Hi all,
Back in December I posted here about barenia leather (https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/barenia-leather.976106/), a member introduced me to the brand van Astyn. Recently I finally purchased their Eley bag (http://www.vanastyn.com/shop-women/bags/eley-small-sling-clutch-in-cognac-barenia-calaf.html) so I thought I might just post a review here in case anyone is also interested in barenia leather products.
I decided to order a cognac barenia calf item because I don't have any bags in this color and also it is the natural color for barenia leather. I am very picky about bag weight so I was thinking about getting the smallest bag available (Eley), however the chain details made me hesitate. I emailed the customer service about ordering alternative canvas/leather straps but was told this was not an option. In the end I still got the Eley bag.
It came in after 2 weeks, which is not bad since I am in the US and the bag is shipped from Switzerland. A bit frustrating that it did not come in a box…and I paid ~$80 for shipping
The dust bag is nice and has leather tags:
The bag is nicely made, barenia leather feels and smells very nice.
There is a mark at the bottom of the bag. I emailed the customer service and was told this is normal patina for barenia leather (so basically they don’t consider it as defect). They did say that I can exchange it but another bag will have the same problem. They share some care tips which is helpful. Basically you can wipe barenia leather with water. I did try putting a tiny little drop of water on the leather and the drop did disappear quickly without obvious marks.
The hardware is pretty sturdy, and the chain feels pretty substantial. With strap and tag the bag is 976 grams, which is a lot heavier than I thought and no doubt the heaviest bag I own.
The closure turned out to be a bit more cumbersome than I expected, because of the small piece under the clip-lock. Also the flap is very short and the clip-lock is oversized, so you have to really pull the flap to close it, and the top part of the bag has to be empty, making the capacity even smaller.
The inner part of the bag is lined with fabric and nicely divided with several pockets, but to be honest considering the short height of the bag, I don't think these divisions are necessary. There is a wide back pocket which is pretty nice.
This is what I try to fit into the bag: sunglasses, card holder, key holder, badge, pencil case as cosmetic pouch, and iphone 7 I am using to take pictures. I can fit everything except the sunglasses (with room for phone).
For comparison I have my Fendi mini by the way, which is smaller but thicker and has single compartment. As you can see they have pretty much the same capacity. I can fit the sunglasses in the mini by the way if I leave my phone out.
This is how it look on me. I am 5'2", the chain is adjustable so I can make it even shorter, but due to the east-west style I prefer holding it in my hand rather than wearing crossbody.
Rating (based on its current sales price point):
Quality (material + craftsmanship): 5/5
Anesthetics and design: 2.5/5 (the look is ok with some originality, however the short flap and the clip-clock IMO have design flaws)
Functionality (capacity + weight + strap length): 2.5/5 (too small considering the weight)
Packaging: 1/5
Customer service: 5/5 (emails are replied within one day)
Overall: 3.2/5
To be honest the leather quality and craftsmanship is exceptional, however all the design problems making me reluctant to keep it. I might be better off starting with a larger bag – they have one in speedy style and also a couple of shoulder bags.
I know there have been discussions about declining quality in premier designers or designer bags overall, but this experience makes me think that sometimes better-known brands might still be a better choice. For this less known brand which has excellent quality, the fact that this bag doesn't work for me in so many ways is very frustrating. I am not saying high-end designers don't have design flaws - of course they do, but the abundant reviews make it easier to avoid those styles, and these brands or the department stores that offer them generally have more friendly return policy compared to 'indie' brands. It is a bit sad though the entire handbag shopping process has been stressful for me nowadays.
Thanks for letting me share, I hope this is somewhat helpful. I will still keeping looking for barenia leather bags maybe until I can finally afford Hermes or Moynat barenia
Back in December I posted here about barenia leather (https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/barenia-leather.976106/), a member introduced me to the brand van Astyn. Recently I finally purchased their Eley bag (http://www.vanastyn.com/shop-women/bags/eley-small-sling-clutch-in-cognac-barenia-calaf.html) so I thought I might just post a review here in case anyone is also interested in barenia leather products.
I decided to order a cognac barenia calf item because I don't have any bags in this color and also it is the natural color for barenia leather. I am very picky about bag weight so I was thinking about getting the smallest bag available (Eley), however the chain details made me hesitate. I emailed the customer service about ordering alternative canvas/leather straps but was told this was not an option. In the end I still got the Eley bag.
It came in after 2 weeks, which is not bad since I am in the US and the bag is shipped from Switzerland. A bit frustrating that it did not come in a box…and I paid ~$80 for shipping
The dust bag is nice and has leather tags:The bag is nicely made, barenia leather feels and smells very nice.
There is a mark at the bottom of the bag. I emailed the customer service and was told this is normal patina for barenia leather (so basically they don’t consider it as defect). They did say that I can exchange it but another bag will have the same problem. They share some care tips which is helpful. Basically you can wipe barenia leather with water. I did try putting a tiny little drop of water on the leather and the drop did disappear quickly without obvious marks.
The hardware is pretty sturdy, and the chain feels pretty substantial. With strap and tag the bag is 976 grams, which is a lot heavier than I thought and no doubt the heaviest bag I own.
The closure turned out to be a bit more cumbersome than I expected, because of the small piece under the clip-lock. Also the flap is very short and the clip-lock is oversized, so you have to really pull the flap to close it, and the top part of the bag has to be empty, making the capacity even smaller.
The inner part of the bag is lined with fabric and nicely divided with several pockets, but to be honest considering the short height of the bag, I don't think these divisions are necessary. There is a wide back pocket which is pretty nice.
This is what I try to fit into the bag: sunglasses, card holder, key holder, badge, pencil case as cosmetic pouch, and iphone 7 I am using to take pictures. I can fit everything except the sunglasses (with room for phone).
For comparison I have my Fendi mini by the way, which is smaller but thicker and has single compartment. As you can see they have pretty much the same capacity. I can fit the sunglasses in the mini by the way if I leave my phone out.
This is how it look on me. I am 5'2", the chain is adjustable so I can make it even shorter, but due to the east-west style I prefer holding it in my hand rather than wearing crossbody.
Rating (based on its current sales price point):
Quality (material + craftsmanship): 5/5
Anesthetics and design: 2.5/5 (the look is ok with some originality, however the short flap and the clip-clock IMO have design flaws)
Functionality (capacity + weight + strap length): 2.5/5 (too small considering the weight)
Packaging: 1/5
Customer service: 5/5 (emails are replied within one day)
Overall: 3.2/5
To be honest the leather quality and craftsmanship is exceptional, however all the design problems making me reluctant to keep it. I might be better off starting with a larger bag – they have one in speedy style and also a couple of shoulder bags.
I know there have been discussions about declining quality in premier designers or designer bags overall, but this experience makes me think that sometimes better-known brands might still be a better choice. For this less known brand which has excellent quality, the fact that this bag doesn't work for me in so many ways is very frustrating. I am not saying high-end designers don't have design flaws - of course they do, but the abundant reviews make it easier to avoid those styles, and these brands or the department stores that offer them generally have more friendly return policy compared to 'indie' brands. It is a bit sad though the entire handbag shopping process has been stressful for me nowadays.
Thanks for letting me share, I hope this is somewhat helpful. I will still keeping looking for barenia leather bags maybe until I can finally afford Hermes or Moynat barenia
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too bad that they are out of stock now, I always wanted a single top handle bag 
thanks again