We’ve all been there. You’re at the store, and you see the item you came to buy. The price is a little high, but you need it. You go to pick it up, and that’s when you see it—the discount version of the product you just picked up. Now you have to make a decision. Buy quality or buy cheap.

When it comes to leather bags, always remember one thing; You get what you pay for.

 Full Grain Leather Lasts Longer.

There are many ways to create a leather bag. When you are shopping for a bag, make sure that way the leather is cut supports the structure of the product. At ColsenKeane, we use one piece of veg-tanned, full-grain buffalo, or cowhide leather so that your bag holds its structure and doesn’t fall apart the moment you walk out of the store. Other companies tend to use two or more thin pieces of leather to form a bag, but this leads to shorter shelf life and does not handle everyday wear and tear as well as one solid piece of leather.

The Proof is in the Stitches.

When it comes to how your bag holds itself together, we believe the less stitching, the better. Sewing is another factor that leads to a longer-lasting, more durable product. Think of it this way; When you use too many stitches to secure a bag, you are just giving the bag more opportunities to fall apart. A good artisan will minimize the need for more stitches and rely on the strength/quality of the stitches to hold the bag together. Be sure to note the stitching patterns on your bag, as this will often tell you how skilled the person who made your bag is.

Marked to Touch.

Patina. This is what it’s all about when it comes to quality leather. Patina is the sheen or appearance that develops on your leather over time. It is quite literally the unique look and feels your bag develops over time. A good patina is how bags create a sense of character and tell your story. A leather patina will reveal all the different hands that held the leather and give the piece a feel that is impossible to imitate. ColsenKeane leather is overengineered to show quick wear. This emphasis on patina allows you to buy a bag today that will age quickly and gracefully so that your bag looks like it was passed down to you from an older family member. 

As we said in the beginning, “You get what you pay for.” When you opt for the type of quality that a leather brand like ColsenKeane can offer then, you are not buying. You are investing. You are making a statement. We build every bag to your specifications, and we intend for it to last a couple of lifetimes just so that you can pass it down as an heirloom to your family! 

 Check out our current collections and find your next leather bag.