‘Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak’ – Rachel Zoe.
And what a better way to give an accent to your beautiful inside and outside than with an alluring leather bag that will turn heads wherever you go. In fact, style is something that every woman has and ladies leather bags are just the perfect way to help them find it. That is right ladies, do not hesitate to feel and show the power of ladies leather bags.
But, shopping for the flawless leather bag can be very confusing and daunting, if we consider the fact that the market is overcrowded with cheap, fake leathers and low-quality craftsmanship, which makes it pretty hard to find ‘the one’. The truth is, not every bag maker knows what it really takes to make a well-made leather bag, hence, the great number of low-quality leather bags that women fall for.
- How to determine the quality of the leather?
There are two key factors that ultimately determine the quality and of course, the price of a leather bag:
- hide selectiontanning
- process
Hide selection refers to leather cleanliness, regarding the natural-mark amount on the hide. Thus, leather bags are commonly graded and priced based on the hide cleanliness, including the overall health condition of the animal’s skin. When it comes to tanning, it refers to the process of treating the animals’ skins for leather production. The goal of tanning is to make the leather less susceptible to decomposition and more durable. Tanning can be performed by either mineral of vegetable methods. Colouring is also included in the tanning process.
- What about lining and finishing?
Bag linings are usually made out of durable material. Cheap or flimsy bag-inside is more than a sign of low-quality craftsmanship and short lifespan of the leather bag. Clean-finishing the edge surfaces is considered the most time-consuming operation on leather goods. Hence, ladies leather bags that feature superior quality have hand-polished edges. This is actually a perfect way to show off the craftsman’s care and attention put into the ‘leather bag making-of’.
- Last but not least, a word or two about handles and straps?
Handles are the first contact a woman makes with the bag, so it is very important to make sure they feel sturdy, yet comfortable in the hand. Normally, high-quality handles are made out of multiple layers of stacked leather, but make sure they do not feel hollow nor flimsy. Another detail to pay attention to is the way the carrying straps are anchored to the bag. Make sure there is an additional layer of tack stitching where handles meet the bag, along with an extra support behind the point of contact, so that pulling-through can be avoided.
