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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
Matière Studio was founded in 2021 by Mariana Uzcanga, who sought to shift from careless consumption to conscious consumerism and foster honest relationships between brands and consumers. With a background in the fashion industry, Uzcanga aimed to create handbags from premium materials responsibly and offer them at reasonable prices. Disillusioned by the fast-paced fashion industry, which emphasized rapid trends, short product lifecycles, and outsourced production at the cost of transparency and ethical practices, she envisioned a brand aligned with her values of honesty, consciousness, and respect for artisans.
The name "Matière Studio" reflects Uzcanga's childhood experiences with art and design, shaping her passion for creating unique and timeless pieces. The brand focuses on luxury defined by simplicity and comfort, blending simple forms with organic, sculptural shapes to produce elegant, practical accessories. Emphasizing natural materials with smooth textures, Matière Studio's designs offer a sense of comfort and high quality, resulting in products meant to be treasured for a lifetime. Uzcanga's diverse cultural background and business expertise culminate in a brand that prioritizes artistic integrity and responsible production.
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 Matiere Studio as a brand?
How would you rate Matiere Studio as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
A Closer Look at Matiere Studio's Francis Mini Bag from Ubrique
Matiere Studio' s Francis Mini Bag
Watch the videos here:
When I found out that Matiere Studio, a Spanish brand, was participating in the Rip My Bag challenge, I thought it would be fun to review their product while I was in Ubrique. To ensure an unbiased experience, I ordered the bag to my new Ubrique address under a made-up name so they wouldn't know it was coming to me. Let's see if their $320 Francis Mini bag will pass this test and deliver on its promise of quality and style.
DISCLAIMER: The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process. You may read the full disclaimer here.
First Impression
The anticipation built up as I opened the meticulously packaged box. The presentation was impressive—elegant packaging and a handwritten note added a personal touch that set a positive tone for the experience. First impressions matter, and Matiere Studio nailed it with their thoughtful details.
Aesthetics Design
At first glance, the Francis Mini bag impressed me with its sleek shape and sophisticated color choice. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a slight lack of structural support. The bag felt a bit loose, which raised concerns about its long-term ability to maintain its form. The bottom of the bag, however, had a solid structure, hinting at a mix of strengths and weaknesses in the design.
The leather had an intriguing grain, reminiscent of lambskin. However, the website described it as bovine leather, which is derived from cows. This discrepancy piqued my curiosity, prompting a deeper investigation into the material.
Materials and Craftmanship
Opening the bag revealed materials of average quality—not quite the top-tier luxury standard but still decent. The craftsmanship, while not messy or dirty, was simple and straightforward. The most glaring issue was with the edge paint, which had noticeable imperfections. For a product from Ubrique, known for its exceptional leather craftsmanship, this was a bit disappointing. The edge paint could definitely use some improvement to meet the high standards expected from this region.
Testing the Leather
Applying acetone to a small area, I was able to remove a medium level of pigmented finish, revealing the genuine grain underneath. It was indeed cowhide, confirming the website's claim. The leather quality was good, but the finish seemed somewhat loose, lacking the professional, luxurious appearance typical of other high-end Spanish leathers.
Hardware Quality
Examining the hardware, I found it to be a zinc alloy with a nice coating. Sanding down the plating exposed multiple layers, indicating a decent level of quality and attention to detail. The hardware was above-average quality mid-market hardware.
Cost Analysis
Breaking down the costs, I estimated the leather used in the bag to be worth around $12. Adding approximately $40 for labor and hardware, the total production cost in Ubrique would be about $52. Given the $320 retail price, this represents a cost multiplier of 6. For a new brand without an established premium, this markup is on the higher side. However, considering the investment in packaging and overall presentation, it might be justified for those who appreciate the design and colors Matiere Studio offers.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Francis Mini bag from Matiere Studio is a mixed bag—literally and figuratively. It excels in presentation and initial aesthetics but falls short in structural integrity and some aspects of craftsmanship. The leather quality is good, but the finish could be more refined to match the luxurious feel of other Spanish leathers. The hardware is solid, though not exceptional.
For $320, the bag is priced on the higher end for its category, especially for a new entrant in the market. However, if you value unique design, thoughtful packaging, and are willing to pay a premium for a stylish piece, the Francis Mini bag might be a worthwhile addition to your collection. Just keep in mind that there is room for improvement, particularly in craftsmanship and structural support, to fully justify the price tag.
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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