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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website: ecco.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
ECCO's diverse workforce spans several generations and nationalities, embracing the philosophy of "being different together" while maintaining a rigorous focus on craftsmanship and quality to drive innovation.
Founded in 1963 by Birte and Karl Toosbuy, ECCO originated from Karl's dream of owning a shoe factory and running his own business. Trained as a shoemaker, Karl and his family gave up their regular jobs, sold their home, and moved to Bredebro in southwest Denmark to pursue this ambition.
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 Ecco as a brand?
How would you rate Ecco as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
Sailing Through Quality: Exploring Ecco's Sail Bag
Ecco's Sail Bag
Watch the videos here:
Ecco is a brand renowned for its innovative approach in the leather industry, particularly with its tanneries. Having used their shoes for years, I've always appreciated their quality and craftsmanship. Recently, while shoe shopping at an Ecco store, I came across their full-size Sail bag and decided to give it a thorough inspection. Here's my in-depth review.
DISCLAIMER: This is an UNSPONSORED review. I purchased all of these products myself and am not affiliated with the brand mentioned in any way. All statements and expressions made about the products are solely the opinion of Tanner Leatherstein and 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
At first glance, the Ecco Sail bag made a strong impression. The leather used has a standard pebbled embossed finish, common in the bag leather space. This finish is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, offering good resistance to scratches and stains. The leather feels substantial and well-crafted, a testament to Ecco’s expertise in leatherwork.
Craftsmanship
Upon closer inspection, I did notice a couple of skipped stitches, likely a result of the machine stitching process. However, this is not a significant issue and does not detract from the overall quality of the bag. The edges are painted meticulously, with multiple layers applied, which is a clear indicator of the high level of craftsmanship. Compared to other brands I’ve reviewed, Ecco’s attention to detail in edge painting is commendable.
Interior and Lining
The bag's interior features a microfiber lining that resembles suede but is advertised as a microfiber fabric. This choice of material is highly appreciated for its durability and ease of maintenance. While it doesn’t have the exact feel of suede, it still provides a premium touch and is a practical alternative.
Leather Quality
The embossed pebbled leather finish on the Ecco Sail bag is minimalistic yet effective. It offers sufficient protection while allowing the natural beauty and feel of the leather to shine through. The finish is not overly applied, maintaining the leather's authenticity and ensuring it remains enjoyable to touch and use.
Cost Breakdown and Value
Based on my estimation, about 12 square feet of leather is used in this bag, costing approximately $50. An additional $80 should be sufficient to cover the hardware and assembly costs. Overall, you would need approximately $130 to produce a bag like this in India. Given Ecco’s retail price of $300, this is a very fair markup. It covers production costs, quality assurance, and brand value, making it a reasonable investment for consumers.
Conclusion
Ecco’s Sail bag exemplifies the brand's commitment to quality and innovation in leather goods. The leather used is top-notch, the craftsmanship is impressive despite minor stitching imperfections, and the overall design is both functional and stylish. Priced at $300, it offers great value considering the materials and effort put into its creation.
For anyone familiar with Ecco’s reputation in the leather industry and their innovative tanning practices, the Sail Bag is a worthy addition to their product lineup. It stands out for its quality, durability, and reasonable pricing. Whether you’re an Ecco enthusiast or simply in search of a high-quality leather bag, the Ecco Sail bag is definitely worth considering.
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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