Your favorite INDIE / no-name bag

elisian

vintage queen
Oct 16, 2014
616
8
I'm always on the prowl for a good, small-shop bag made by an indie designer - something not everyone will have, and not the kind that's limited because of it's price/access like a $4k limited-run LV. ;)

There are a TON of small leather shops on sites like Etsy. Too many, impossible to find / know / trust without recs. So I'm trolling for them now. What's your favorite indie bag or indie bag designer and where did you find it?

Mine right now: maybe this one?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/113778463/big-brown-oversize-leather-bag?ref=favs_view_4
 
Oooo a thread after my own heart hehe ;) I love buying indie bags - mostly off Etsy. I've had good luck so far - for me i'm just not into contemporary designers, etsy is my go to instead. And I love the pop on color on the handles of the bag you picked out! May be a shop to keep my eye on :P Aside from recs from friends, if the shops has a good number of reviews (at least 20 or 30), I take it as a good sign re quality, etc. The great thing about etsy imo is the price is pretty reasonable so even if it's not perfection, it's still pretty good (and sometimes really good!) for the price.

My favs so far (compiled from previous posts of mine :biggrin:):

*Office of minor details on etsy - completely handstitched, amazing leather:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/61876346/leather-messenger-bag-satchel-black-hand

I just wish he'd make more bags! - a bigger crossbody!

* I recently bought this embossed leather tote from LokaStudio on etsy:

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Holds all my stuff, got stuck in the rain with it and leather is still perfect. Nothing really catching my eye right now in her shop though...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LokaStudio

I haven't bought from this shop but am very tempted, just don't need the kinds of bags they have in their shop right now:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/treesizeverse?page=1

and this I'd totally get if it came in a nice grey! - but they seem to do mostly black or ivories :sad:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1892384...e-liria-bag-in
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oooh and this shop for small accessories - I use their business card cases as wallets :P
https://www.etsy.com/shop/UNEARTHED

I'm also tempted by this tote, kinda in a tassel mood these days - but have waayy too many totes atm:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167400483/burnt-orange-and-dark-brown-leather-tote


Oh man I could go on all day - I may be obsessed haha.

On a completely unrelated note: What Is This Sorcery??? :roflmfao:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/84706721/big-sleeping-grizzly-bear-bean-bag

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I have a clutch from RTH (based in LA) that I love. The stitching is unique and the leather is so soft. From Etsy, I have bought from Harlex with great results.

Next up, I'm looking towards Lauren Cecchi, which is made in NYC, but I don't have first-hand experience with it yet.
 
@cwxx oh wow -- I love those choices! all of them have been added to my Etsy feed... haha. Leechi, I'm already impressed by Harlex. What did you buy?

Book clutches were on Etsy before Kate Spade made them an 'It' thing -- and now they're impossible to escape -- but SO cute.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167756...age=4&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

I don't love this boxy frame though. I'm going to rummage a bit in my favorites for a book clutch with proper hardware as a better example.
 
I bought the envelope clutch and a wallet. The seller is great to work with (I had some customizations) and the quality is wonderful. Even stitching, expertly cut, and sturdy leather.
 
I bought the envelope clutch and a wallet. The seller is great to work with (I had some customizations) and the quality is wonderful. Even stitching, expertly cut, and sturdy leather.

leechiyong - nice to get some feedback on Harlex - I was looking through my bookmarks trying to find this bag but couldn't remember the shop name! https://www.etsy.com/listing/59548566/leather-handbag-purse-natural-color-hand
was this close to buying it a few years ago but wasn't sure about the light color...it reminds me of Celine - not in an 'inspired' way but in that their use of minimalist lines :biggrin:
 
Ah! I love vintage/patina-ed leather. But I feel a little foolish buying anything pre-distressed? Haha.

This makes me so happy. What a gorgeous and distinctive open tote for just north of $100 -- I love that it converts with the straps, and the leather is beautiful. This company needs to raise its prices and get itself into Net-A-Porter ASAP.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108669...me-hermes-orange?ref=fp_item&aref=16031110879
 

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oooohhh nice! And they both have tassels! :cool: i agree with you about Chinese fashion - it's no secret that many premier 'European' brands either produce bags completely or a significant portion of in China, so the skilled labor, tools, etc are all there...The question is will/how leather handbag production grow and set itself apart from existing centers of production - China has such a rich history of silks, pottery, etc but I can't remember if there's anyplace famous for leather goods hmmm - oooh, there is a small community that specializes in making clothes out of fish skin! Might sound a little icky on paper but in person it's actually pretty amazing, it's not like they're making it from perch :P - maybe there's a future in interesting use of unusual materials...
 
That's a coincidence. I only own... uh... three bags with tassels. :cool:

That's a great point about the skills being there! That's why counterfeits are made there too - hah - but if the indie/Etsy direct sale stuff gets bigger, it enables Chinese designers to reach a foreign audience with their more original stuff. Sadly, even Chinese consumers these days are primarily interested in status bags and status bag knock-offs -- and lots of nylon backpacks. (Leather's not cheap and it's not widely produced in China.)

Recently I've been very impressed by Israeli designers on Etsy. I am often afraid to buy from foreign makers because returns are so difficult. But the leather crafts there are so good.