Handbags are one of the top items in a lady’s wardrobe that cost dearly. With sustainability being a top priority for all generations alike, increased awareness on the down side of fast fashion, yet with hundreds of handbag makers out there, the onus of picking the right quality of handbags rests solely with the buyer.
A few pointers that you can check right at the time of buying can help you pick great quality handbags sure to serve you for the long haul.
Before we go on, do spend some time to think about these questions, that could help you later in the checklist:
- What is the purpose for which you are buying a bag? Is it for work, travel or casual?
- Will you be maintaining the bag yourself or would you trust it to professional cleaners? Note the additional cost here.
- Do you have ergonomic considerations? This may have a bearing on the size of the bag – a big bag may invariably accumulate stuff over time. A smaller, organized bag can help you stay clutter-free and carry only what you really need.
I suffered from a chronic shoulder condition for a decade, hence I am especially sensitive to this aspect! - Which brand do you wish to purchase from? This can have an impact on the costs – you can either choose between well known brands which are sure to charge a premium or you can hunt for the smaller bag makers.
The latter of the two would be passionate to ensure your purchase makes a lasting impression about their brand. They would be keen to have you as their offline brand ambassador and have you recommend it to others if you have a good experience. As they do not have the associated advertising and marketing costs, you get the same or even better quality at a lower cost.
Hence, it does help to read a bit about the brand and their expertise in leathercraft. A great bag is after all the result of great skill and craftsmanship.
Let’s proceed now to the points to check for quality. I’ve segregated them into these broad topics:
What to look for when buying a high quality handbag?
* Material
* Finish
* Hardware
* Lining
1. Material
This is the most important consideration when you think of a new bag purchase. The material can be quite apparent once you know what you are going to use the bag for – for instance:
- Leather for work. Leather is durable, gives a clean, sophisticated look yet it will require regular maintenance. Even among leather, full grain leather is the most coveted form. Lambskin is quite soft hence will be prone to scratches. Leather quality warrants a detailed, separated post in itself.
- Rugged/waterproof material for extensive travel and rough usage
- Fabric, vegan or other materials you want to experiment with for casual usage. Here is where you can let your personal style and mood shine through.
There’s canvas, coated canvas, natural cork, fruit leather and a plethora of innovative materials to choose from.
The material does impact the overall cost of the bag.
2. Finish
The finesse of the finish speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and is the most compelling way to tell well made bags apart from the rest.
Sewing
Look for the sewing; it must be uniform, in terms of spacing as well as size of each stitch. Hand-stitching ensures such a finish as well as durability. There must be no loose ends of the material; the stitching should ensure that it lies flat.
The corners are particularly hard places to sew which can tell you loads about the craftsmanship.
The thread itself must feel smooth; that means it’s waxed, which lends to its elegance, durability and prevents fraying.
Source: popovleather.com
Edges & Connections
The edges are another easy place to look for a fine finish. The cut must be uniform, smooth and the edges must be well treated as they are most susceptible to wear and tear. They must look visually fused together.
If they have been painted, check that the paint is not cracked or chipping off. I remember a few bags bought years back that used to have some sticky string-like threads on the edges (which I noticed after purchasing) that used to put me off completely. It just didn’t feel right!
The handles and how they connect to the bag are extremely important as they take the weight of the bag. As such, they are one of the most vulnerable places to break apart.
3. Hardware
Often overlooked, the right hardware adds to the longevity and hassle-free experience. It’s usually made of alloy – look for solid brass or stainless steel, which are known to be strong and corrosion resistant. Nickel and copper are great too!
Metal feet protect the underside of the bag and are essential on leather bags.
Smooth zips with a zip-pull offering a good grip add to the ease of use.
As a rule of thumb, hardware should be minimal, lending to the strength and functionality but not overpowering and adding to the weight.
As a side note, it is for this reason that I steer clear of bags with only chain handles. Not to mention the discomfort of metal digging into the shoulder!
4. Lining
A sturdy lining will ensure it does not tear by the daily jostling around the contents. Ever experienced tiny items disappearing into the depths of the bag through tiny tears in the lining caused by pencils, pens or other such pointed objects? Another major pet peeve, not to mention the panic it induces temporarily!
Yet another pet peeve – lining that is not sewn in perfectly and gets caught in the zips!
My personal preference is lining that is attached to the bag all over, rather than one that keeps moving around as I try to search something within. I also prefer to have the lining of a darker color so it is less susceptible to staining of any kind.
My Tohl bag below has a twill fabric lining. Though it is not attached at the bottom, it is sturdy enough to stay in place. The striped white and black also helps to camouflage any slight marks, though there are none for now.
High quality handbags are a meticulous function of multiple parameters as detailed above. As general buyers without in-depth knowledge on the technicalities, observing the above visual aspects is often sufficient to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Brand Ethics & Social Responsibility
I would also like to add here that a brand’s social responsibility and ethics cannot be ignored. Some of the questions to ponder over are:
- Are the materials ethically sourced?
- Do they employ local artisans/women and help them earn livelihoods?
- What are the steps they take to reduce wastage and encourage sustainability?
The right means justify a great end product!
Any other pointers that you could add to the above? Please let me know in the comments and help us all learn how to spend our hard earned money only on quality handbags!
Add Comment