Hey everybody, it's Jen again! I know I left my viewers in anticipation in my last post. But, today is a new day and a new day comes for a new topic. Today I am going to talk about quality handbags... 

Many handbag companies inform their consumers that their handbags are finely constructed. The word, “quality,” is commonly used to describe this marketing schematic to the point where it has now become a cliché. But, what is the true definition of a “well constructed” handbag? With my experience and knowledge in handbag making throughout the years, I have to admit that Rioni handbags are well constructed (please note that this is not a bias interpretation). Viewers behold, the top ten ways to distinguish a great handbag from a not so great bag purchased at your local swap meet.

10 — Smell. I repeat, please do not smell a handbag to determine whether a handbag is made using genuine leather. A true leather enthusiast understands that there are many classes of leathers (ranging from very cheap leathers to extremely pricey leathers). The first thing we learn in “Leather 101” is that it is quite easy for manufactures to spray their handbags with an artificial leather fragrance. So, after a long day of sniffing leather, don’t be surprised that you may feel a bit wheezy.

09 — Price. Many times the price of a handbag may be misleading. Many popular designer name brand handbags are marked up for marketing purposes. I have seen replica Gucci handbags that were crafted better than authentic Gucci handbags. But, the majority of pricey handbags are pretty well constructed.

08 — Feet. Having feet on a handbag, a common misconception, can be recognized as a subtle sign of quality. The feet are usually metal pieces on the bottom of a handbag. They are used to ensure that the handbag rests on the metal pieces rather than on the bottom surface of the bag itself. Not all handbags are meant to have feet, but most handbags should have them.

07 — Compartments. A lot of handbag manufactures try to save on costs by removing useful compartments and pockets. The more pockets, zippers, pouches, or compartments a handbag has, the more troublesome and costly it is for handbag manufactures to produce.

06 — Edges. The edges of a handbag may seem minute; however, it is a definite sign of quality. The edges of the leather or canvas on many handbags are lined with special glue. The special glue is usually darker in color compared to the leather or canvas itself. Companies such as Dooney and Bourke, Coach, Gucci, and Christian Dior usually use a darker brown colored glue to seal the edges of their handbags. On the other hand, many Louis Vuitton and Rioni handbags use a special red adhesive. The difference is the red adhesive will not peel or rip over time; simply meaning that Louis Vuitton and Rioni handbags usually hold up for longer periods of time.

05 — Lining. The lining in many quality designer handbags consist of their company’s monogram print. You may check this by simply opening a handbag and looking at the fabric lining. Don’t get me wrong, some extremely expensive handbags are not lined with a monogrammed fabric. However, it is likely that if a handbag has a monogram print lining, it may be at least considered a decent handbag.

04 — Stitching. The stitching on a handbag is a pretty important detail for distinguishing a great handbag from a mediocre handbag. When dealing with leather handbags, it is important that you do not see double stitching along the contours of any leather handbags. The reason being, double-stitching can cause the leather to weaken; therefore, shortening the life of the handbag.

03 — Hardware. The hardware on a handbag is usually constructed using metal. By simply analyzing the hardware on a handbag one can tell whether a handbag is of top quality or should be donated to your local Salvation Army. Top Designer Handbag companies have better machinery in their factories; therefore, their hardware molds are more frequently replaced or newly purchased. One may ask; how would I know if the handbag I just bought at Saks Fifth Avenue was constructed using an antique machine? Well, one way to tell is by looking at the clarity of the cuts in the hardware.  The edges of the metal buckles, the print on the metals, the engraving of the company’s logo are all basic indications of whether the company used newer machinery to produce the handbag.

02 — Leather Color. There are so many classes of leathers–ranging from rare exotic leathers costing thousands to cheap leathers found at the dollar store. There is a type of leather known as “white vegetable tanning leather” (an expensive and rare find) that will actually change color over time. This type of leather has natural dyes embedded in its surface and over time will actually richen in color. Don’t believe me? Try going to your nearest Rioni or Louis Vuitton store and checkout their Signature collections.

01 — Warranty. The bag will hold up for years to come. Many designer handbag companies have a quality warranty and guarantee associated with their products. Well known brands such as: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dooney and Bourke, Rioni, Coach, Prada are all considered reputable quality handbag brands.

Well, that sums it up; let me know if you have any questions regarding my post. I hope I have educated our viewers to become better handbag shoppers.