As a small leather craftsmen myself, I thank you for your work in exposing these big companies while still showing reasonable prices for the quality products we make.
@@Rose-qr4xn Etsy or subreddits are good places to find them. Some of the makers you find on subreddits may sell on IG. Another good way is to Google images of an item you have in mind and search through those.
I just bought a smaller size last week in a new color. It’s a similar color to my Birkin 25 Beton, but that’s okay! My bag doesn’t have the chain strap. I love the look of the chain and the simplicity and lightness of the braided strap. Love that color too. I wanted a small carry-on bag and love the *topluxs* , it’s so classy.
The transparency and realness of your discussions about your business and price points is absolutely admirable and respectable and not at all common of most businesses either. Talking about your materials and products you use shows your passion for what you do also. Your statements (in other words of course) about what you do and why and how, are important and also respectable bc it tells people that you are not trying to milk them for every dollar you can possibly squeeze out of them so you can live 136 bedroom mansions and drive 14 different lambos from your profits. Instead you are simply doing something you love and have a lot of knowledge of, to provide high quality, authentic and skillfully made products to customers, in exchange for a well earned and comfortable living for yourself and your family, and pay your team enough to do the same for their families as well. This is exactly how every business should be ran. Good for you.
I have stopped buying big brands luxury goods. The hassle dealing with them when item is defective was a headache. I rather support small business and like you said a good quality leather.
I lived in China for 5 years and at one point I decided to get a fake bag. It's wasn't like one of the really expensive brands, but one of the more affordable ones. I had the original and wanted to have a fake. 3 years down the road, the fake bag was drowned by a wave 2 times, had some black ink spill all over the lining, spilled juice inside, carried eggs and fruits (I didn't want to carry extra bag), overpacked it on each and every trip, etc. After all that mess, it looked the same as on the day I bought it. After the waves, I just cleaned it with a cloth, for the ink, I used liquid for the floors, the stain vanished in 10 minutes, dried fast, no damage to the lining nor did it show on the outside (it was a light color). Perfect bag. After 3 years of tough usage, the metal parts looked brand new. Not a single spot of rust or even wear and tear. However, the original one was used sparingly, never went through any of the aforementioned tortures and still the metal parts started rusting, the stitching came undone, the leather started cracking. For the record, the original was bought in the US. I don't even consider buying any original bags any more. Ever.
@@zenrazor659 Wouldn't those big brands choose to sue him if he did this? Especially as his channel gets bigger, those huge brands will try to find a way to make him fall. Him replicating their bags would be a perfect way to do so. Like sure maybe he can make something similar but not an exact replica.
Totally agreed with you. If anyone is pursuing status and admiration from others, then choose those big brands, which will make you FEEL good. If you're a real leather lover, it's a totally different thing. I'll definitely buy real good stuff from the stores you suggested!
Why does everyone assume that those that buy the "big brands" do it for status? It makes them sound a wee bit jealous. I buy it because I love it and because I can. My bags make my heart sing and if I want to spend 10K on one, that is my business.
@@4lb280 Jealous? Hardly! 😅 If you like playing their silly games by getting on wait lists & being “invited” to give them your money (i.e. LV & Hermes) on what they “offer” you in those private rooms then YES, it's for status & not the product.
At least I have never given a woman a compliment for her handbag or any leather accessory, especially if they carry the logo of any brand. I always associate "logo" on leather with something cheap for some reason. It's like giving a compliment to a friend because his/her laptop is an HP or MAC, when we all know they are awful products.
What are some small shop brands he recommends? I'm on the hunt for a full Grain/pebble textured small leather backpack with minimum of two pockets and no extra frills.
I strongly agreed that the best experience are provided by those small businesses. The dedication is there which make the piece more special and an art.
The way that nice leather feels and smells is so satisfying. And what I’ve always tried to tell my mom and my friends is that leather doesn’t fall apart like pu leather. Depending on the quality, it either will hold up as is for *years* or actually *gets better* through the years. But I think that’s more for hardcore leather lovers like myself. But I’m trying to get them to embrace this amazing material. Gah I have something ordered and I can’t wait to smell it when it arrives. I also can’t wait to see one of its final forms in a decades time.
I ran into your channel a few days ago. Learning more about leather. I'm not surprised by what you reveal. I figured it was like that a few decades ago. I do some work as a seamstress. I often get people who want a bespoke suit that costs $5,000 for a Walmart prices. Or they want me to make something cheaper than a flimsy fast fashion brand. I keep telling people that they don't need to to spend a fortune on high quality clothes. Luxury fashion has been failing for a long time now. Often it isn't much better than fast fashion. When I was growing up, if one simply spent more money then they got higher quality. I can make a nicer button up shirt that will be wearable for 7-15 years with weekly wear and laundering for less than $60. This is using supima cotton, buttons made from natural items, higher quality thread and done in single needle tailoring. Most often I have the luck to find wonderful stuff at a total clearance.
That's one of the reasons I shop local, and support local leather companies, like coach, dooney and bourke, kate spade. If I buy designer purse, I always buy it in a secondhand market for an awesome price. I also bought handmade purses from other countries that are made of luxurious exotic leather for a reasonable price. Because this big leather companies,their price tag doesn't really define quality. Like you said, we are being scammed and we are not really paying ridiculous money for the leather products they offer however what we are paying for , is only their brand name.
Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the *yutulux* book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations ❤
In one video can you recommend all the small brand companies that you recommend? I love your information and I agree that luxury brands are for people who care about status
I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the HIDUPZ leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.
Answering a watcher’s comment who said: “a lot of thought is going into the design of luxury brands”. My answer is: “for the most part Medium Lux brands have crucial missing functionality features, that we as customers would want to have. They make a product that isn’t fully satisfying for its category and this way they motivate you to buy more, keeping you with the hope that the next product they come up with will be better. Most of Luxury bag designs have already been done in the past. Most of the time Medium and Luxury brands copy from each other by making little tweaks here and there presenting it as their great “new design”.
Design is not only functionality, you never look the same in small brands, in the end you might come out worse, because the cheap one will go out of fashion while the expensive one will remain nice for many, many years. I have an old work laptopbag 5+ years from Hugo Boss, still beautiful, I wouldnt buy a new one though, I have silk French shirts with the same age, rarely used them.... still perfect, you can go anywhere in them and will look flawless. Buy a cheap top from H&M... not only material but the whole thing will be off, next week you will buy another because you will get bored with it.
I bought my now defunct MBMJ crossbody calf leather. And 15 years later, it’s still soft, supple, sure aged, but still looks good. Sure I only paid $600 for it, but to me, worth every cent.
Also support the small brands own websites. Sites like Etsy introduce you however after the introduction overshadow them and take most of their profit causing smaller brands to have to increase prices to be where you will purchase from. Find the companies you value and that value you and support them locally or on their own sites.
This is one of the reason why I don't buy those expensive bags.. and after watching your videos I have made the right decision not to buy them.. thank you for sharing these videos❤️❤️
I love this! I’ve been following your RUclips channel for a while now. The quality of these most loved brands has fallen off drastically. I’m happy to give a small craftsman business.
I bought a *amzrepe* super fake because I was still undecided on whether I liked it enough to buy the real deal. It arrived and it was great, I didn't need to buy the original one. The attention to detail is amazing and even shows in all the packaging and labels. It does make me feel a certain way about the designers selling these bags. They were selling it for about 10 times what I paid. They are ripping people off. Hermès is the worst at this - I imagine them in the board room laughing at how much people are prepared to pay.
I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the *yutulux* leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.
Excellent video. Some years ago I began investigating, and subsequently investing, into higher quality leather shoes; I've slowly moved on to other quality leather goods and your videos have aided me along the way.
I’m an artisan And use leathers from Hermes which is about +$20 sq ft Please also clarify leather prices can vary as I see you always come across very cheap leather
This is so true, we should support the talented craftsmen out there who live by their products and stop giving money to people like Arnault and Pinault who got so rich ripping money. I had a leather jacket custom made from Buenos Aires, it was beautiful! Too bad it's too small for me now.
Hi Tanner! Thank you for awakening us! I know I am awaken! I am getting ready to order the Helen crossbody bag in Togo leather from you. I love to support small skillful craftsmen like you and cut down the middle men and overhead costs.
Well said and I agree. Many people don't get it but now with the cost of living and high interest rates for credit and homes and it keeps getting higher, it's not even worth it to waste money. A lot of people struggle to make ends meet, and there are higher priorities, than appearing to be wealthy when you're not, and can't even afford the lifestyle you are faking.
As a practitioner in the luxury industry, I really can't tell you that the luxury processing factories you usually buy are basically the same as the manufacturers of kkuwan
I love your channel because you explain to people otherwise simple things that they don't know. But if they had thought a little better, they might have come to similar conclusions. I don't buy super famous fashion brands because I don't want to be their billboard and because I just don't want to spend money to overpay for something many times over. I'm self-confident, so it's not difficult for me. Wherever I go, I tend to look at the leather products of local artisans and also buy their products if I like them (not only quality is important, but also design is). I also like to buy leather goods for gifts. The last time I bought leather goods was in Iran before the protests started (2022). I am very satisfied with the quality of the leather and the workmanship. The price? A little higher than if I bought cheap plastic products here at home. And even if the prices were comparable to domestic ones, I would decide to buy the product.
Maybe I don't know how to find the right small leather crafted goods you mention, but my biggest frustration is how little attention is given to the hardware of the lower cost goods I have encountered in general. The finish gets rusty, gold tarnishes or peels off, links open, etc. And zippers are rough. Dont get me wrong, there are some luxury brands who are guilty of this as well, so I'm not saying ALL luxury brands have excellent hardware, but that is something I pay a lot of attention to. I got a used/discontinued Gucci soho bag with gold-tone chain (not the tarnished version Gucci is famous for, but a bright, shiny tone), and it's amazing how it has held up. The chain links are tight, unscratched, untarnished, smooth zippers, etc. So, I think it would be interesting to know if high-grade hardware also adds to the overall cost of luxury. Just a thought.
Thank you for doing such a nice job to tell people that there is a better way to spend their money and encourage people to support those companies selling good products with reasonable prices. Your video is so helpful , especially when there is a subtitle, because that can make me understand better. Hope there will be more people to join your team to help you discover more truth.
Ok. You just got a new customer! Tired of getting garbage for so much money! And I agree, I hate those bullshit saffiano, etc leather. Being a daughter of an Argentinean, I always value real leather!
the only thing you're forgetting in your calculation is the cost of design, a designer fashion company spends a tonne on having designers try out different ideas, doing market research into latest and upcoming trends, using focus groups to see what people enjoy, paying italian workers instead of chinese workers etc... it still might be a massive markup but you can't discount the fact that a team of 30 people were needed to design this little wallet
Dude, I’d love it if you make some quilted 6 card holders with a middle slot for a cash stash. Slim, minimalist type for those of us that only carry the bare minimum.
This is why i also want to go to that Spanish town where "luxury" brands gatekeep people. You can get the same exact items without the logo for only 20-40% of the price.
I appreciate you. I love leather, it’s my favorite sensory experience. I have found amazing sensory experiences with my leather bags without spending a fortune. My favorite leather bag is the Violet by Kurt Geiger. It was $265. I have a few higher end designer pieces and the sensory experience I get from some of my more expensive pieces is nowhere near as enjoyable as my beautiful Kurt Geiger bag. Thank you for being honest in your reviews and sharing you love of leather and where leather lovers can experience good quality pieces. ❤
Yup it’s the name. Smoke and mirrors. Even the imitation ones are getting so good and quality that it’s getting harder to tell the difference at a fraction of the price.
I found your youtube page and I purchased a passport holder for my best friend. It arrived and it was gorgeous!! I was stunned by the quality. You've got a fan for life.
Thank you for this perspective. I have had a hard time believing that these luxury bags actually have enough quality behind them to justify the price. You have answered that question. People who spend thousands on a bag seem like vapid fools. Emperor's new clothes? When I watch those "unboxings" or see a celebrity slinging a bag that costs thousands of dollars I remember to ask myself who is getting paid to promote and who is getting rich.
We already know that designer brand names are what we pay for. We also pay for the store decor and lease, electricity, staff, etcetera, and of course... customer service. So what is his point?
Even worse, the brands that sell CANVAS pieces - not even leather!!! - at luxury prices. (But what can I do? The Louis Vuitton monogram is something ingrained in my psyche, something I wanted since I was young and I finally own a couple of bags). Of course, now I really want to buy one of your wallets.
Apologies I did not ask my question. There is another youtuber who claims that one can distinguish between full grain, top grain and genuine leathers using a jewelers loupe. Are you familar with the technique of identification/authentification, and is it actually an effective way to make such a distinction? Thank you
Whoever is teaching that is mistaken but you can easily tell the difference with a pocket microscope (not a loupe) I have been teaching this method for over 20 years and we were one of the first to develop this way of identifying the different types of leather
I love what you are doing, and thank you. I am looking for something simple, similar to the Satchel & Page Backpack or Mailbag. To be clear, I had never heard of Satchel & Page until recently. I am only using their design as an example. I see you HAD the Ray Messenger Bag, but it is sold out? Are you going to have it in the future? Or something similar. You have the Senior Leather Briefcase, which looks interesting, but the prices vary extremely widely (I am guessing this is because of the specific leather used, but I am not positive, so it makes me hesitant to buy one. If the difference in price is simply the leather, please make that clear. I personally don't care about "fancy, rare" leathers. I am happy with the basic HIGH QUALITY leather. I'm sure there are others who value the fancy, rare leathers. It's great that you have both options, but please make this clear if this is indeed the case. Ideally I would like to find a backpack similar to the Satchel & Page version. I am sure yours are nice, but they are too busy, too much (meaning too much going on. I would like something simple). Thank you!
what do you MEAN the labor is TWENTY DOLLARS???? how many hours did you spend on that wallet? you deserve at least 25-30 an hour for your experience and craftsmanship!!!
You are saying 3dollar per square foot, where to buy it? or do you need to buy in bulk to do this. I can not find that beautiful leather for that price in Europe
In the market in New York, leather pieces like that size are about $500. Where are you buying leather? I just wanted to know because wants to but leather.
This is why I only buy end of season good shoes from a brand here in Canada. Calf skin, $500 new well crafted shoes, sale price for $350 every so often. Worth every penny for well made, handcrafted shoes that can be resoled and restored for years. Or even factory seconds, when a shoe has a minor defect, those discounts for the quality are great trade off for the astute person. Many folks don't invest in well priced full grain leather products and if they do they don't even care for them properly. I'm sure the luxury brand buyers especially don't fully understand leathercare, not that the high end brands make that care easy either.
I live in the US and just started in leather I love it but my goodness help where can I get some of this cheaper leather because all this stuff I've been looking at online from these companies I here about I can't afford
Can anyone tell me what is Nicon (Buffalo skin) in the Sherry wallet is versus the lsmbskin black? Is Nicon like Cavier? Please make a quilted classic flap jumbo style bag!😀
Smaller leather shops should sell direct online. I found really well priced Florence market bags that are sold with $100Euro postage online making it totally ridiculous to buy.
While I agree with you about the quality of leather big brands provide and the inflated price of them, we also have to consider the designs. I buy from both very small and big brands, but most times I've found that the big brands spend a lot more thought on designing their bags/clothes/accessories than the smaller brands do, along with their finishing, and that design and finishing is something that also draws a lot of us to them.
Exactly my sentiment. What I have learned to do is shop from high quality mid-range brands that give me that high end designer look but at an affordable (for me) price point. I will always shop from indie or small businesses in addition to bigger companies/designers, but the two different styles cannot be compared. Sometimes I want the pared down look of a handcrafted item. Other times I love the high end look, all the detailing and finishes.
@@SL-lz9jr I wish he had a link to his store. I can’t even imagine the value that we’d get. Love real leather that isn’t coated in plastic to hyde it’s flaws lol.
True. U can feel and see good leather. My Italian handbags that I purchased decades ago, which I have taken good care of year after year, r still relevant styles n in very good shape.
As a craftsman and couture seamstress, I agree with him up until he mentioned YKK being a “good” brand of accessories. It definitely helps to have someone appraise the value of products being bought, but people start to discredit that the premium included in some luxury brands come from artisan crafters themselves.
“Your senses dont connect to that leather anymore” this! People forget that the essence of buying a good leather bag is because you want a well-built and sturdy bag u can depend on. Luxury Brands have blurred that.
I disagree with the cost of labor. The interior has a lot of small parts. They have a lot of pattern pieces, cutting, bonding, facings, stitching, quilting, which takes more than an hour to complete. The median income for a seamstress is $35k USD. Which is about $17 dollars roughly an hour. In order for that $10 price point to be fair, from cutting to completion you would have to make two wallets in less than an hour and a half. I'm not seeing this as a possibility.
I met one of the worlds richest fashion designers in LA 2 decades ago and he was boasting how he sold 5 dollar jeans for more than 100 dollars. Huge margins. It was a lot of money back then for a pair of jeans.
I bought a wonderful leather bag , made in Spain by a local brand called Adolfo Dominguez , and the leather is very different , it is a buffalo leather. Great quality ! and not expensive
As a small leather craftsmen myself, I thank you for your work in exposing these big companies while still showing reasonable prices for the quality products we make.
How does a person find “a small leather craftsman”. We shop the big brands because we don’t know how or where to find a leather craftsman
@@Rose-qr4xn Etsy or subreddits are good places to find them. Some of the makers you find on subreddits may sell on IG. Another good way is to Google images of an item you have in mind and search through those.
I just bought a smaller size last week in a new color. It’s a similar color to my Birkin 25 Beton, but that’s okay! My bag doesn’t have the chain strap. I love the look of the chain and the simplicity and lightness of the braided strap. Love that color too. I wanted a small carry-on bag and love the *topluxs* , it’s so classy.
The transparency and realness of your discussions about your business and price points is absolutely admirable and respectable and not at all common of most businesses either. Talking about your materials and products you use shows your passion for what you do also.
Your statements (in other words of course) about what you do and why and how, are important and also respectable bc it tells people that you are not trying to milk them for every dollar you can possibly squeeze out of them so you can live 136 bedroom mansions and drive 14 different lambos from your profits. Instead you are simply doing something you love and have a lot of knowledge of, to provide high quality, authentic and skillfully made products to customers, in exchange for a well earned and comfortable living for yourself and your family, and pay your team enough to do the same for their families as well.
This is exactly how every business should be ran. Good for you.
I have stopped buying big brands luxury goods. The hassle dealing with them when item is defective was a headache. I rather support small business and like you said a good quality leather.
I lived in China for 5 years and at one point I decided to get a fake bag. It's wasn't like one of the really expensive brands, but one of the more affordable ones. I had the original and wanted to have a fake. 3 years down the road, the fake bag was drowned by a wave 2 times, had some black ink spill all over the lining, spilled juice inside, carried eggs and fruits (I didn't want to carry extra bag), overpacked it on each and every trip, etc. After all that mess, it looked the same as on the day I bought it. After the waves, I just cleaned it with a cloth, for the ink, I used liquid for the floors, the stain vanished in 10 minutes, dried fast, no damage to the lining nor did it show on the outside (it was a light color). Perfect bag. After 3 years of tough usage, the metal parts looked brand new. Not a single spot of rust or even wear and tear. However, the original one was used sparingly, never went through any of the aforementioned tortures and still the metal parts started rusting, the stitching came undone, the leather started cracking. For the record, the original was bought in the US. I don't even consider buying any original bags any more. Ever.
What was the brand of the purse?
Seriously, what was the brand of the aforementioned bag?
Did you wear the original bag often? Probably cracked due to not maintain??
I did exactly the same except it was a North Face jacket. It’s 8 years old and still in excellent condition. It cost me £15.
He is about expose alot of brands. It will take people awhile to catch on but give it time.
Yup!! Agreed
Dr Drey of leather
@@zenrazor659 best is whatever he said .Just do your own research will do may people have different opinion on certain stuff
@@zenrazor659 why would I go to an artesian and want a copy of some designer brand?
@@zenrazor659 Wouldn't those big brands choose to sue him if he did this? Especially as his channel gets bigger, those huge brands will try to find a way to make him fall. Him replicating their bags would be a perfect way to do so. Like sure maybe he can make something similar but not an exact replica.
Totally agreed with you. If anyone is pursuing status and admiration from others, then choose those big brands, which will make you FEEL good. If you're a real leather lover, it's a totally different thing. I'll definitely buy real good stuff from the stores you suggested!
Why does everyone assume that those that buy the "big brands" do it for status? It makes them sound a wee bit jealous. I buy it because I love it and because I can. My bags make my heart sing and if I want to spend 10K on one, that is my business.
No one assumed anything…
@@4lb280 Jealous? Hardly! 😅 If you like playing their silly games by getting on wait lists & being “invited” to give them your money (i.e. LV & Hermes) on what they “offer” you in those private rooms then YES, it's for status & not the product.
At least I have never given a woman a compliment for her handbag or any leather accessory, especially if they carry the logo of any brand. I always associate "logo" on leather with something cheap for some reason. It's like giving a compliment to a friend because his/her laptop is an HP or MAC, when we all know they are awful products.
What are some small shop brands he recommends? I'm on the hunt for a full Grain/pebble textured small leather backpack with minimum of two pockets and no extra frills.
Customer suggestion: please make crossbody wallets as well. Wallets with a leather strap. They are very practical for daily use.
I strongly agreed that the best experience are provided by those small businesses. The dedication is there which make the piece more special and an art.
The way that nice leather feels and smells is so satisfying. And what I’ve always tried to tell my mom and my friends is that leather doesn’t fall apart like pu leather. Depending on the quality, it either will hold up as is for *years* or actually *gets better* through the years. But I think that’s more for hardcore leather lovers like myself. But I’m trying to get them to embrace this amazing material.
Gah I have something ordered and I can’t wait to smell it when it arrives. I also can’t wait to see one of its final forms in a decades time.
I sincerely love this channel and the passion and honesty that this man shows
I ran into your channel a few days ago. Learning more about leather. I'm not surprised by what you reveal. I figured it was like that a few decades ago.
I do some work as a seamstress. I often get people who want a bespoke suit that costs $5,000 for a Walmart prices. Or they want me to make something cheaper than a flimsy fast fashion brand.
I keep telling people that they don't need to to spend a fortune on high quality clothes. Luxury fashion has been failing for a long time now. Often it isn't much better than fast fashion. When I was growing up, if one simply spent more money then they got higher quality.
I can make a nicer button up shirt that will be wearable for 7-15 years with weekly wear and laundering for less than $60. This is using supima cotton, buttons made from natural items, higher quality thread and done in single needle tailoring. Most often I have the luck to find wonderful stuff at a total clearance.
I really appreciate your authenticity and honest input.
I hope you become a huge success! Thanks for spelling it out for us.
That's one of the reasons I shop local, and support local leather companies, like coach, dooney and bourke, kate spade. If I buy designer purse, I always buy it in a secondhand market for an awesome price. I also bought handmade purses from other countries that are made of luxurious exotic leather for a reasonable price. Because this big leather companies,their price tag doesn't really define quality. Like you said, we are being scammed and we are not really paying ridiculous money for the leather products they offer however what we are paying for , is only their brand name.
Thank you Tanner for inspiring and sharing your knowledge with us!
Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the *yutulux* book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations ❤
Younger I dreamt of these brands but now Im getting good knowledge about quality on products of leather n jewelry. Now I will go to smaller craftsmen
In one video can you recommend all the small brand companies that you recommend? I love your information and I agree that luxury brands are for people who care about status
I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the HIDUPZ leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.
Answering a watcher’s comment who said: “a lot of thought is going into the design of luxury brands”. My answer is: “for the most part Medium Lux brands have crucial missing functionality features, that we as customers would want to have. They make a product that isn’t fully satisfying for its category and this way they motivate you to buy more, keeping you with the hope that the next product they come up with will be better. Most of Luxury bag designs have already been done in the past. Most of the time Medium and Luxury brands copy from each other by making little tweaks here and there presenting it as their great “new design”.
Design is not only functionality, you never look the same in small brands, in the end you might come out worse, because the cheap one will go out of fashion while the expensive one will remain nice for many, many years. I have an old work laptopbag 5+ years from Hugo Boss, still beautiful, I wouldnt buy a new one though, I have silk French shirts with the same age, rarely used them.... still perfect, you can go anywhere in them and will look flawless. Buy a cheap top from H&M... not only material but the whole thing will be off, next week you will buy another because you will get bored with it.
I bought my now defunct MBMJ crossbody calf leather. And 15 years later, it’s still soft, supple, sure aged, but still looks good. Sure I only paid $600 for it, but to me, worth every cent.
So not all luxury brands
Not the same market as 15 years ago
Also support the small brands own websites. Sites like Etsy introduce you however after the introduction overshadow them and take most of their profit causing smaller brands to have to increase prices to be where you will purchase from. Find the companies you value and that value you and support them locally or on their own sites.
Thank you you for being real and truthful. Big brands just are about the $$$$
I couldn't agree more with you! Your content is very educational and authentic! Thank you so much for doing what you are doing!
This is one of the reason why I don't buy those expensive bags.. and after watching your videos I have made the right decision not to buy them.. thank you for sharing these videos❤️❤️
I love this! I’ve been following your RUclips channel for a while now. The quality of these most loved brands has fallen off drastically. I’m happy to give a small craftsman business.
I bought a *amzrepe* super fake because I was still undecided on whether I liked it enough to buy the real deal. It arrived and it was great, I didn't need to buy the original one. The attention to detail is amazing and even shows in all the packaging and labels. It does make me feel a certain way about the designers selling these bags. They were selling it for about 10 times what I paid. They are ripping people off. Hermès is the worst at this - I imagine them in the board room laughing at how much people are prepared to pay.
I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the *yutulux* leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.
Excellent video.
Some years ago I began investigating, and subsequently investing, into higher quality leather shoes; I've slowly moved on to other quality leather goods and your videos have aided me along the way.
Can you recommend some small scale leather craftspeople who make bags for woman?
Most branded stuff spent alot on marketing and renting shop on expensive place/mall. But they put less effort on their products quality
That is certainly true and a lot of these companies use people working from home to produce the items at a low cost.
I’m an artisan
And use leathers from Hermes which is about +$20 sq ft
Please also clarify leather prices can vary as I see you always come across very cheap leather
This is so true, we should support the talented craftsmen out there who live by their products and stop giving money to people like Arnault and Pinault who got so rich ripping money. I had a leather jacket custom made from Buenos Aires, it was beautiful! Too bad it's too small for me now.
The problem with small leather houses is the designs they produce aren’t as nice.. I’ve tried to make the switch but the designs never appeal to me.
Agree, they have quality but they lack in design.. that why most small brand looks plain and boring
You might come out worse because you get bored with the cheap one and buy another and another... the branded one will always remain in trend.
Hi Tanner! Thank you for awakening us! I know I am awaken! I am getting ready to order the Helen crossbody bag in Togo leather from you. I love to support small skillful craftsmen like you and cut down the middle men and overhead costs.
Thanks so much Tanner, thumbs up 👍 for sharing so generously. I’ve become a fan of yours instantly
Well said and I agree. Many people don't get it but now with the cost of living and high interest rates for credit and homes and it keeps getting higher, it's not even worth it to waste money. A lot of people struggle to make ends meet, and there are higher priorities, than appearing to be wealthy when you're not, and can't even afford the lifestyle you are faking.
I am curious on how you calculate the labor cost? $20 to make a wallet seems very low?
As a practitioner in the luxury industry, I really can't tell you that the luxury processing factories you usually buy are basically the same as the manufacturers of kkuwan
I think it's the same with cosmetics. I will only use counter foundation and skincare, but buy them at discounted prices.
I love your channel because you explain to people otherwise simple things that they don't know. But if they had thought a little better, they might have come to similar conclusions.
I don't buy super famous fashion brands because I don't want to be their billboard and because I just don't want to spend money to overpay for something many times over. I'm self-confident, so it's not difficult for me.
Wherever I go, I tend to look at the leather products of local artisans and also buy their products if I like them (not only quality is important, but also design is). I also like to buy leather goods for gifts. The last time I bought leather goods was in Iran before the protests started (2022). I am very satisfied with the quality of the leather and the workmanship. The price? A little higher than if I bought cheap plastic products here at home. And even if the prices were comparable to domestic ones, I would decide to buy the product.
Maybe I don't know how to find the right small leather crafted goods you mention, but my biggest frustration is how little attention is given to the hardware of the lower cost goods I have encountered in general. The finish gets rusty, gold tarnishes or peels off, links open, etc. And zippers are rough. Dont get me wrong, there are some luxury brands who are guilty of this as well, so I'm not saying ALL luxury brands have excellent hardware, but that is something I pay a lot of attention to. I got a used/discontinued Gucci soho bag with gold-tone chain (not the tarnished version Gucci is famous for, but a bright, shiny tone), and it's amazing how it has held up. The chain links are tight, unscratched, untarnished, smooth zippers, etc. So, I think it would be interesting to know if high-grade hardware also adds to the overall cost of luxury. Just a thought.
An educated consumer is your best customer. Quality and passion trumps marketing.
"Soul taken out of leather" - love it!
Thank you for doing such a nice job to tell people that there is a better way to spend their money and encourage people to support those companies selling good products with reasonable prices. Your video is so helpful , especially when there is a subtitle, because that can make me understand better. Hope there will be more people to join your team to help you discover more truth.
Yes, we should support small businesses!
Does that include brands like Coach outlet?
Hi Mr. Tanner your channel is so amazing we learned a lot about the luxury leather bag thank you for educate us as a subscriber and like your channel.
Ok. You just got a new customer! Tired of getting garbage for so much money! And I agree, I hate those bullshit saffiano, etc leather. Being a daughter of an Argentinean, I always value real leather!
the only thing you're forgetting in your calculation is the cost of design, a designer fashion company spends a tonne on having designers try out different ideas, doing market research into latest and upcoming trends, using focus groups to see what people enjoy, paying italian workers instead of chinese workers etc... it still might be a massive markup but you can't discount the fact that a team of 30 people were needed to design this little wallet
Thank you❤ I'm from Poland and we have very good leather crafts men/women here
Agree but please what brands??????🙏🙏🙏🙏
How is it possible for the labor to be only 20 dollars? How long do craftspeople work on purses like these?
This is so good to know! Thanks for your great work!
Can you please review Loro Piana leather? Thanks
Dude, I’d love it if you make some quilted 6 card holders with a middle slot for a cash stash. Slim, minimalist type for those of us that only carry the bare minimum.
Excellent excellent video! Thank you for creating these educational video about leathers and leather goods! More please! Expose those brands!
How much should a lambskin or sheepskin leather trench coat cost? I'm from UK 🇬🇧. Also lambskin leather jeans?
I don't think anyone has ever bought a LV or Hermes because they thought it was high enough quality to justify the price... That isn't the point.
I am done with branded accessories! Where can I find a descent bag? Help !
From the packaging to the details of the bags, I think theeastlisa shop has made reproduction an art form.
Didn’t know you had a store! The wallet is gorgeous.
This is why i also want to go to that Spanish town where "luxury" brands gatekeep people. You can get the same exact items without the logo for only 20-40% of the price.
I appreciate you. I love leather, it’s my favorite sensory experience. I have found amazing sensory experiences with my leather bags without spending a fortune. My favorite leather bag is the Violet by Kurt Geiger. It was $265. I have a few higher end designer pieces and the sensory experience I get from some of my more expensive pieces is nowhere near as enjoyable as my beautiful Kurt Geiger bag. Thank you for being honest in your reviews and sharing you love of leather and where leather lovers can experience good quality pieces. ❤
I'm a hobby leatherworker and I'm wondering how you can make that wallet for $20 labor.
Yup it’s the name. Smoke and mirrors. Even the imitation ones are getting so good and quality that it’s getting harder to tell the difference at a fraction of the price.
So how do we find the good stuff?
we'll support your business....sending good vibes from canada!
I found your youtube page and I purchased a passport holder for my best friend. It arrived and it was gorgeous!! I was stunned by the quality. You've got a fan for life.
Thank you for this perspective. I have had a hard time believing that these luxury bags actually have enough quality behind them to justify the price. You have answered that question. People who spend thousands on a bag seem like vapid fools. Emperor's new clothes? When I watch those "unboxings" or see a celebrity slinging a bag that costs thousands of dollars I remember to ask myself who is getting paid to promote and who is getting rich.
What’s the hourly rate for labor? Only 20$ for labor cost? It takes an hour to make?
Yes! Thank you for the honesty!!
We already know that designer brand names are what we pay for. We also pay for the store decor and lease, electricity, staff, etcetera, and of course... customer service.
So what is his point?
Even worse, the brands that sell CANVAS pieces - not even leather!!! - at luxury prices. (But what can I do? The Louis Vuitton monogram is something ingrained in my psyche, something I wanted since I was young and I finally own a couple of bags).
Of course, now I really want to buy one of your wallets.
Apologies I did not ask my question.
There is another youtuber who claims that one can distinguish between full grain, top grain and genuine leathers using a jewelers loupe. Are you familar with the technique of identification/authentification, and is it actually an effective way to make such a distinction? Thank you
Whoever is teaching that is mistaken but you can easily tell the difference with a pocket microscope (not a loupe)
I have been teaching this method for over 20 years and we were one of the first to develop this way of identifying the different types of leather
I love what you are doing, and thank you. I am looking for something simple, similar to the Satchel & Page Backpack or Mailbag. To be clear, I had never heard of Satchel & Page until recently. I am only using their design as an example. I see you HAD the Ray Messenger Bag, but it is sold out? Are you going to have it in the future? Or something similar. You have the Senior Leather Briefcase, which looks interesting, but the prices vary extremely widely (I am guessing this is because of the specific leather used, but I am not positive, so it makes me hesitant to buy one. If the difference in price is simply the leather, please make that clear. I personally don't care about "fancy, rare" leathers. I am happy with the basic HIGH QUALITY leather. I'm sure there are others who value the fancy, rare leathers. It's great that you have both options, but please make this clear if this is indeed the case. Ideally I would like to find a backpack similar to the Satchel & Page version. I am sure yours are nice, but they are too busy, too much (meaning too much going on. I would like something simple). Thank you!
Love this. Thank you for what you do 🤍
what do you MEAN the labor is TWENTY DOLLARS???? how many hours did you spend on that wallet? you deserve at least 25-30 an hour for your experience and craftsmanship!!!
that were my first thoughts too
You are saying 3dollar per square foot, where to buy it? or do you need to buy in bulk to do this.
I can not find that beautiful leather for that price in Europe
In the market in New York, leather pieces like that size are about $500. Where are you buying leather? I just wanted to know because wants to but leather.
I one hundred percent whole-heartedly agree with your advice.
❤
Is goat leather better than calf and why?
Hi. Could you please make a video of leather jacket. What to look for and such.
I wish all your bags can be shipped internationally :( hard to get in Asia
This is why I only buy end of season good shoes from a brand here in Canada. Calf skin, $500 new well crafted shoes, sale price for $350 every so often.
Worth every penny for well made, handcrafted shoes that can be resoled and restored for years. Or even factory seconds, when a shoe has a minor defect, those discounts for the quality are great trade off for the astute person.
Many folks don't invest in well priced full grain leather products and if they do they don't even care for them properly. I'm sure the luxury brand buyers especially don't fully understand leathercare, not that the high end brands make that care easy either.
How do you care for leather?
Love what you are making! Could we please get more colors for Leather Journal? 😊
Keep doing what you do… As always TFS❤
You have expressed exactly what I thought . Love from Turkey
I live in the US and just started in leather I love it but my goodness help where can I get some of this cheaper leather because all this stuff I've been looking at online from these companies I here about I can't afford
Can anyone tell me what is Nicon (Buffalo skin) in the Sherry wallet is versus the lsmbskin black? Is Nicon like Cavier? Please make a quilted classic flap jumbo style bag!😀
Smaller leather shops should sell direct online. I found really well priced Florence market bags that are sold with $100Euro postage online making it totally ridiculous to buy.
While I agree with you about the quality of leather big brands provide and the inflated price of them, we also have to consider the designs. I buy from both very small and big brands, but most times I've found that the big brands spend a lot more thought on designing their bags/clothes/accessories than the smaller brands do, along with their finishing, and that design and finishing is something that also draws a lot of us to them.
Exactly my sentiment. What I have learned to do is shop from high quality mid-range brands that give me that high end designer look but at an affordable (for me) price point. I will always shop from indie or small businesses in addition to bigger companies/designers, but the two different styles cannot be compared. Sometimes I want the pared down look of a handcrafted item. Other times I love the high end look, all the detailing and finishes.
@@SL-lz9jr I wish he had a link to his store. I can’t even imagine the value that we’d get. Love real leather that isn’t coated in plastic to hyde it’s flaws lol.
@@Unfinished_sentenc its literally in the description
True. U can feel and see good leather. My Italian handbags that I purchased decades ago, which I have taken good care of year after year, r still relevant styles n in very good shape.
As a craftsman and couture seamstress, I agree with him up until he mentioned YKK being a “good” brand of accessories. It definitely helps to have someone appraise the value of products being bought, but people start to discredit that the premium included in some luxury brands come from artisan crafters themselves.
Ykk excella is a premium zipper line for leather craftman. Of course it’s a good brand, the quality depends which line you are using.
YKK are good but Lampo, riri and G2 are way better. They will make everything look more expensive.
“Your senses dont connect to that leather anymore” this! People forget that the essence of buying a good leather bag is because you want a well-built and sturdy bag u can depend on. Luxury Brands have blurred that.
I disagree with the cost of labor. The interior has a lot of small parts. They have a lot of pattern pieces, cutting, bonding, facings, stitching, quilting, which takes more than an hour to complete. The median income for a seamstress is $35k USD. Which is about $17 dollars roughly an hour. In order for that $10 price point to be fair, from cutting to completion you would have to make two wallets in less than an hour and a half. I'm not seeing this as a possibility.
Do they come in cute colors like soft pink or beige? I find smaller brands dont have trendy colors or styles.
I’m not into status but I want a high quality bifold wallet where should I look
I met one of the worlds richest fashion designers in LA 2 decades ago and he was boasting how he sold 5 dollar jeans for more than 100 dollars. Huge margins. It was a lot of money back then for a pair of jeans.
I bought a wonderful leather bag , made in Spain by a local brand called Adolfo Dominguez , and the leather is very different , it is a buffalo leather. Great quality ! and not expensive
What about Hermès 😅