat with a fur collar, which was his costume on the set.
This sports belt, together with other two belts, was presented to Tom Hanks by Andrzej Czajkowski / phot. Tomasz Walków
"I told him I had a surprise for him and would like to make a belt for him but we first need to take a measurement," says Andrzej Czajkowski. Tom Hanks was easy about this. "He said OK, took off his coat and we went on with the measurement. He would later receive three sports belts with a brass buckle and our Krokodyl logo. He looked around our shop and was quite surprised by the size, but he also liked the fact that everything we sell is handmade," explains Andrzej Czajkowski.
Notebook with a crocodile for Tom Hanks while in Wroclaw
While visiting Andrzej Czajkowski's shop Tom Hanks bought a dark brown leather messenger bag for his laptop and ordered fifteen hundred-page notebooks bound in leather with the Krokodyl logo embossed on it. "He saw the notebook on my desk and he liked it a lot," says Andrzej Czajkowski.
Andrzej Czajkowski is still moved by the visit. "He came to my shop because he was polite and got a nice gift. He didn't have too and yet he acted in style. I will remember it for a long time," he says. He did not have a photo taken with Hanks because he would not dare to ask for it, but he keeps the hide with the inscription. Something beautiful to remember him by.
