I loved this video, it was so informative and thoughtfully presented. It helped me understand the different price-point tiers as well- Chanel up close is gorgeous! And Zane really enjoyed it too, he’s already talking about getting a jewelers loop and looking at my bags lol. 😂 I’m totally here for this series and I’m excited to learn more! Thank you!!
I love this comment, thank you! It’s so interesting to look at these pieces really up close. Tell Zane thank you for watching too, and I absolutely recommend him getting a loupe 😂
Coach used to have this on their website maybe 4 years ago or so. Coach selects only the top ten percent of leathers for their tactile quality, strength, character and grain. In the tanning process the untreated leather is rotated for days in large drums where it is softened and enriched with natural treatments drawn from plant extracts, fats and clear aniline dyes. Like fingerprints, no two grain patterns are alike. Our method of slow curing brings the natural markings to the surface, which makes every Coach product original and unique.
@@classicswithaquirk I remember the sales associate told me that the browns or neutral colors were vegetable tanned and the colors were chrome tanned. That infor was maybe 5 to 6 years ago though and I dont think he was positive. I believe at those 500 dollar price points and below,they believe their demographics just do not care enough. They believe that people want sustainability. Also they sell more through the outlets still than the main stores probably so I imagine the “ made for outlet” products are chrome tanned and the sustainability point is more encompassing. LOL I also shop at Somerset.
Great video! I can't wait to see more in the series. One topic I'd like to see covered would be a "hierarchy of leather." I would assume Hermes, Chanel, LV and Moynat are at the top, YSL in the middle and Coach on the lower end, but what about Dior, Gucci, Fendi and other luxury bagmakers? I'd love to get a better understanding on the quality of their leathers. Also, if there's a way to look at the leathers while shopping and be able to determine how quality the material is through look and touch as you've described in this video, I think that would be another great video. Keep being quirky!
Thank you so much for watching and for the suggestions! The hierarchy of leather would be such an interesting (and involved) video. I can already see the research that would need to go into it 🤩
This was so informative. I’d love to know more! The very first thing I was allowed to use my Confirmation money for was a buttery soft clutch bag that I bought in A&S in Brooklyn!! Love leather since I was 13 years old!! More videos like this please!! ♥️
Awesome video! I'm just developing my appreciation for leather and this was a great introductory video. Thank you. Looking forward to checking out your other videos on leather - particularly your review and thoughts on Coach leather products.
I would totally love to see a video comparing Chanel lambskin vs Caviar. I've recently been obsessed with lambskin would love to know how it is they last so long! Also interested in the various Chanel caviars.
Absolutely LOVED this video! I’m also a leather nerd and have even dabbled in leathercrafting so this type of content is 100% up my alley! Looking forward to the series 🙂
Loving all your videos. As another creator said Coach today is not the same company as years gone by. With that said, quality in most luxury houses has went down sadly
Very interesting. I’d love for you to do a video about the different quality of full grain leather. There are many brands that charge contemporary and sub contemporary prices who use full grain leather. While I know all luxury houses have obscene mark-ups. I just can’t wrap my head around how one brand can charge $250 for a full grained leather bag and Chanel charges 5k+.
That would be a great video! A key thing about full-grain leather is the quality of the grain. It's a bit rarer nowadays to have a modern day contemporary brand use "proper" full grain leather (as opposed to top grain) because of imperfections in the hides but it's certainly done. And of course, the tanning and dying methods (as well as the source of the hide) all make a difference too. Chrome tanning for instance, is used in something like 90% of all modern-day leather creations. Obviously brands like Chanel mark-up a LOT for being ~Chanel~ but the creation of their pieces is also built into the price: the tanning method, the dying method, sourcing materials, etc. Not that there's ever a real reason to pay that much money for a handbag, but it's the same with any type of luxury. I could make an 18k gold ring that looks like a Cartier ring and it would only cost the actual amount of gold and my own labor. But no one would pay me thousands for it 😂
Awesome video! I learned so much! Are Chanel caviar slgs and wallets made out of full grain leather too? And I heard the caviar from the classics are of better quality than their coco handle and business affinity bags. Is that true?
I’m so glad you enjoyed! I wouldn’t say that the CF caviar is better quality that the coco handle and BA bags necessarily, but they are DIFFERENT caviars. Classic flaps usually (not always but usually) have REV caviar, while the seasonal bags like the CCH and BA use different kinds of pebbling, and that depends on the original hide. Classic flaps use the very top, choicest hides, and seasonal bags are “second best.” That is not to say their quality is bad-it’s just that not every bag can be made with the BEST hide since those are limited.
Thank you for your information. Coach leather makes sense. I thought the recent Coach leather bags do not have the thickness and quality like my old bags (15 years ago). I thought it just the new and improved technology of processing leather so I feel the leather like that. But it is actually the leather itself.
I am SO looking forward to your leather comparison video. You should include a comparison on the Sonoma pebbled leather and the Madison collection leather when you do the Coach leathers video.
This was so, so interesting and well done, thank you! I learned a lot! Especially about the Coach leathers and how the grain is actually stamped on, I had no idea! I wonder why then they have to say "croc embossed" or "exotic embossed" but don't have to state "grain leather embossed" or what have you, or if those are just marketing decisions, kind of like how "glove-tanned" has ceased to mean anything. I really appreciate when these brands are descriptive about their leathers, is it smooth? Is it glazed, treated, distressed, etc? Often they are vague about the animal it comes from, I had to reach out to Tory Burch to ask if my new bag was lambskin or calfskin. It would be great to be well-informed. I wish I still had my goatskin Bottega Veneta bag, that one was absolutely amazing.
Thank you so much, Jane! I’m so glad you enjoyed. In regards to croc embossing, companies have to declare if an item is real or faux croc due to restrictions and requirements around the creation and import/export rules surrounding exotics, while there is no such requirement for grain embossed leather 🙂
This was the most informative video I've seen on this topic! By the way, I had the exact same exchange with the Coach reps at my local store just a few weeks ago. I was curious and asking what glove tanned leather actually meant, and they couldn't give me any information beyond 'it's the tanning process'.
Thank you so much! I think this is just so interesting. I wish that certain brands (looking at you Coach) had more information to share 🤔 (glove tanning isn’t even a tanning process! It doesn’t exist!! 😂)
I’ve got to say that I’m really pleasantly surprised by this video! I don’t buy from any of the brands mentioned, I used to buy coach (my first love when I first got into bags) but have since moved onto other brands. So I really just stumbled upon this video while watching another one you posted. HOWEVER I am so happy that I watched this one!!! Learning about the different types of leather, the coloring and embossing process is incredibly helpful! The more knowledge we have the better informed our purchases are and that’s very important to me! I’m looking forward to your next leather video.
Thank you so much! I love that it was interesting and useful even though it was an accidental watch. I just see so many videos talking about how something is excellent quality but with no explanation as to why, so I figured I’d try my hand at it. I think it’s super cool to be able to share more knowledge in this space 💕 More videos to come!
Such good information!!! I have vintage Coach and new Coach. Each one serves a purpose. The vintage with the great leather are durable but heavy, the new ones are more fun and light, although I doubt I could still use them after five years. I have found channel and YSL pretty indestructible!!
Thank you so much! For sure, new coach certainly has a place. I buy it myself once in a while (obviously-I love my Cassie!) and those bags still serve great purpose in my collection 🙂
I am very intrigued! I'd love to hear of the differences in leather qualities of the bags over the years/generations if Coach of course, and Chanel, especially now people are saying the quality does not justify the price increases! Thank you, I will certainly be back for more! 😊💚😊
💖👑👑💖hello lovely I really enjoyed this vlog looking forward to the next one on lamb skin.because i have just got a Chanel classic flap in lamb skin and i am interested in all the diffrent leathers xxxthank you for all the research you have done big huggsss hope you are doing great xx
I love this video! Please make more detailed videos on different types of leather and its processes. I’m interested to know the different type of leather sold at boutiques vs outlets for brands like Coach, Kate Spade, Chanel, YSL, LV, Prada, Gucci & Fendi.
Thamk you so much for making these awesome videos! I have many doubts and questions about leather and what the sellers advertise on line so it is always to me, a little worrisome what I will get at the end… but I am learning so much from your videos! Thank you also for taking the time to reply to our comments…! When you can, would you consider to make a video about split leather? You mentioned something already but I would like to learn more as it seems to be all over! Thanks again, You are awesome!
I'll add it to my list of video ideas! Nappa leather is usually a "better" leather than "genuine" leather, as it is supposed to be made of full grain leather, whereas "genuine" leather can come from any layer of the leather, including split leather 🙂
Quite a few! Coach even does use full-grain for some of their bags-just not their “genuine leather” bags. I believe Coach Napa leather is full-grain (or should be… by definition napa is normally full-grain leather)
@@classicswithaquirk yes very true as I bought a toiletry 15 from EBay in the inside was very sticky and made a video on how to remove that and add 3m tan rubber roll on to the inside as I still use it and that was about 4 years when I started my channel. At that time lv wanted 389 to replace the lining thanks 🙏
This is EXTREMELY interesting. I would love a video about croc embossed leather, i tend to go for that bc its very durable. I have a ysl croc embossed sunset and a croc embossed teddy blake bag. Also, what about tory burch lambskin? Its soooo delicate. I have two coach bags in pebbled leather and Bvlgari serpenti smooth leather. Would love to know more about leather!
Thank you! I'm looking forward to making many more videos. I also actually have been looking at a bvlgari bag recently, so maybe a video on their leathers soon...!
Eye opening! Loved it! Please do more! I have heard people say Coach uses the top 10% best leather in the world or something, wonder what that comment is about?
Thank you so much! In regards to Coach, I don’t know where that exact statistic came from, but it’s true that older coach bags did use very high quality leather. That being said, I’m wondering if perhaps people meant “the top 10% from the tanneries they source their leather from” as opposed to “top 10% worldwide.” Hermes, for instance, owns their own tanneries where they produce incredibly top-quality leather. Coach can’t source from those tanneries, since Hermes owns them.
LOVE this video! I have a YSL SDJ and a Fendi Peekaboo and have always felt that the SDJ’s leather is somewhat thinner, while the Peekaboo always felt so much more substantial and plush. Different prices points like you said and it all makes sense now in terms of the quality of leathers they used. Can you consider doing a video comparing the different types of leather that LV uses? Their Empreinte, Tuarillon and recently “Aerogram” leather? Not much info online except they’re all just described as “top quality calfskin leather” lol 😂
All I can say is, watch Tanner Leatherstein. He goes into great detail about the leather used in designer handbags, even going as far as to completely deconstruct them to see exactly how they're made. He has a wealth of knowledge regarding leather. You're not paying an exorbitant price for your designer handbag because of the leather, you're paying for status and prestige.
I am now going to have to dig through my older Coach bags and my mom's - she should to buy quite a few back in the day and they were very solid and heavy bags compared to the current Coach ones. Interesting video!
Hi. Would u be doing a comparison between vintage coach and modern coach leather? Really looking forward to another of your super informative videos. Great videos u made. Thanks
I feel like you should be a teacher not only did I kinda get confused, but all the different types but you got me through them as well and I feel more knowledgeable about leather goods😊
Great video very informative. I’m curious to see the comparison between modern leather maker Coach and Dooney & Bourke. Also where does LV leather compare to Chanel’s. Thanks.
So informative! Although I think you didn’t talk about the caviar on your other Chanel? That’s one thing I’m really curious about since I think I have both.
I bought the exactly same Chanel that you showed. And I used the jeweler’s loop(30 times) to check it. BUT Why my Chanel doesn’t have that clearly pores??? 😢😢😢😢 I bought it this year (2023) in Chanel store.
Wow! This is a very informative video! One sees the term cross grain leather and I always assumed that it was a lesser quality. Am I correct? For pebbled leather on the less costly spectrum I feel Kate Spade does it well and much better than Coach. I have the Coach bag you used as well as the Pochette Metis; love the style of both but not the leather so much on this particular Coach. Keep coming on with these videos!
I’m so glad you enjoyed! Cross grain leather is technically categorized as am embossed pebble leather, but yes, it is often lower quality because it can be embossed onto split grain leather. I’m thinking I will make a video explaining a bunch of general leather terms 😊
Ya but i dont see why we pay a premium for a couple "CC"s in the middle. Especially when you can find a craftsman who could make a product that is even more high quality but charges you not a down-payment on a house??? Like some saddle bags have been around for generations but it never cost someone the same price as a college tuition. I will not ever fully understand it. While in the same vein i have more bags then anyone i know in my personal life so... lol i do suffer from the same sickness... i dont own luxury designers but i do own coach and other like brands. In my mind coach is worth every penny. I have a cassie ive had for years that i use regularly and it still looks like i bought it yesterday.
Interesting video, I remember a few years back like 2016 or 2018, the coach website had page that said they used top grain leather. Its not there anymore.
I don't know for sure which one you're talking about, but do you mean my burgundy bag? If so, it used to be called the Coach Cassie and there are a number of videos on RU-vid about it ☺️
It's amazing to me how people only care about status. I am a leathercrafter. I make small leather goods using only full grain leather. Better quality better price yet I can't put that logo on my stuff to look important
Thank you, this was a great video! Can you compare Louis Vuitton leather bags with Chanel quality of leather? Especially since Louie is having price increases so often. I would love to know.
Hi I actually have a question regarding how you know Chanel uses full grained leather whereas ysl uses top grain. Is it according to their product description? Coz these are all embossed leather and tbh, it’s hard to tell unless doing a acetone test. Especially those Chanel caviar ones which are highly embossed by a literally plastic finish, I don’t really think we actually know which type of leather they really use
Hi! Chanel caviar doesn't have a heavy plastic finish on it :) even when a leather is embossed, the embossing won't remove the pores of the leather if it's a full grain leather piece, as I demonstrate in my video. Acetone is not actually a great way to test the finish on a leather! Because it destroys the basic structure of the leather as it dissolves all the components added during tanning, you can't tell the finish of from just using acetone. it doesn't matter how the leather has been tanned or treated. Hope that answers your question!
I was told buy a professional buyer to stay away from YSL lambskin as the quality is poor and wears badly. I know you didn't speak on this but just a point of reference. Thanks for the information. The length of the video is perfect.
That's really interesting to know. I'd love to hear more about this, if you're willing to share! I'm learning as I go with present day YSL quality and leathers. Part of my research involves where their leather is sourced, and learning about grading. Thank you for watching!
@classicswithaquirk HI I was at Fashionphile one day choosing between a lambskin YSL Niki bag and and a calfskin Matelasse bag and I was having a hard time Choosing . I asked for the buyers opinion which I never do. She said if I was looking for something durable stay away from the lambskin. The durability of the YSL lambskin is a lot less durable than the Chanel lambskin. Just a short story but a lesson learned from someone you sees many handbags everyday.
That’s really interesting, but I’m also not surprised. I’ve seen a lot of corner on some “newer” older lambskin YSL bags. Thank you for sharing! I’m going to add this info as something to look into further 🧐
I love this video! So informative! I’m still shocked that ‘genuine leather’ is one of the more poorer quality leathers! I would very much appreciate more educational videos! Thank you for sharing!
@valeryzee box calf is a specific kind of leather: what the leather is and how it's been treated. Smooth leather can be any leather that has a smooth finish, from box to split. I was thinking about making a video about box calf actually!
Some inaccuracies in the leather discussion. Sometimes calfskin is used. Calfskin is much easier to scratch than calfsplit leather. Vegetable tanned leather develops patina more easily than chrome tanned leather. Not everyone likes patina.
great video - although I think there is a big difference within Coach leathers. Their 1941 line, for example, is much higher quality thicker leather than that of the Cassie, a polished pebble leather.
Thank you! And yes, there is definitely different qualities within Coach. The 1941 is for sure higher quality. However I believe the "official" line was discontinued a few years ago, even though certain bags from the line (like the rogues) are being made again. I have Coach bags from 1941, New York, "present day" coach, vintage and outlet. I'd love to do a video comparing them all!
@@classicswithaquirk that would be great! i've noticed that certain leathers from their newer lines, such as the puffy badge field totes, the rogues, and the beat bags appear to have thicker higher quality leather. I did notice that the inner suede part of the newer rogues seamed to be lower quality, but am still impressed with the outer leather on the rogue bags...just food for thought. The pillow Tabby leather is very thin but feels amazing… I wonder how it would compare to the Saint Laurent puffer leather??? The Quiltie line has what seems to be much heartier leather than the pillow tabby as well.
I actually wasn’t impressed with the leather on the newer rogues myself, but I agree that the Napa leather bags were very nice. I’m so excited for all the video possibilities I have 😂
@@classicswithaquirk that's always a good feeling! lmk if u might want to work together - I have soooooo many Coach bags as well as YSL, LV, Gucci and Chanel🥰
@@classicswithaquirk the newer "buy it now" veg tanned rogues we're very thick leather, and I believe you can choose to get that tanning process if you do a MTO rogue currently...
Thank you for the video. Does natural grain calfskin mean the same as top grain? I noticed a handbag was described as having natural grain leather on Ferragamo’s website
It usually does! Natural grain leather, like it sounds, is leather that hasn't been altered to have a "faux" grain. Spit can only be top grain, as that's the only part of the leather that has the natural grain.
First all leather all true full grain leather still is is not priced as much as the cost of Chanel all luxury house inflate the price by 90% you are paying for the label and Chanel coats all of their leather with a wax flim ro stamp the caviar look if you put acetone on it you can pill of the wax flim and YSL is done very similar if anything the Coach is the best for the price yes you are paying an up price but not a ridiculous price like the YSL and Chanel
Pebbled leather is hyper-corrected. It's basically plastic texture over a leather to standardize look and feel. To my mind, it is not really leather, because all the haptic qualities that define leather are masked.
Wow you are so knowledgeable! If you are also knowledgeable about how to remove pen stain on leather, take care of leather, etc that would be awesome!!!
talk about saffiano leather because while it is "cheap and affordable" - my 6 year old saffiano leather wallet wore out really quickly and I had to throw it away, while my moms LV leather wallet still looks good 15 years later
@@classicswithaquirk also, I’m curious about the type of leather LV has been pushing. Wondering if the leather quality matches the high price point. And I’m curious if the brand mulberry uses a similar leather as ysl. I think knowing the leather quality will help me decide on which manga are worth investing in because I want them to last a long time.
LV has a few different leathers, from their emprient to the leather they use in their capuccine bags to their vachetta. I can do my best to make a good video!
@@classicswithaquirk I'll look forward to it, because when spending $$$ on leather bags, the quality of the leather should match the price in my opinion. Hence why I decided to get a hermes belt versus a ysl/gucci one. I went with the quality of leather. And the hermes leather most certainly is high quality.
If you end up making a video all about coach I would love to hear what the difference is between the New York line, the 1941 line and the originals line, I have a few pieces from each collection and my 1941 bags fill the room with smells of leather while my New York line bags can’t do the same and you have to get really close to even smell a hint of leather. Also I saw that the new 1941 collection that came out is now “natural pebble leather” instead of “genuine glove tanned” and the people I’ve asked who work for coach or love coach can’t give me an answer on why the name change or if there is a difference between them. I would love to believe coach has the same quality as Chanel and Gucci (like Stuart vevers once said in a video) but the shroud of darkness on how they actually process there leather makes me wonder if that statement has any truth! Anyway would love to see a video on coach leather, and now Im going to spend the next hour looking at my bags under a jewelers loop
I have this video planned! Coach vintage v 1941 v New York v “modern” coach vs outlet bags. It’s also interesting that there’s crossover-I have a tattoo ream from the Chelsea Champlain collab and it’s lovely quality, but it’s technically a New York bag. It is a little frustrating that Coach doesn’t share a lot of inspiration, but I’m doing my best in my research 😁 Have one using your jeweler’s loupe!
I believe it was around the 2010s, but certain Coach bags (like their 1941 collection that they discontinued recently) continued to use much more high quality hides, including full grain leather hides, until as recently as 2016-1018 🙂
@@classicswithaquirk Thank You! I worked in retail and my first job was back in the 80s in a NY store called Bonwit Teller, I was in the accessories department, and they carried Coach, I had never heard that label before, it sold like hot cakes! Later I went to Gucci and I did ver well, I never sold the GGs logo, I really concentrated on the leathers and skins, that made my sales go thru the roof. Later I went to Ralph Lauren, but to the men dept, I do know about The Ricky Bag at Ralph Lauren, it would be interesting to know about it, I hear the quality of the bag is very high and people don’t know is an investment.
That's such an interesting background! You must know a lot about Gucci leathers! I have liked the feel of Ralph Lauren, but you're right in that it's a brand I don't hear of a lot.
@@classicswithaquirk When I worked at Gucci Philadelphia 1989 to 1993, it was an interesting time, they brought back a lot of their iconic bags for example the oval bamboo handle from the 50s, The Jackie, the hobo bag, we had style similar to The Kelly, that Gucci always had, what had happened that Gucci had become very popular with their signature bags, somehow Gucci was loosing its appeal, 1994 brought Tom Ford to the front and Gucci became popular again, it was really exciting to have worked at that time!
Forgot to tell you Gucci in 1989 to 1990, they put all their signature GG bags on sale, and diminished the amount of merchandise and items like key chains and smaller leather goods.
