How to Check a Bag Before You Buy It

Most bags look the same in a photograph. The difference shows up after two months of being carried every day, and by then it is too late to notice. Here is what to look at first — whether you are buying from us or from anyone else.

1. The stitching

Turn the bag over and follow one seam with your eye. The stitches should be even and close together, running in a straight line without wandering. Loose threads at the end of a seam are normal and can be trimmed. Threads coming out of the middle of a seam are not.

Pay particular attention to where the strap joins the body. That join carries the whole weight of everything you put inside, and it is the first place a cheap bag gives up.

2. The hardware

Rings, clasps and chain links should feel cool and have some weight. Hardware that feels light and warm is usually plastic under a coating, and the coating wears off at the points where it rubs.

Open and close the clasp a few times. It should hold firmly and not need to be forced.

3. The lining

Put your hand inside and feel along the seams. A bag with no lining, or with a lining glued rather than sewn, will start shedding into the bottom of the bag within months.

4. The straps

Hold the strap and pull gently. There should be no stretch and no creaking. If it is adjustable, run it through the full length — the slider should move with a little resistance rather than sliding freely, or it will slip while you are wearing it.

5. The zip

Run it all the way open and all the way closed, twice. A good zip moves in one motion. A zip that catches on the fabric at the corners will catch every single time you use it, and a zip is not something that can be repaired cheaply.

6. The base

Stand the bag on a flat surface. It should sit upright on its own. A base that sags when the bag is empty will collapse completely once it is full.

What we do about it

We choose pieces one at a time rather than ordering a catalogue, and the checks above are the same ones we run before anything is listed. If something arrives and it is not right, you have seven days to exchange it — details are in our refund policy.

You can see what is in stock now in bags.

Anything you are not sure about, message us on WhatsApp at 0311 445 9443 — we would rather answer a question than take back a parcel.