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> degrade just the same as the $200 leather purse you buy from a local artisan. Where are there local artisans selling leather purses they made for $200? Are y

> degrade just the same as the $200 leather purse you buy from a local artisan. Where are there local artisans selling leather purses they made for $200? Are you sure you don't mean $4,000? Surely if you are buying a $200 hand made purse, it was made by hand in a low labor cost country and relabeled.

bombcar 3y ago
https://saddlebackleather.com/everyday-purse/ https://saddlebackleather.com/everyday-purse/ is a bit over $200, and doesn't hide that it's made in Mexico (though they do use machines and tooling to process the leather so perhaps it's not "hand made").
- ghaff 3y ago
  I don't have a purse. (Well, I have something from Mountainsmith I've had for decades that a friend calls a man purse. I'm sure it's been in dozens of countries.) But I have a front-pocket wallet/business card holder from Saddlebackleather that wasn't particularly expensive and will probably last as long as I need it to unless I lose it.
- tiltowait 3y ago
  I’ve got one of their backpacks. It’s very nice. Heavy, though, at around five pounds. Sadly it almost never gets any use, because I rarely have need for a backpack. I should have bought some luggage instead. Like the other poster, I also have a couple of their wallets. They’re simple but obviously high quality. They don’t feel as slick as the Coach wallet I was given as a gift, but I have no doubt they will hold up longer.
  - ghaff 3y ago
    Leather is actually not a great material for a backpack or an outdoor (non-dressy) shoulder bag from a practical perspective in the 21st century. Nylon and related synthetics is a lot more practical. If you gave me a leather outdoor bag I'd probably thank you nicely and stick it in a closet or sell it. I do like leather wallets though I almost exclusively use small front pocket ones these days because of sciatica and minimal needs for carrying either cash or a lot of cards.
    - TylerE 3y ago
      Going from a trifold to a bifold is pretty game changing if you haven’t. Drastically reduced thickness for a very minimal change in capacity.
      - bombcar 3y ago
        I moved to a bifold front-carry and will never go back, sitting on a wallet is such a recipe for disaster.
        TylerE 3y ago
        Yeah, I've never, ever understood why anyone would want to do that.
        ghaff 3y ago
        People used to tend to carry more. Cash, membership cards, etc. There was even a Seinfeld episode on the theme.
        TylerE 3y ago
        The front pocket bifold I carry has room for several hundred dollars in cash, and at least 8 credit card sized objects (and could easily hold 2 or 3x that if you didn't mind stacking the less frequently used ones, not counting my ID. How much are these people carrying?
        ghaff 3y ago
        People also probably used to be more fashion-conscious with having even relatively bulky bifold wallets in their front pockets. I carry basically a business card holder with significantly less on a day-to-day basis. Maybe $40 and likely about half a dozen credit card sized object things. I carry a travel folder when I travel but my actual wallet is pretty minimalist. (Though just a phone wallet/pocket doesn't work for me. The Apple magnetic wallet I bought which I was also uncomfortable with depending on was 3 cards--no more, no less.
- MrDresden 3y ago
  I can second SaddlebackLeather. Have a few items from them and the care taken with the design, in addition to the materials used, tells me these items will last a long time. Plan on adding to the collection over time.
littlelady 3y ago
Some years ago I found a leatherworker, who sells simple handbags/clutches starting at about 300 EUR. He also sells wallets and belts. He has a limited selection of styles, but they are made-to-order thus you can select the colors when you place your order. He isn't local to me, but I've met him and watched him stitch his bags together and chatted about his style (minimalist, sleek). I couldn't afford anything from him at the time (his smaller items were sold out), but kept his card handy. I'll provide a link, in case anyone is interested. http://www.foerster-taschen.de/ http://www.foerster-taschen.de/
- kwhitefoot 3y ago
  I've just looked at his web site. Beautiful understated pieces and very good prices for the materials and the amount of work. Some of the handbags are under 150 EUR.
  - littlelady 3y ago
    That's true! I am just a bigger fan of the pieces made with stiffer leather, which are more expensive.

bombcar 3y ago

https://saddlebackleather.com/everyday-purse/ https://saddlebackleather.com/everyday-purse/ is a bit over $200, and doesn't hide that it's made in Mexico (though they do use machines and tooling to process the leather so perhaps it's not "hand made").

ghaff 3y ago
I don't have a purse. (Well, I have something from Mountainsmith I've had for decades that a friend calls a man purse. I'm sure it's been in dozens of countries.) But I have a front-pocket wallet/business card holder from Saddlebackleather that wasn't particularly expensive and will probably last as long as I need it to unless I lose it.
tiltowait 3y ago
I’ve got one of their backpacks. It’s very nice. Heavy, though, at around five pounds. Sadly it almost never gets any use, because I rarely have need for a backpack. I should have bought some luggage instead. Like the other poster, I also have a couple of their wallets. They’re simple but obviously high quality. They don’t feel as slick as the Coach wallet I was given as a gift, but I have no doubt they will hold up longer.
- ghaff 3y ago
  Leather is actually not a great material for a backpack or an outdoor (non-dressy) shoulder bag from a practical perspective in the 21st century. Nylon and related synthetics is a lot more practical. If you gave me a leather outdoor bag I'd probably thank you nicely and stick it in a closet or sell it. I do like leather wallets though I almost exclusively use small front pocket ones these days because of sciatica and minimal needs for carrying either cash or a lot of cards.
  - TylerE 3y ago
    Going from a trifold to a bifold is pretty game changing if you haven’t. Drastically reduced thickness for a very minimal change in capacity.
    - bombcar 3y ago
      I moved to a bifold front-carry and will never go back, sitting on a wallet is such a recipe for disaster.
      - TylerE 3y ago
        Yeah, I've never, ever understood why anyone would want to do that.
        ghaff 3y ago
        People used to tend to carry more. Cash, membership cards, etc. There was even a Seinfeld episode on the theme.
        TylerE 3y ago
        The front pocket bifold I carry has room for several hundred dollars in cash, and at least 8 credit card sized objects (and could easily hold 2 or 3x that if you didn't mind stacking the less frequently used ones, not counting my ID. How much are these people carrying?
        ghaff 3y ago
        People also probably used to be more fashion-conscious with having even relatively bulky bifold wallets in their front pockets. I carry basically a business card holder with significantly less on a day-to-day basis. Maybe $40 and likely about half a dozen credit card sized object things. I carry a travel folder when I travel but my actual wallet is pretty minimalist. (Though just a phone wallet/pocket doesn't work for me. The Apple magnetic wallet I bought which I was also uncomfortable with depending on was 3 cards--no more, no less.
MrDresden 3y ago
I can second SaddlebackLeather. Have a few items from them and the care taken with the design, in addition to the materials used, tells me these items will last a long time. Plan on adding to the collection over time.

littlelady 3y ago

Some years ago I found a leatherworker, who sells simple handbags/clutches starting at about 300 EUR. He also sells wallets and belts. He has a limited selection of styles, but they are made-to-order thus you can select the colors when you place your order. He isn't local to me, but I've met him and watched him stitch his bags together and chatted about his style (minimalist, sleek). I couldn't afford anything from him at the time (his smaller items were sold out), but kept his card handy. I'll provide a link, in case anyone is interested. http://www.foerster-taschen.de/ http://www.foerster-taschen.de/

kwhitefoot 3y ago
I've just looked at his web site. Beautiful understated pieces and very good prices for the materials and the amount of work. Some of the handbags are under 150 EUR.
- littlelady 3y ago
  That's true! I am just a bigger fan of the pieces made with stiffer leather, which are more expensive.