I have some issues with the definition of "hand made" bags. I mean there is no machine that you feed leather from one end and spits out bags from the other... even mass produced bags still have lots of manual labour in them. And the opposite: even in artisan sigle man operations, chances are the maker has probably used at least a sewing and/or skiving machine and probably a couple of presses, which even if they're not electric, they're still machines. And using a leather sewing machine is a bit of an art in itself anyway. Basically you could argue equally that all bags are hand made and no bag is hand made, the definition is blurry to say the least :) I like this bag by the way, although the price is on the high side. All the materials for this bag are no more than $200 depending where they're from, and although it looks like they finished all the edges there is still no lining, no stitching on the strap or the flap, no pockets, and those rivets although they're a nice touch they take a minute to attach. Don't get me wrong it's still a great bag but not a lot of work as far as bags go. I guess it depends how much you want to pay for the (admittedly great) design and the fact it's probably US-made.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your question and the opportunity to explain. Please let me define the term "hand-made" when I use it in a description on this channel. "Hand-made" (1) A finished product, designed and constructed by a single crafts-person or artisan, from start to finish, one piece at a time, not mass produced, from the maker's leather shop, not a factory floor, using components hand selected by the crafts-person or artisan, not pulled from a bin or dispensed from a machine that somebody or something else has filled or determined should be used in the product. (2) A finished product that bears the name or mark of the crafts-person or artisan that built the product and carries the reputation of that single crafts-person or artisan.-- I agree that there are a lot of hands-on steps used in producing most leather goods no matter how they were made. When I use the term, I am conveying that the product was not mass produced in a factory or sweat shop, by employees or indentured servants, who must build the product using specific methods, machines and components chosen by their employer, manager, foreman, or factory employed designers.
@@JamesCrane That's actually a well thought out definition. Thanks. I have maker friends who insist that hand-made to them means no electricity whatsoever. I don't agree with that, even though that is actually how I make my bags (and sometimes I wonder if this even understood, never mind appreciated). By the way, those guys at the sweatshops? I have great respect for them, they get really good at what they do.
What a great bag and what a wonderful review! A great argument here also. Well laid question and a well thought answer. The most time consuming part of no machine-hand crafting a leather good is punching and the stitching process(especially the strap). As a leather-crafter I think using a clicker press is bad if you are doing a lot of custom orders, it renders your hands lazy and of course machine-stitching is esthetically inferior and less durable compared to hand stitching. Is clicker press-machine stitched good hand-made? Yes indeed! But as a maker , if you want to emphasize that you are hand-cutting/punching and hand-stitching your goods, you can always tell people about it.
This is beautiful but no researcher would use a bag like this as is is way too heavy. Synthetic materials ( woven synthetic fibers) are the strongest pound for pound and can be much thinner for that reason while still being much stronger than leather. It is also the lightest. They are the most water and weather resistant materials as well. What makes or breaks a product made of synthetic materials is how it is put together and assembled. The materials can be durable but the bag will fall apart if not joined together properly..
Welcome back James! I loved watching your videos! Watching your videos was how I got into the hobby of collecting leather goods!
Welcome back Jim. Great video, as always.
wow....full hand stitched, very tough and tick leather....superb
You did it! (Covered GFeller DCS). Awesome! I’ve had mine for 2 years - love it.
Great bag! Great video, Jim!!!
Thanks Shawn!
Welcome back, James.
Thanks J Ko!
Neat review! Where can i get a signet like that?
Have you ever checked out Mitchell Leather’s Classic Briefcase?
I have some issues with the definition of "hand made" bags. I mean there is no machine that you feed leather from one end and spits out bags from the other... even mass produced bags still have lots of manual labour in them. And the opposite: even in artisan sigle man operations, chances are the maker has probably used at least a sewing and/or skiving machine and probably a couple of presses, which even if they're not electric, they're still machines. And using a leather sewing machine is a bit of an art in itself anyway. Basically you could argue equally that all bags are hand made and no bag is hand made, the definition is blurry to say the least :)
I like this bag by the way, although the price is on the high side. All the materials for this bag are no more than $200 depending where they're from, and although it looks like they finished all the edges there is still no lining, no stitching on the strap or the flap, no pockets, and those rivets although they're a nice touch they take a minute to attach. Don't get me wrong it's still a great bag but not a lot of work as far as bags go. I guess it depends how much you want to pay for the (admittedly great) design and the fact it's probably US-made.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your question and the opportunity to explain. Please let me define the term "hand-made" when I use it in a description on this channel. "Hand-made" (1) A finished product, designed and constructed by a single crafts-person or artisan, from start to finish, one piece at a time, not mass produced, from the maker's leather shop, not a factory floor, using components hand selected by the crafts-person or artisan, not pulled from a bin or dispensed from a machine that somebody or something else has filled or determined should be used in the product. (2) A finished product that bears the name or mark of the crafts-person or artisan that built the product and carries the reputation of that single crafts-person or artisan.-- I agree that there are a lot of hands-on steps used in producing most leather goods no matter how they were made. When I use the term, I am conveying that the product was not mass produced in a factory or sweat shop, by employees or indentured servants, who must build the product using specific methods, machines and components chosen by their employer, manager, foreman, or factory employed designers.
@@JamesCrane That's actually a well thought out definition. Thanks. I have maker friends who insist that hand-made to them means no electricity whatsoever. I don't agree with that, even though that is actually how I make my bags (and sometimes I wonder if this even understood, never mind appreciated). By the way, those guys at the sweatshops? I have great respect for them, they get really good at what they do.
What a great bag and what a wonderful review! A great argument here also. Well laid question and a well thought answer. The most time consuming part of no machine-hand crafting a leather good is punching and the stitching process(especially the strap). As a leather-crafter I think using a clicker press is bad if you are doing a lot of custom orders, it renders your hands lazy and of course machine-stitching is esthetically inferior and less durable compared to hand stitching. Is clicker press-machine stitched good hand-made? Yes indeed! But as a maker , if you want to emphasize that you are hand-cutting/punching and hand-stitching your goods, you can always tell people about it.
This is beautiful but no researcher would use a bag like this as is is way too heavy. Synthetic materials ( woven synthetic fibers) are the strongest pound for pound and can be much thinner for that reason while still being much stronger than leather. It is also the lightest. They are the most water and weather resistant materials as well. What makes or breaks a product made of synthetic materials is how it is put together and assembled. The materials can be durable but the bag will fall apart if not joined together properly..