Welcome to find out what are the best leather bag brands in Europe! And no, they are absolutely NOT luxury fashion brands, because those don’t actually exist anymore. Oh, you think they do?
Well, I am very sorry to burst that bubble but I did spend thousands on a bag that was supposedly made from leather and from a supposed luxury brand only to find out that there was no luxury about any of it. Okay fine, the price tag and the actual shopping experience was more luxurious than going to a fast fashion store, but that was it.
The product itself was unfortunately nothing short of rubbish:
- the leather had been chemically tanned to the point where it in fact died
- “dead leather” can’t absorb colour so the bags these days are painted(!)
- the paint wears off after just a few wears = the “luxury” bag is quickly unwearable (despite luxury bags supposedly increasing in value as they get older… not anymore!)
- as such, the bag was never worth the insane amount of money that I paid for it. Money, which I will demand back!
So, as I often do, also in this case I learned the hard way. I took the trash-of-a-bag to an actual leather studio to find out just how badly I’d been scammed. Don’t be like me!
Instead, check out these incredible leather bag brands that I will now reveal to you! I have (of course) shopped from each of these myself, and can thus honestly recommend them.
The Best Leather Bag Brands in Europe
As you can gather from the previous, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to leather goods. And in fact not only because I fell for the scam of “luxury brands” and learned from it. But also because I have worked with leather, and know what proper leather feels like.
I’ve had the privilege to take part in a bag-making workshop where I got to make my own bag. It was such a wholesome but also an educational opportunity, which has helped me make very good shopping decisions in general. It also taught me that a high quality leather bag is a good investment.
I definitely have a sweet spot for leather bags, and have managed to accumulate quite a collection of some truly amazing pieces. And now I’d like to share with you the best leather bag brands from Europe, that you’ve probably never heard of. These brands are encapsulate the true meaning of luxury:
1.Stella Soomlais — Highest craftsmanship & quality
Stella Soomlais is absolutely my number for this Best leather bag brands list! It is a leather studio situated in the Telliskivi district in Tallinn, Estonia. They create very high quality leather bags of all sorts in the small studio attached to the store. Here you can find backpacks, shoulder bags, crossover bags, toiletry bags, wallets, card holders, passport covers, etc.
The brand only uses leftover animal hides from the European meat industry that are then veggie tanned into usable leather. As veggie tanned, their leather does absorb colour, and the colour selection is one of the things that got me falling in love with their products. In fact, I’ve got the Nordic Chameleon bag from them in 2 colours: dark turquoise and a vivid fuchsia.
You can see the craftsmanship in their simple and functional designs, and what’s best, proper leather really does look better with age! Unlike the “luxury” bags, these bags were actually made to be worn. My bags have been scratched and dented, but because the leather is ‘healthy’, it heals and renews. Like our skin!
Stella Soomlais is also a forerunner in sustainability in the industry:
- they rent bags
- you can get your bags fixed in case they sustain damage
- and they buy your bag back if you decide you no longer want to wear it to resell or reuse it.
2.Dajana Rodriguez — Playful yet durable leather designs
Dajana Rodriguez is one of the most rewarded fashion designers from Slovakia, a country I used to live in and have infinite love for. Her bags are certainly among the best leather bag brands on the continent, and they may be the prettiest. This brand came to my knowledge while living in Bratislava: the store is located right opposite to what used to be my favourite café.
And I couldn’t not notice the bags displayed in the window because they were stitched with the most beautiful patterns. The bags themselves were beautiful, classic designs so the vibrant patterns brought that little bit of extra into the mix that I’m always looking for.
I myself opted for an un-stitched version of the Ema bag: white with a burgundy flap. It’s been one of my most worn bags for years – it’s a space miracle! – but it’s still in pristine condition: testament of the high quality and craftsmanship. I’ve got my eye set on a stitched piece next and the collections I’m in love with are Lady D, Orion and Contessa.
3.LOVIA collection — Luxury style that doesn’t compromise the environment
Next on our Best leather bag brands list is a Finnish brand, LOVIA. This brand uses mainly excess leather from the furniture industry to create their beautiful bags for everyday use. Since a lot of their chosen materials are furniture waste, their leather is often sturdier and thus more durable.
On a more innovative note, LOVIA collection has recently also started using leftover fish leather from the fishing industry. For example some of their Hilla and Kaiho bags include salmon leather. I have a small Hilla crossbody bag in light blue, and can vouch for the bag’s quality. It’s sturdy, fits all the essentials and comes with an adjustable strap that allows you to wear it in different ways:
- crossbody bag
- shoulder bag
- fanny bag
- across-the-chest bag
What I particularly liked about this brand, when I discovered it, was their transparency about their pricing. As an example of how their pricing works, they’ve explained in detail what the Hilla bag’s price consists of. I think this should become a compulsory thing especially for the aforementioned “luxury brands”.
4.Minelli — French elegance and high quality
So far we’ve discovered brands from perhaps unexpected countries. But now we meet a brand from one of the most classically fashionable countries: France. Minelli focuses on high quality leather goods, like bags and shoes, and the brand was founded already in 1973 in Paris.
Unlike its Nordic cousins introduced in this best leather bag brands list, Minelli is not a sustainability-focused brand. But this doesn’t mean its products wouldn’t be high quality!
I bought my first Minelli – a vivid cobalt blue satchel made from pliant, soft-like-suede leather – already in 2013. I don’t wear it on a daily basis, not even weekly, but in over 10 years it’s seen plenty of wear. Which you could never tell by looking at it! It still looks like new.
And knowing the high quality, when the time came to buy an everyday bag, Minelli was my go-to option. So, now I also have a basic black handbag made out of tougher calfskin. This bag has already seen some travels and deemed its place on my shelf as one of those bags I can wear whenever, wherever because I can count on the quality.
5.PIHKA Collection — Nordic simplicity and high quality
Last but certainly not least on this list we have another beautiful brand from Finland: PIHKA collection. This brand sources its leather from the meat industries of Sweden and Denmark and uses only veggie tanned leather. They used to make their bags in the most delicious colours but have since reverted to a more classic (IMO plain) colour scheme.
Despite their high regard for sustainability and ecological production, PIHKA’s bags don’t cost an arm and a leg. They are priced as high quality leather bags should because such bags should only be bought to be worn for decades. I have multiple PIHKA bags myself: a fiery red Armi crossbody (no longer in stock), a brown Carta I made myself, and a burgundy small crossover bag.
But my ultimate number 1 bag from them is the Treffen Weekend tote bag.
- It is enormous, so I use it as my hand luggage when traveling.
- It’s got a big pocket both on the inside and the outside.
- The wide straps are sturdy and can manage over 15kg of luggage easily (I know, airlines don’t allow it, but I fly with airlines that don’t check ;D).
- It is the highest quality leather: it’s travelled with me for years, been tossed, thrown, scratched and bumped but it’s still in pristine condition.
