Since I started writing for Creases Like Knives, I’ve had the chance to get to know some girls from the skin scene that I would have otherwise never had the pleasure of getting to know so well. They are girls I can spend an evening with, maybe go to a gig, meet in the street. But thanks to the blog, I also got to know girls I could never actually meet, because some of them live very far away.
One of them contacted us some time ago. She’s been an avid follower of the blog and wanted to let us know about her creations. And even though I’m not an easy person to please, I’ve fallen in love with them. Needless to say, I’m happy to support a skinhead girl who creates something real…
The creations I’m talking about are Bovver Brand bags, and their creator is Deidre Bovver, Swedish by birth but raised in Philadelphia. In the 90s, she was the singer of the band Bovver 96.
Hi Deidre, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Deidre Bovver, I was born in Sweden, but spent most of my life in Philadelphia and recently 4 years in Berlin, Germany. I’m back in the US now. My first introduction to skinheads was in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in 1984 – Christ, I had to do a double-check, but yeah, 1984. was a punks and skins gang called the Spaz Kids in my high school – I was in middle school then. I was 12-years old and started to follow them. Soon after, I started running away from home to go to punk shows, and from age 13-17 I had run away to different cities the US. But, that’s a whole crazy interview in itself, haha.
But yeah, from a young age I gravitated to skinheads, they were the coolest looking and they looked out for me like a younger sister. I always loved the music and style. It wasn’t until was 16 that I would call myself a skinhead. I took it seriously; it’s been a very personal thing in my life. In the early days, I put out a zine called The Upstart and I found music through trading tapes with penpals. I was involved with Anti-Racist Action and the Baldies in the late 80s. By the mid-90s I had a band called Bovver 96. A few years later I had a retail store called Argy Bargy and sang in a punk/Oi cover band called Red Eyed Rats. Once I had moved to Berlin, I was playing music again and traveling to festivals. It’s been a part of me, the majority of my life.
When did you start, and how do you produce your bags?
I started designing the Bovver bag collection in March 2020. I had rough ideas in my head for a few years, it was only because of the pandemic shutdown, that I had time to sketch and create the bags, keeping them high quality and ethically produced. I have a close relationship with my bag manufacturer. By day I have my own brand called Sourpuss Clothing, I have 20 years of experience designing bags and took that experience, my love for skinhead culture and my own personal style to create the bags. It’s all based on passion and I’m happy to share them with you!
I’m happy to share her creations here and support Deidre as far as I can. The bowler bags are wonderful. Roomy yet not large, they can be carried with rounded handles or a detachable shoulder strap. The inside features black and white houndstooth satin lining. I have the Oxblood Bovver Bowler Bag, which is the smarter option of the two, and the sportier-looking Bovver Gig Bag in black and white. I love them both. Needless to say, it feels more special to hold a Bovver bag than one by the usual brands. All other information can be found at bovverbrand.com.
Thank you, Deidre!
Francesca Chiari
Creases Like Knives 
Diedre is good people. I knew her in the streets of Chicago back in the 80s and it’s great to see her stick with the lifestyle and continually push it in new directions. Crease Like Knives continues to do proper service to the subculture.
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