Looking for feedback/advice on tote bags

[NotACowboy]

I got 10 sides of yellow leather and I've been trying to mix it with other leathers I've had in a way that is possibly sellable. I'm not sure how the market or fashion works. Are these bags worth $75/each in the middle of Alabama? I have a friend with a booth in an antique mall and she was thinking about putting them on a shelf.

I can see that I often have trouble with straight sewed lines and unstraight cuts. Where else should I be putting my efforts into this hobby? I've also been making dropp kits, and I'm looking for other larger items to make since I have maybe 300 square feet of miscellaneous leather sides that were gifted to me.

[DieselTech]

I think your bags/totes look good. I sure know there is $75 worth of leather in them. 

I would have your friend put a couple in their booth. Wont know till you try. Plus you can always come down on your price or mark them price negotiable. 

Great work!

[DieselTech]

I personally like the blue & yellow bag. 

Another thought was maybe make a couple bags with external pockets, that are zippered or magnetic closures. Or possibly a bag or 2 with a zippered top closure. 

Hope maybe I threw in some sort of creative idea. 

Edited February 1 by DieselTech

[NotACowboy]

@DieselTech Other people have told me they liked the blue bags and I just can't figure out why. I really don't have an eye for aesthetics. I was gifted ~20ft^2 of blue and I thought it was the strangest thing. I know it makes a good accent color but to me it just seems weird. I can never imagine paying retail for a blue leather hide.

The rest of this post is just drivel:

For the right-two bags, I put almost zero effort into the straps and I found out why everyone adds two fasteners to the ends instead of one!

The left-most one is for my wife. She asked for a magnetic clasp after the fact, so the only way I could think of getting it in there was riveting in a plate to cover the backs after the fact. It's also just a huge bag, like 5 square feet of material whereas the others are closer to 3 each.

The yellow/brown bag actually has external pockets that aren't very deep, and I don't know how a person could use them. I made this bag to try to be fancy. It also is the only one with an internal pocket. It also has straps on the side that do nothing but help it stand up a bit for the picture.

The right two were kind of speed tests. They only took me 35 minutes each. Both of the internal pockets have natural edges on the top, I thought that was cool.

Things I could do:

Zippered pockets, more complex pockets (with sewn lines)

Zippered top, better magnetic tops, and add tabs to either top edge with push close buttons

Internal keychain/clutch mounting point

Cross-body strap connection & learn how to make better (adjustable) straps

Higher quality:

Adding the external, contrasting color straps

Rolled edges (I'm not a fan of skiving by hand)

Lining

MultiLayer/Sewn straps

[NatesLeatherGds]

8 hours ago, NotACowboy said:

Are these bags worth $75/each in the middle of Alabama? I have a friend with a booth in an antique

Nice bags. Give your friend a try. Not going to know until you try. I've sold similar bags for same price on Long Island at fairs. I was always willing to haggle, so maybe let your friend drop the price if needed to an agreed cost ?  Otherwise you spotted it, thicker leather for straps (so no stretch) or double up. Lock them down with 2 rivets or enough stitches. Pockets are always liked (make sure big enough for average phone -- that seems to always be the test).   Sometimes they just want plain so do both. Closures are also a preference thing I find. Good luck. 

 

24 minutes ago, NotACowboy said:

Other people have told me they liked the blue bags and I just can't figure out why.

Just a preference. I've sold 50+ bags -- many colors. Same goes for other items. People have different tastes. 

 

If you can do rolled edges, clean zippers and lines, go for it, you're already doing great. 

[SUP]

Those bags are nice - the color combinations too.

If the yellow leather was plain, it would have been a different matter but this has some sort of pattern on it.

You could make handbags, highlighting the pattern on that leather. Put some light lining to give it shape and add a contrasting leather  - the blue or brown both look nice. Simple handbags with a strap and a zipper. So many other things as well - sets maybe, of smaller items like a cosmetics bag for women and a pocket set for knife or comb, etc. for men - if you can work fast - a 'his and hers' set for Valentines day and so on.

 

[Cattleman]

I can honestly say I would be selling those for at least $100. Its always easier to come down on price than it is to go up.

[MarshalWill]

I bought a pair of custom leather sandals back in the late 60's. I remember paying about $75 for them then. $100 isn't too much at all for a tote. I'd think about going higher than that, even. Maybe $125 to start. Cattleman is right, you can come down on the price if needed.

Edited February 3 by MarshalWill

[Brokewinger]

I particularly like the one with the straps sewn down the sides. They all look great, except for the raw edges.  You could either roll and stitch them or do a trim edge in the secondary color. Personally trimming the edge in the secondary color would be my preference. Adding that little bit of finish along with some sort of closure device whether a toggle or zipper will move them from $75 to $100+ real easy. If you really want to push the value up you might consider a satin (or similar material) liner. 

In any case you have a really good looking base model to start from.

[toxo]

It really depends on your market. If the area is money the rules are different than a depressed area. If the latter and the price is bound to be limited I would aim at getting your "shop" kitted out to turn out the quickest designs in better quality. Don't try to please all the people all the time with lots of types because you won't do it plus switching from one type to another is likely to lower the quality. Rather stick to one or two designs and make the difference in colours/fasteners/pocket or no/lining or no/ zips or no. You get the idea. Don't cut silly corners. That bag with one rivet in the strap is an accident waiting to happen with a full bag.

Good luck.