February 29 - everyday carry artisans

The longevity of your bag depends on many factors such as

1.  Material of the bag.

• - Select materials such as genuine leather, tight knitted canvas or nylon for they are one of the few materials that are very durable with proper care.
• - Tearing of the inner lining of the bag is one of the most common problems, do check if the cloth lining is relatively thick to minimize the risk of tearing.
• - Metal bag clips are less prone to breaking so try knocking them against each other.  If a dull tone is heard, it may be plastic instead.

2.  Workmanship of the bag.

• - Thicker stitching  with bigger knots at the end may indicate tougher and more durable stitches.

3.  Intended use of the bag.

• Never use a bag for a use not intended for it. 

  • If its a small document bag, do not try to squeeze your heavy laptop in just because you do not have a laptop bag at that moment.   Never overload it!

  • If you need a bag for rugged use such as going to the beach or rock climbing, nylon or genuine leather would be a better material to begin with.

  • If you need something light, water resistant or perhaps easier to match your evening gown, it maybe better to consider synthetic leather as they are relatively lighter and they do come in a vast variety of colors and textures.

4.  Maintenance of the bag.

• Materials such a genuine leather require polishing and conditioning to improve its luster and strength.
• Never leave a wet bag in the closet, regardless of the material.  Dampness increases the probability of mould growing which will destroy the bag's visual asthetics and physical attributes.  Decay may also set in, causing damages to cloth stitching and linings.