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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website: s-zoneshop.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
Founded in 2012, S-ZONE specializes in creating simple yet utilitarian, classic yet fashionable bags. The brand's primary focus is on high-quality materials, elaborate craftsmanship, and multipurpose design. S-ZONE's journey began with the crazy horse leather tote bag, which quickly gained popularity among pragmatic consumers. Encouraged by positive feedback, S-ZONE expanded its product line to include backpacks, duffle bags, crossbody bags, phone purses, and more.
S-ZONE's dedication to quality and functionality has made it a top choice for bag enthusiasts. The brand continues to uphold its commitment to crafting versatile and stylish bags that meet the diverse needs of its customers.
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 S-Zone as a brand?
How would you rate S-Zone as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
What's Real and What's Fake: My $250 Amazon Leather Bag Finds
S-Zone's Genuine Leather Satchel
Watch the videos here:
Shopping for leather bags on Amazon can be a hit-or-miss experience. The platform is flooded with products that boast of being "genuine leather" at surprisingly low prices, but as many seasoned online shoppers know, the reality can sometimes be far from the advertised descriptions. In an attempt to discern the truth, I decided to purchase four different leather bags from Amazon, all under $250, and scrutinize their quality to see which ones are truly leather and which ones fall short.
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.
NOTE: Some of the links here are affiliate links. We might get a small commission when you choose to purchase the product through our link which will help to support our Leathertainment content and channel. But rest assured that everything written in this article is our independent review.
The Contenders
The four bags I purchased are:
1. Kattee Vintage Genuine Leather Tote - $53.99
2. Komalc Leather Crossbody Bag - $36.99
3. Bostanten Leather Tote - $96.99
4. S-Zone Genuine Leather Satchel - $69.99
Each bag comes with its own set of claims and boasts decent Amazon ratings. Let's dive into the details of each bag and evaluate their authenticity.
1. Kattee Vintage Genuine Leather Tote
Amazon Rating: 4.3 stars
Price: $53.99
First up is the Kattee Vintage Genuine Leather Tote. Upon receiving the bag, my initial impression was one of skepticism. The material felt very plasticky to both the hand and eye. Despite its label claiming "split cow leather," it was clear that this bag was not what I would consider genuine leather.
The Reality: This bag employs a common tactic where a split leather base (the fibrous part of the hide left once the top grain has been split off) is laminated with a layer of polyurethane (PU). This process allows manufacturers to legally market the product as leather, even though it’s mostly synthetic. Essentially, this is a hybrid product, combining the cheapest parts of leather with plastic to create a material that looks like leather from a distance but doesn't hold up to close inspection.
2. Komalc Leather Crossbody Bag
Amazon Rating: 4.3 stars
Price: $36.99
Next is the KomalC Leather Crossbody Bag. This bag immediately felt different. It had a rustic, rugged texture typical of crazy horse or pull-up leather, known for its durability and unique aging process. The large grain patterns were evident, indicating the use of buffalo hides.
The Reality: This bag is indeed genuine leather. The separated hair follicles and natural grain patterns are tell-tale signs of authentic buffalo leather. The bag’s finish, or lack thereof, with just waxes for a distressed effect, further confirms its authenticity. This was a pleasant surprise, given its modest price tag.
3. Bostanten Leather Tote
Amazon Rating: 4.3 stars
Price: $96.99
The third bag is the Bostanten Leather Tote. Visually, this bag appeared very standardized and plasticky, similar to the Kattee tote. I had my suspicions right away, and upon closer inspection, those suspicions were confirmed.
The Reality: Like the Kattee bag, the Bostanten tote uses a cow split suede base topped with a layer of PU. This approach allows them to call it leather legally, but it's essentially a synthetic product masquerading as genuine leather. For nearly $97, this feels like a clear case of misrepresentation.
4. S-Zone Genuine Leather Satchel
Amazon Rating: 4 stars
Price: $69.99
Finally, we have the S-ZONE Genuine Leather Satchel. This bag, unlike the Bostanten and Kattee totes, felt and looked like genuine leather from the start. The texture was consistent with buffalo leather, and it had a distinct distressed pull-up finish.
The Reality: This bag is made from lower-grade buffalo leather with an infused wax oil finish for a distressed look. While it’s not top-tier leather, it is authentic. Additionally, the bag includes a charming touch with a pouch and a keychain that reads, “random gift to the old friend,” adding a bit of personality to the purchase.
Ranking the Bags from Worst to Best
After thoroughly inspecting each bag, here's my ranking from best to worst based on authenticity, value for money, and overall quality:
KomalC Leather Crossbody Bag - $36.99 The best value for money. The KomalC crossbody bag stands out with its genuine buffalo leather, rugged design, and exceptional affordability. At just $37, it’s hard to believe how they can produce this and still make a profit, but for consumers, it's a genuine bargain.
S-Zone Genuine Leather Satchel - $69.99 A mixed bag, literally. While it is genuine leather, the lower grade and overall quality don’t justify its $70 price tag. For the same price, one could find better options with higher-quality leather and craftsmanship.
Kattee Vintage Genuine Leather Tote - $53.99 The Kattee tote is a bag of disappointment, the combination of split leather and PU gives it a plasticky feel, undermining its value. Additionally, the low-cost hardware suggests corners were cut in the production process, raising sustainability and ethical concerns.
Bostanten Leather Tote - $96.99 The worst of the bunch. This bag’s use of split leather with a PU coating makes it feel like a scam, especially at its price point. At nearly $97, consumers deserve genuine leather, not a cleverly disguised synthetic product.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of online shopping, particularly for leather goods, can be challenging. My experience with these four bags from Amazon underscores the importance of scrutinizing product descriptions and being aware of industry practices. While some products live up to their claims, others fall short, leveraging technicalities to mislead consumers.
If you're in the market for a leather bag on a budget, the KomalC Leather Crossbody Bag is the clear winner from my experiment. It's authentic, well-made, and incredibly affordable. For other options, always keep an eye out for signs of genuine leather and be cautious of too-good-to-be-true deals, as they often are just that.
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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