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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website: animairis.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
Taking its name from Iris Tsamoh, Wilglory's mother, and Sarah Yaa Anima Amoyaw, her closest childhood friend, Anima Iris is a modern brand that draws inspiration from its matriarchal heritage. The bold history of Africa, reflected in the designs of Cameroon's traditional Bamileke cloth and Ghana's kente, is evident in each piece. Every item in the collection is meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans in Dakar, Senegal, using top-quality, locally sourced materials. The brand's commitment to sustainability is showcased through its zero-waste model, ensuring no two creations are alike and no material is wasted.
Anima Iris embodies a fusion of past and future, evolving into a bold and vibrant brand that celebrates the richness of its background. Unafraid and outspoken, it pushes boundaries in a world of muted leathers and prescribed norms. The Anima Iris woman, with a firm grasp on her past and a clear vision for her future, leads the way, carrying pieces that symbolize strength and individuality.
FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD LEATHERCRAFT
CRITERIA | 5 (Very Strong) | 4 (Strong) | 3 (Mixed) | 2 (Limited) | 1 (Not Present) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leather | A perfect balance of art and fashion of leather tanning. Rare and artisanal hides from exceptional tanneries | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries | Average corrected leathers that do NOT require high-quality raw hides. Less info on the source of the leather | Low-quality leather choice with significantly less information about the sourcing practice. | Inferior sketchy leather derivates or non-leather materials. |
Hardware | Top of the line Stainless Steel or Brass Hardware with Highest Caliber Coatings | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. | Alloy hardware with acceptable coating. Lifetime may be impacted due to the coating of the hardware. | Serious flaws in the making and coating of the low-grade alloy hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. | Non-metal, plastic, and non-durable hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. |
Design | A professional design language that is unique and consistent with the brand | A creative take on a classical design concept | Minimal changes to common styles | Almost copy of common/famous designs. Dysfunctional elements. | Problematic design elements affect the functionality, durability, and aesthetics of the product. |
Engineering | Highly organized, sophisticated shape and form engineering with high-quality materials inside the craft. | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure | Acceptable cleanliness of inner work with medium-quality support materials | Messy inside with low-grade support elements | Complete lack of inner structure and craftsmanship. |
Craftsmanship | Expert craftsmanship with flawless, hand or machine stitching, demonstrating advanced skills. No visible errors; edge paint is avoided using superior techniques. | Perfect machine stitching with excellent edge finishing. Immaculate inside and out, with no visible flaws, showing a commitment to quality. | Good overall stitching and alignment with minor flaws. Acceptable edge finishing, with fairly clean interior and exterior. | Noticeable misalignment and sloppy workmanship. Multiple errors affect visual appeal, with untidy interior work. | Poor craftsmanship with missed stitches, visible errors, and uncleaned residues. Major issues that may affect durability. |
Overall Score | An incredible value for money that I have no problem recommending to anyone | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try | A considerable offer with a relatively high price. Make your choice at your own discretion | Consider it well within your own criterion as the quality/price is not a decision point I can recommend here | Stay away! |
READING MY ASSESSMENT SCORES
SCORE | NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
5 | Strong Yes | ⭐ This grade is given to brands that present great value for the price they charge you for their product. I have no problem confidently recommending you check their products. These are the brands I reach out to ask if they can give me an affiliate link so your purchases using my link can support my content efforts. |
4 | Yes | 👍 This indicates that the brand meets all my expectations from the perspective of price and information they have about their products. I would happily buy their products at this level of quality/value score. This is the only other category of brands I request an affiliate link to support this channel to improve my Leathertainment content. |
3 | Mixed | ➖ There are areas that I found less than desirable for the quality/price performance I appreciate personally. Some high-end luxury brands may fall under this category given I am looking for tangible value in the products, ignoring the intangible brand prestige they may offer as a value to their customers. I am not a customer of these brands and I wouldn’t recommend them to my audience if they do NOT value brand logos. |
2 | No | 👎 This indicates that the product and the brand failed my expectations in significant ways and I won’t recommend them to anyone. |
1 | Strong No | ❌ This is the lowest assessment and indicates fundamental issues in the product and/or the brand. I would say look somewhere else. |
LEATHERVERSE MATRIX
The Leatherverse Brand Matrix visually compares leather brands based on sophistication and pricing, helping consumers understand their market positioning.
Legend
Vertical Axis: Ranges from simple artisan crafts to exclusive, master-crafted items.
Horizontal Axis: Covers pricing from low (no brand premium) to high (perceived luxury), with 2x multipliers for basic products and up to 15x for heavily marketed luxury items.
Diagonal Line: Represents the balance between price and performance. Brands on the line offer good value, those below suggest poor value, and those above offer exceptional value.
AUDIENCE & CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE
Based on these criteria, how would you rate Anima Iris as a brand?
How would you rate Anima Iris as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
Inside Out: Anima Iris' Nectar Zaza Handbag Review
Anima Iris' Nectar Zaza Handbag
Watch the videos here:
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Chopping Block, where brands submit their leather products for a no-holds-barred review. Today, we’re delving into Anima Iris’s Nectar Zaza handbag. At first glance, this is a beautifully structured little handbag with leather lining. But how does it really hold up? Let’s find out.
DISCLAIMER: The mentioned brand sent this product for FREE. However, we are NOT PAID to do this review. All statements and expressions made about the products are Tanner Leatherstein’s independent review. The brand did not get to see the final video until it was published live. They also agreed to our terms and conditions that we will post our honest review about the brand and/or product and that we might disagree with the information provided in their shop or website.
Tanner Leatherstein’s reviews are not meant to be conclusive or definitive. The purpose of this video is for informational and educational purposes only. We recommend that as a consumer, you exercise your due diligence and research on the products before adopting the opinion of Tanner Leatherstein.
First Impressions
Upon receiving the bag, the first thing that strikes you is its structured form and the quality of the packaging. The handbag comes in a beautifully presented box, complete with dust bags, hinting at the brand's attention to detail. The tag stating it is handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal, adds an exotic touch that piques curiosity. But we’re here to see beyond the surface.
Testing the Leather
To determine if the leather is genuinely crocodile, we performed a classic test: applying acetone to the surface. This method helps reveal the true nature of the finish on the leather. As we applied acetone, the clear coating slowly peeled off, exposing the leather beneath.
From this small experiment, a substantial amount of plastic finish was removed, revealing that the crocodile texture is actually a print applied to cowhide. This isn’t unusual; many brands use embossed prints to mimic exotic leathers. The grain beneath confirms it is top-grain calfskin, not genuine crocodile leather. The thick layer of finish creates the illusion of crocodile skin, but the underlying material is calfskin.
Inner Lining and Craftsmanship
Next, we turned our attention to the inner lining of the bag, which is made of calfskin. We're going to apply acetone to the inner lining, which is actually my favorite type of leather. The grain is immediately visible, so I don't expect much change. The super aniline transparent finish reveals the beautiful, natural calf grain. This kind of leather is not only aesthetically pleasing but also indicates high quality. It’s incredible—beautiful leather. I am a big fan of inside leather versus the outside, although I’m not a fan of heavy finishes or embossed exotic prints. In my opinion, this is top-notch leather.
Cost and Value Analysis
It appears the brand has used about six square feet of leather for both the exterior and the interior, totaling around 12 square feet. This generous use of leather ensures durability and a premium feel.
Estimating the cost, about $70 should cover the leather for the exterior and interior. An additional $70 might be sufficient for assembly and accessories, bringing the total estimated cost to $140. Given this, the retail price of $705 includes a significant markup. This premium is typical in the fashion industry, often reflecting brand positioning and perceived value.
Conclusion
The Anima Iris Nectar Zaza handbag showcases a blend of decent craftsmanship and high-quality materials. The exterior leather, though not a genuine crocodile, is well-crafted calfskin with a crocodile print finish. The interior leather, with its minimal aniline finish, is particularly impressive and suggests a high level of quality.
While the craftsmanship isn’t flawless, there are no glaring issues. The price tag might seem steep, but considering the materials and design, it aligns with what’s expected in the luxury handbag market. This piece is truly special for those who appreciate unique designs and high-quality leather.
Scorecard
TANNER APPROVED!
★★★★☆ - 4.21
Criteria | Score | Results |
|---|---|---|
Leather | 4.5 | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries |
Hardware | 4 | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. |
Design | 4 | A creative take on a classical design concept |
Engineering | 4 | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure |
Craftsmanship | 4.5 | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium: 5 to 6 x multiplier pricing. |
OVERALL SCORE | 4.21 | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try |
PRICE / COST MULTIPLIER | 5x | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium. |
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