Pleasantly surprised
I am a leather handbag addict and have collected and used many different kinds of leather purses. Although 8 have loved many kinds, my taste runs eclectic with strong preference for artisan-crafted, less polished, more naked leather looks. I ordered this one out of curiosity. I expected this would be similar to Hide and Drink items that I had bought from Amazon before, The bag came wrapped in a cellophane bag without paper stuffings to hold the shape. Inside the bag, there was a letter explaining the company and its philosophy instead of a glossy brochure. The leather is of thicker gauge, color is more like two-tone in that the front outside pocket under the flap is darker than the flap and back, The outer shell of the bag does not seem to be reinforced with cardboard like some purses. But the inside pockets have some padding, maybe to protect smartphones? I enclosed some pictures to show that some parts of the leather are wrinkled; stitchings are good; you can see where the pipings ended; and how one side gusset is of the two different pieces of leather although the other side is not. To me, these are indications that the maker tried to use the natural leather’s beauty and tried not to waste. The front pocket underneath the front flap has a regular snap closure. I would use the pocket to put my phone. The front flap itself has magnetic snap closure. Inside, there are two zipper pockets and two slip pockets that are padded. I would have loved to have an outside slip pocket so that I can access to it without opening the bag itself. I can put my 10” iPad vertically but to close it, 8 have to extend the front buckle all the way out. The shoulder strap is made of two pieces of leather and adjustable. I put four holes in it to make the strap shorter with my leather punch. There is an odor that is different from the ordinary “leather” smell. This smell is more unpleasant, more animal-like. I suspect the smell will go away. If you prefer the unusual, more hand-made look over perfection, this one is for you. The price ($30 at the review time) is unbeatable.
Rating: 5 stars