A leather-based craftsman is lifting the lid on which designer luggage are definitely worth the value by slicing them aside to examine the standard of the supplies and development.
Volkan Yilmaz, 36, is called ‘Tanner Leatherstein’ on TikTok, the place he has greater than 360,00 followers because of his eye-opening movies about leather-based purses and equipment.
The Turkey native, who’s now primarily based in Texas, has spent hundreds of {dollars} on leather-based items that he has ended up destroying within the identify of schooling, however he sees it as an make investments him in his personal leather-based model, Pegai.
‘It looks as if some individuals profit from [these videos], and in flip, they store at my model, Pegai,’ he defined in a latest clip.
‘So, it is my advertising expense in a way, and it is less expensive than my Google advertisements that I used to spend [money] on.’
It is solely been six months since Yilmaz launched his TikTok web page final spring, however he has already taken on numerous well-known designer manufacturers, together with Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, and Bottega Veneta.
Right here, FEMAIL breaks down Yilmaz’s hottest bag critiques – revealing which high-priced purses get his stamp of approval, and which designs he believes aren’t good worth for cash.
Bottega Veneta Micro Arco – $2,500
Leather-based craftsman Volkan Yilmaz, 36, is called ‘Tanner Leatherstein’ on TikTok, the place he shares movies of himself slicing aside designer luggage to see if they’re price the fee
Yilmaz went viral after inspecting Bottega Veneta’s Micro Arco tote bag, which retails for a whopping $2,500
The leather-based skilled was a fan of the lambskin and famous that the posh label used an ‘insane quantity of leather-based’ to assemble the bag’s woven design
Yilmaz went viral after slicing aside Bottega Veneta’s Micro Arco tote bag, which retails for a whopping $2,500.
‘First impression, I actually love the sensation of the leather-based,’ he stated of the lambskin.
Yilmaz carried out numerous exams on the leather-based, together with rubbing acetone on it to interrupt down the lilac purple coating.
He guessed that roughly 18 toes of lambskin was used to assemble the bag due to its double-sided woven design.
The leather-based skilled estimated that the leather-based value as much as $130, and he tacked on one other $120 for labor and equipment, however that does not imply it is a dangerous deal
‘You are undoubtedly paying a premium, however you are getting top-of-the-line leather-based and craftsmanship,’ he defined
Yilmaz stated it’s as much as the client to determine whether or not the price of the bag is price it or not
‘It has an insane quantity of leather-based — quadruple of a bag of this dimension,’ he stated.
The leather-based skilled estimated that the leather-based value as much as $130, and he tacked on one other $120 for labor and equipment.
In line with Yilmaz, the bag retails for 10 occasions greater than what it prices to make, however that does not imply it is a dangerous deal.
‘Out of all my critiques, I’ve by no means seen such intricate design in all the main points, inside [and] out,’ he defined. ‘You are undoubtedly paying a premium, however you are getting top-of-the-line leather-based and craftsmanship. You determine if it is price it or not.’
Louis Vuitton Porte-Paperwork Voyage PM – $1,830
Yilmaz took challenge with Louis Vuitton’s Porte-Paperwork Voyage PM bag as a result of most of it’s made out of coated canvas – not leather-based
The French label clearly states that its LV monogram luggage are primarily made out of canvas, however Yilmaz identified that there nonetheless may very well be some confusion
Yilmaz made it clear that he thinks Louis Vuitton’s Porte-Paperwork Voyage PM is a rip-off as a result of many of the bag is made out of coated canvas — not leather-based.
The enterprise bag retails for $1,830 on the label’s web site, although he stated he paid barely much less for the designer piece.
‘You assume this Louis Vuitton bag is price $1,700?’ he requested in a latest video. ‘Let me inform you why it’s trash for the cash I spent.’
The French label clearly states that its LV monogram luggage are primarily made out of canvas, however Yilmaz identified that there nonetheless may very well be some confusion.
‘Louis Vuitton is related to leather-based and luxurious,’ he famous.
‘No matter little leather-based use for the accents and the deal with is mediocre at finest,’ he added
Yilmaz defined that the leather-based accents are made from high grain cowhide with a corrective end on high, which is nothing particular
The enterprise bag retails for $1,830 on the label’s web site, although he stated he paid barely much less for the designer piece. Even with a $130 low cost, he insisted it wasn’t price it
The leather-based skilled stated he was ready in line to purchase the bag when a gross sales rep advised him that the commonest materials used is coated canvas.
‘What’s that? I spotted it is a glorified plastic,’ he stated. ‘No matter little leather-based use for the accents and the deal with is mediocre at finest.’
Yilmaz defined that the leather-based accents are made from high grain cowhide with a corrective end on high, which is nothing particular.
‘You may make this leather-based utilizing many of the cowhides obtainable in the marketplace as a result of you will have the flexibleness of masking the imperfections,’ he stated.
Yilmaz famous that the canvas was sturdy, however on the finish of the day, it isn’t leather-based.
‘As a leather-based craftsman, after taking this again to my workshop, I knew I did not get what my $1,700 is price,’ he stated.
Coach Theo Tote – $450
Yilmaz was a fan of Coach’s $450 Theo Tote, which he thought was a superb deal
The TikToker famous that he ‘loves the leather-based’ and ‘insanely good brass equipment’ on the bag
Yilmaz estimated that the bag value roughly $130 to make, together with $30 for the leather-based and $70 for the labor
Yilmaz’s feedback concerning the bag have been largely constructive, he took challenge with the salesperson incorrectly telling him that the within was lined with suede when it was clearly cloth
Coach followers will likely be completely satisfied to know that its luggage received Yilmaz’s stamp of approval.
The leather-based craftsman purchased the model’s $450 Theo Tote whereas procuring within the retailer, and he did not waste any time tearing it aside.
He famous that he ‘loves the leather-based’ and ‘insanely good brass equipment,’ however he wished the story patch inside was additionally made from actual leather-based and never polyurethane.
Yilmaz additionally took challenge with the salesperson incorrectly telling him that the within was lined with suede when it was clearly cloth.
He estimated that the bag value roughly $130 to make, together with $30 for the leather-based and $70 for the labor.
‘Does not sound like a foul deal,’ he stated of the $320 markup.
Kate Spade Satchel – Estimated Worth $119
Yilmaz just lately tackled a light-weight pink Kate Spade satchel bag {that a} viewer had donated to him for inspection
The proprietor paid $80 for the bag, which some viewers insisted should have been from an outlet. The same model is promoting for $119 on the Kate Spade web site
‘The viewer who donated this bag stated this was very stiff and “plasticky” – and I completely agree along with her,’ Yilmaz stated
The primary bag that was ever donated by a viewer for Yilmaz to examine was a light-weight pink Kate Spade satchel bag that the proprietor purchased for $80.
The precise design does not seem like obtainable presently, however an analogous model of the bag is promoting for $119 on the model’s web site.
‘The viewer who donated this bag stated this was very stiff and “plasticky” — and I completely agree along with her,’ Yilmaz stated.
After scraping off the bag’s pink coloring, he deduced that it’s made out of buffalo leather-based with a ‘very heavy end.’
‘It is a fairly widespread apply to supply quite a lot of coloration choices,’ he defined. ‘They select a fairly impartial base tone and closely end it on high to supply 20 completely different colours utilizing the identical base leather-based.’
The leather-based skilled deduced that the satchel is made out of buffalo leather-based with a ‘very heavy end,’ which permits the model to supply a number of colorways utilizing the identical materials
Yilmaz additionally recommended the development, saying it gave the impression to be ‘very sturdy’
‘The $80 that she paid for this looks as if a very reasonable deal given it is made out of leather-based,’ he stated
Yilmaz estimated that the overall quantity of buffalo leather-based value $12 and the opposite supplies such because the {hardware} have been an extra $10.
‘The $80 that she paid for this looks as if a very reasonable deal given it is made out of leather-based,’ he stated. ‘It is buffalo leather-based, not the best one, however nonetheless, it is solely leather-based.’
The leather-based skilled additionally recommended the development, saying it gave the impression to be ‘very sturdy’ and ‘properly made.’
‘If I have been to make this bag with my leathers that I like, it could value me about $75 to $80, and my value level can be round $200,’ he added.
Viewers insisted within the feedback that the satchel should have been purchased at a Kate Spade outlet as a result of the model’s purses usually promote for a pair hundred {dollars} or extra.
Brooks Brothers – Real Leather-based Briefcase $299
Yilmaz slammed a briefcase bag from Brooks Brothers that his good friend gave him to examine after it began falling aside
The bag in query is just not at present listed on the model’s web site, however it’s obtainable on Amazon for $299
‘The bag is labeled as “real leather-based,” however that does not imply it is good leather-based,’ Yilmaz identified
Yilmaz defined in one other video {that a} good friend gave him his briefcase bag from Brooks Brothers to examine after complaining that it was falling aside after only a yr.
The bag in query is just not at present on the model’s web site, however it’s obtainable on Amazon for $299.
The leather-based craftsman known as the model ‘crooks’ after slicing into the briefcase and realizing the one leather-based half is the primary physique of the bag.
‘The bag is labeled as “real leather-based,” however that does not imply it is good leather-based,’ Yilmaz identified.
The bag was made out of scraps that have been coated with a plastic layer and embossed with a sample, in accordance with the skilled. He additionally famous that handles and accents have been pretend leather-based
Yilmaz griped that ‘they did not even use the nice kind of froth as filler,’ saying it was the sort used for delivery
‘There are quite a lot of native and small craftsmen that work with that genuine leather-based you may be searching for – and also you may save some huge cash,’ he concluded. ‘Selection is yours.’
In line with the skilled, the bag was made out of scraps that have been coated with a plastic layer and embossed with a sample.
‘It’s mainly the most cost effective materials yow will discover, and you’ll nonetheless name it leather-based,’ he defined. ‘The accent elements they use right here and the underside [are] not even leather-based. It is what they name PU [polyurethane] leather-based. In different phrases, it is pretend leather-based.’
Yilmaz additionally famous that ‘they did not even use the nice kind of froth as filler,’ saying it was the sort used for delivery.
He concluded his video by noting that anybody who pays the premium value for the Brooks Brothers bag is paying for the model’s standing and never nice leather-based.
‘There are quite a lot of native and small craftsmen that work with that genuine leather-based you may be searching for — and also you may save some huge cash,’ he stated. ‘Selection is yours.’
