I FINALLY GOT ONE
I’ve BEEN eyeing the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag for MONTHS. Along the way, I’ve purchased a smaller (about the same size as the Mansur Gavriel Mini but slightly bigger), artisan made bucket bag that is almost exactly like the MG (Mansur Gavriel, let’s just shorten it now) Bucket bag, and a large Leo et Violette “Le Violette” bucket bag in camel. The small, artisan bucket bag from Europe was fantastic because it was light and full grain, adult cow leather. I like full grain, adult cow leather because of it’s toughness and how it ages. Scratches to that type of leather just adds to its timeless beauty. When it came to Le Violette bucket bag, it was also absolutely gorgeous and functional… but it was full grain, CALF leather. This type of calf leather doesn’t look as nice when it gets scratched because it had a shiny coating on top. A pro to that coating though was that I could take it out in the rain and water would bead or roll right off. Of course I never let it get drenched but I never had to worry about light rain or stray drops from the wind when I had an umbrella. Le Violette bag could carry everything and could handle HEAVY loads while looking pristine and professional, but it was bugging me that I was babying it more than I needed to. I don’t like how this type of calf leather scratches at all.
Side note: MG’s calf leather is different. I have the men’s calf leather backpack in Olive and when I scratch it.. you don’t notice the scratches at all and you can rub the leather and it’ll disappear if the scratch is light enough (which most of the time it is because the leather is still super tough). Le Violette bucket bag’s calf leather scratches show up more even if they’re light scratches that you’ve already rubbed in. I don’t think this means that “Le Violette” is lower in quality. I think this is a result of the different finishes because my MG calf leather backpack is NOT glossy but matte and “Le Violette” bucket bag has that glossy coat. So let me make that clear, it’s NOT that Le Violette calf leather bucket bag is not as high quality as my MG calf leather backpack, but it’s because of the different FINISHES of the leathers.
Anyway, like I said, I was really getting bugged by the scratches on Le Violette and how I was babying it more than I needed to. I started looking through and stalking sale posts on Poshmark for MG bucket bags because I already spent so much buying Le Violette new. I knew that MG made their bags out of full grain, vegetable tanned leather so it was a perfect option. Vegetable tanned leather is not only environmentally friendly compared to any chrome tanned leather, but they also last MUCH longer and age better. I also knew that I wanted the largest size because it was close to Le Violette bucket bag that could carry EVERYTHING (MG: W23cm x H31cm x D16.5cm, Le Violette: H32cm x W26cm x D15cm). This meant that I could put my camera bag insert in the MG bucket bag too and I would be able to lug my DSLR and my Instax Mini 9 camera like I could in Le Violette.
It took awhile to find a good deal but I got it! I got the Large Mansur Graviel Bucket Bag in Brandy with a Cleo interior. It came with the original pink box, the original receipt of purchase from MG, AND the dust bag. What price did I get it for?…. $200. Two. Hundred. WOW. It of course had tax, but tax was only $15 so even if it was $215, that’s CHEAP!! I’m gonna go ahead and call this a STEAL because the bucket bag is in tip top condition too. I would say that it’s in 10/10 condition because there was absolutely nothing wrong with the stitches, the pouch, the hardware, the straps, etc. It DID have scratches and some water marks, but the scratches were typical and they weren’t deep (it had scratches that you would usually see if you were to use your fingernails, not scratches from something sharp like a box cutter or something else that would actually break the surface of the leather… that’s COMPLETELY different and I would NEVER be happy with that or accept it!). The water marks were also very minimum with only 2 small dots at the top and one small spill stain in a bottom corner. Again, I’m the type to think that those kinds of wear add to the bag’s aged look, that’s why it’s 10/10 for me. I would say cosmetically it would be 9.8/10 if I were to describe it to someone who cared about scratches and some water stains on a full grain, adult cow leather bag. I am so incredibly happy that the seller made my dream come true of owning a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag; and I’m even more happy that I got it for such a low price because it’s in such great condition and it also came with its original box, dust bag, receipt, and pouch! Shoutout to the seller Adrien A., you know who you are!!!
I still have to use it to see if it’s comfortable and if it’ll hold up while carrying the same load as Le Violette bucket bag. I will definitely do review on this MG bag after I’ve used it for some time!
I’ve BEEN eyeing the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag for MONTHS. Along the way, I’ve purchased a smaller (about the same size as the Mansur Gavriel Mini but slightly bigger), artisan made bucket bag that is almost exactly like the MG (Mansur Gavriel, let’s just shorten it now) Bucket bag, and a large Leo et Violette “Le Violette” bucket bag in camel. The small, artisan bucket bag from Europe was fantastic because it was light and full grain, adult cow leather. I like full grain, adult cow leather because of it’s toughness and how it ages. Scratches to that type of leather just adds to its timeless beauty. When it came to Le Violette bucket bag, it was also absolutely gorgeous and functional… but it was full grain, CALF leather. This type of calf leather doesn’t look as nice when it gets scratched because it had a shiny coating on top. A pro to that coating though was that I could take it out in the rain and water would bead or roll right off. Of course I never let it get drenched but I never had to worry about light rain or stray drops from the wind when I had an umbrella. Le Violette bag could carry everything and could handle HEAVY loads while looking pristine and professional, but it was bugging me that I was babying it more than I needed to. I don’t like how this type of calf leather scratches at all.
Side note: MG’s calf leather is different. I have the men’s calf leather backpack in Olive and when I scratch it.. you don’t notice the scratches at all and you can rub the leather and it’ll disappear if the scratch is light enough (which most of the time it is because the leather is still super tough). Le Violette bucket bag’s calf leather scratches show up more even if they’re light scratches that you’ve already rubbed in. I don’t think this means that “Le Violette” is lower in quality. I think this is a result of the different finishes because my MG calf leather backpack is NOT glossy but matte and “Le Violette” bucket bag has that glossy coat. So let me make that clear, it’s NOT that Le Violette calf leather bucket bag is not as high quality as my MG calf leather backpack, but it’s because of the different FINISHES of the leathers.
Anyway, like I said, I was really getting bugged by the scratches on Le Violette and how I was babying it more than I needed to. I started looking through and stalking sale posts on Poshmark for MG bucket bags because I already spent so much buying Le Violette new. I knew that MG made their bags out of full grain, vegetable tanned leather so it was a perfect option. Vegetable tanned leather is not only environmentally friendly compared to any chrome tanned leather, but they also last MUCH longer and age better. I also knew that I wanted the largest size because it was close to Le Violette bucket bag that could carry EVERYTHING (MG: W23cm x H31cm x D16.5cm, Le Violette: H32cm x W26cm x D15cm). This meant that I could put my camera bag insert in the MG bucket bag too and I would be able to lug my DSLR and my Instax Mini 9 camera like I could in Le Violette.
It took awhile to find a good deal but I got it! I got the Large Mansur Graviel Bucket Bag in Brandy with a Cleo interior. It came with the original pink box, the original receipt of purchase from MG, AND the dust bag. What price did I get it for?…. $200. Two. Hundred. WOW. It of course had tax, but tax was only $15 so even if it was $215, that’s CHEAP!! I’m gonna go ahead and call this a STEAL because the bucket bag is in tip top condition too. I would say that it’s in 10/10 condition because there was absolutely nothing wrong with the stitches, the pouch, the hardware, the straps, etc. It DID have scratches and some water marks, but the scratches were typical and they weren’t deep (it had scratches that you would usually see if you were to use your fingernails, not scratches from something sharp like a box cutter or something else that would actually break the surface of the leather… that’s COMPLETELY different and I would NEVER be happy with that or accept it!). The water marks were also very minimum with only 2 small dots at the top and one small spill stain in a bottom corner. Again, I’m the type to think that those kinds of wear add to the bag’s aged look, that’s why it’s 10/10 for me. I would say cosmetically it would be 9.8/10 if I were to describe it to someone who cared about scratches and some water stains on a full grain, adult cow leather bag. I am so incredibly happy that the seller made my dream come true of owning a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag; and I’m even more happy that I got it for such a low price because it’s in such great condition and it also came with its original box, dust bag, receipt, and pouch! Shoutout to the seller Adrien A., you know who you are!!!
I still have to use it to see if it’s comfortable and if it’ll hold up while carrying the same load as Le Violette bucket bag. I will definitely do review on this MG bag after I’ve used it for some time!
That color is just gorgeous!
It's beautiful! 