Here’s a review of a beautiful piece that caught my eye from a designer and leatherworker on etsy from Australia. Melanie Hudson of Matoirs Leather Products has been selling handmade and hand tooled leather bags for about 2 years now but working with leather since she was very young, assisting her father binding leather books. Her etsy shop features vintage style handbags that are hand tooled or hand painted with detail and rich beautiful colors.
When I first saw the rich contrasting color of the oxblood red leather bag and the beautiful flower tooled pattern, I knew I had found a unique and high quality product.
Construction
The Leather is a full grain vegetable tanned leather with a hand tooled floral design. The color turned was unexpected, according to Melanie. It is comprised of three different layers of dye which Melanie worked gradually. The outer trim of the bag is a thicker black leather cord stitching and a regular small stitching is around all other edges of the bag.
The inside of the shoulder strap and interior of the bag is a black suede and features one open pocket measuring 4.5 inches wide x 4.5 inches deep.
The clasp closure,rivets, and buckle on the shoulder strap are (brass). The shoulder strap’s width is about 1 inch.
The dimensions of the bag are 12 inches wide x 8 inches tall x 3 inches deep. Empty the bag weighs about 1 pound.
Function
This cross body style bag is highly functional as an everyday carry and holds quite a bit including a full size clutch wallet, cellphone, keys, and various other necessities. The interior pocket holds a standard sized smartphone or related sized accessory. It may not fit phones with bulky cases.
The clasp is extremely easy to open and close with one hand and secures the flap very well.
The buckle hardware on the shoulder strap is also easy to adjust.
Aesthetic
First impressions of this bag is that it is a beautifully rich colored modern interpretation of a vintage 1970’s tooled saddle bag. As mentioned previously, it is a very unusual color that can best be described as a cognac/ burgundy brown. The floral and leaf pattern tooling is minimal yet striking without distracting from the overall design of the bag. The large stitching also gives the bag a handmade quality rather than just a machine stitched edging.
The black suede interior and inside of the shoulder strap makes it easy to clean and comfy to carry. However, it is difficult to see all the contents of the bag because of the dark color.
Something to point out as well with leather bags and suede is the transfer of dyes to one’s clothing. So far the bag has gotten daily use for about one month and there has been no signs of this happening even with it being caught in a slight rain.
BestLeather Conclusion
Given the quality and durability of the materials and hand made nature, the price is very reasonable, even a steal. The bag is very versatile and can be worn with every day attire or more formal occasions. It’s perfectly sized, perfectly balanced, and will really draw attention and receive many compliments! It’s a timeless piece that will age beautifully. Check it out -here-.
