Genevieve Go is a freelance visual artist and Florence-trained leather bag maker. She and her sister have their own leather goods brand, Quiddity.
Here, she shares behind-the-scenes and WIP photos of her own leather projects, as well as detailed reviews of various tools of the trade, as well as reviews of leather bags and goods from other brands, from the unique perspective of a meticulous bag maker.
For inquiries, partnerships, review requests, etc.:
I Make Leather Handbags 
hi ms gen. I want to make bags too but it’s too expensive for me to go to italy. Is it not possible to learn the craft in Manila?
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Hi! There are basic lessons available in places like Craft MNL, 10a Alabama, or if you are able to find someone in Marikina to teach you than that could also work. I’m not sure though up to what level of learning would be available here (which is why I searched outside of the PH), but if you want to learn something enough, there are always resources available locally and especially online to help you. For bag making that isn’t necessarily leather, I took some short courses in FIP. Hope that helps!
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Thanks you’re awesome!
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Hi Gen can you recommend some very good quality bags that are worth the price please. A lot of designer bags which claim to be made in Italy are outrageously expensive. I don’t mind paying for quality , but not for a brand name that is poorly made.
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Hi Gaby! Surely–
Not to be too much of a narcissist, but I myself have a handbag brand – Quiddity :)) I do hope you’ll check it out, even just to browse 🙂 (the projects I post and work on here are all for Quiddity) OK end of shameless plug. I inspect a lot of bags and some that have met my price-quality approval are: Tod’s, Furla, Lancel, Longchamp (although Longchamp tends to over-price their non-Le-Pliage bags). These are all machine-sewn and not always made in Italy but given their mid-range price point, it’s proportionate. Kate Spade and Michael Kors are affordable and made well enough as well BUT are super ubiquitous–there’s a much higher chance of running into someone with the same bag! Longchamp is also ubiquitous but it’s practical and not very logo-y so it’s acceptable. It’s also worth checking small boutique or indie brands (especially at craft fairs and things like that) because they are less likely to have scrimped on the materials and quality, but of course just make sure to inquire about them and inspect their bags! There are a lot of hidden gems out there. Overpriced/sub-par quality bags to avoid: Balenciaga city bag, Ferragamo bags made in the last few years, BOYY bags, Mansur Gavriel bags. Hope this helps! Happy shopping.
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thanks Gen. Will have a look.
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Sure no problem!
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thanks Gen
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Enjoy reading your reviews — any chance you will be doing a review of Fontana Milano 1915 in the near future?
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Thank you so much. Not in the foreseeable future, as I don’t know anyone who has it, nor is there a store where I live. But I’ll keep that in mind for future reference! Thanks!!
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I really like your technical bag reviews. Would you be able to review Mulberry please? I have a veg tanned Alexa bag for 10 years and it is still holding up. Would you be able to review the newer Alexas and comment on their quality? People say Mulberry leather is the best quality, when it comes to veg tanned. Would be interesting to see if it’s the case from your pov.
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Thank you so much! Unfortunately I don’t own one myself, and I don’t think there are any stockists locally, where I am, where I can physically check out the new ones. If your bag is 10 years and going strong, then that’s great! It may be the case wherein a lot of brands started out great before quality started declining, so hang on to it! Like Ferragamo, for example, wherein you hear lots of people with vintage pieces that have lasted so well, and yet if you check out the quality of the recent bags in-store, it’s nowhere near the same level as it once was. I think a lot of luxury handbags have gone that way, sadly. I’ll remember to keep an eye out in case I find a stockist here, but thanks for letting me know. Now I’m curious to inspect it again because I don’t remember Mulberry’s bags being veg-tan at all!
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I just read your review of the MG lady bag/bucket bag and am in shock after learning about the quality of their leather and craftsmanship. I am huge fan of quality leather, can you compile a list of quality leather bags or leather bags you do recommend? For example, I have a Mulberry Mini Zipped Bayswater bag and few other all leather bags that I love but now I am questioning everything. Could you do a review for Mulberry/Celine or Chloe? Thanks and loved reading your blog post about MG:)
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Hi! You can refer to these posts for the reviews I’ve done on Celine and Chloe:
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Chloe: https://theleathercrafter.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/chloe-nile-mini-bracelet-bag-honest-review/
Celine: https://theleathercrafter.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/unpopularopinion-bag-review-celine-belt-bag/
Haven’t gotten my hands on a Mulberry to inspect yet haha
I am planning to compile things eventually when I have some time to really work on it haha, but I think in general you’ll find great quality from local indie brands (I’m sure there’s a leather crafter or two in each city, at least!) if you’re not after the designer logos or brand names 🙂
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Hi. May I ask for your opinion?
Been debating between a Delvaux Tempete in small or the Dulcos Diane 20.
I plan to use it for dinner outs and parties (not weddings).
Thank you.
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Hi! Both are good choices, build-wise. Which you choose will just depend on your own personal aesthetic, and perhaps at the time that you’re buying, which bag is available in a color-way that suits your own style better? In any case, happy shopping!
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Dear Genevieve,
Hope all’s good!
I dropped you a message a couple of years back about your blog, and am so heartened to see how much it has grown!
Believe you me when I say that I now find myself looking into the details of every designer bag I plan on buying based on the knowledge I’ve gained. For instance, I’ve passed up the Gucci Marmont and Mansur Gavriel bucket bag. In particular, I tried carrying the former in store and totally see what you mean about the lack of weight – it felt so cheap and tacky, argh!
That knowledge has also made me come to appreciate older, well-made bags like an old, Burberry hobos circa 2013. Granted, the leather is heavy and makes my arm hurt like hell – but it’s also sturdy while slouching beautifully with time instead of just looking gross and overused.
Recently, I was able to score a barely-used, pre-loved Chanel Medium Classic Flap in Beige Clair. It’s from the 2010/2011 season: the leather feels weighty to the touch – plus it doesn’t have the horizontal crease you get on newer iterations with less usage. I compared it to my 2013 Medium Classic Flap in Black – and even with a two-year time difference, I could feel how less weighty my existing Chanel was. The 2012 divide in quality must be real after all…
But it’s not just luxury items. I’ve found myself re-looking at older bags I own, seeing the horizontal stitches at the base of the handles, and how they naturally caused the handles to distend from the bag with use. Now, I just nix any bag I intend to buy if it even has that detail!
Truly, expertise doesn’t lie – and I wanted to express my gratitude for the incredible knowledge I’ve gained from your blog. Your generous sharing has helped me to pass up on a lot of unnecessary purchases, while making better decisions on new ones.
Thanks again, and I really hope you keep doing what you do! Best of luck with the bag-making business too!
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Dear Genevieve,
Hope all’s good!
I dropped you a message a couple of years back, and am so heartened to see how much your blog has grown!
Believe you me when I say that I now find myself looking into the details of every designer bag I plan on buying based on the knowledge I’ve gained. For instance, I’ve given the Gucci Marmont and Mansur Gavriel bucket bag the pass. I even tried carrying the former in store and totally see what you mean about the lack of weight – it felt so cheap and tacky, argh!
That knowledge has also made me come to appreciate older, well-made bags like an old, Burberry hobos circa 2013. Granted, the leather is heavy and makes my arm hurt like hell – but it’s also sturdy while slouching beautifully with time instead of just looking gross and overused.
Recently, I was able to score a barely-used, pre-loved Chanel Medium Classic Flap in Beige Clair Caviar. It’s from the 2010/2011 season: the leather feels weighty to the touch – plus it doesn’t have the horizontal crease you get on newer iterations with less usage. I compared it to my 2013 Medium Classic Flap in Black – and even with a two-year difference in timeframe, I could feel how much less weighty my existing Chanel was. The 2012 divide in quality must be real after all…
But it’s not just luxury items – I’ve found myself re-looking at older bags I own, seeing the horizontal stitches at the base of the handles, and how they naturally caused the handles to distend from the bag with use. Now, I just nix any bag I intend to buy if it even has that detail!
Truly, expertise doesn’t lie – and I wanted to express my gratitude once again for the incredible knowledge I’ve gained from your blog. Your generous sharing has helped me to pass up on a lot of unnecessary purchases, while making better decisions on new ones.
Thanks again, and I really hope you keep doing what you do! Best of luck with the bag-making biz too!
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Hi Genevieve,
I hope you’re well! I dropped you a message a couple of years back about your blog, and am so heartened to see how much it has grown!
Believe you me when I say that I now find myself looking into the details of every designer bag I plan on buying based on the knowledge I’ve gained from your writing. I’ve also passed on the Gucci Marmont and Mansur Gavriel bucket bag for the same reason. In particular, I tried carrying the former in store and totally see what you mean about the lack of weight – it felt so cheap and tacky, argh!
That knowledge has made me come to appreciate older, well-made bags like one of my old, Burberry hobos circa 2013. Granted, the leather is heavy and makes my arm hurt like hell – but it’s also sturdy while slouching beautifully with time instead of just looking gross and overused.
Recently, I was able to score a barely-used, pre-loved Chanel Medium Classic Flap in Beige Clair. It’s from the 2010/2011 season: the leather feels weighty to the touch – plus it doesn’t have the horizontal crease you get on newer iterations with less usage. I compared it to my 2013 Medium Classic Flap in Black – and even with a two-year difference in timeframe, I could feel how less weighty my existing Chanel was. The 2012 divide in quality must be real after all…
It’s not just luxury items – I’ve found myself re-looking at older bags I own, seeing the horizontal stitches at the base of the handles, and how they naturally caused the handles to distend from the bag with use. Now, I just nix any bag I intend to buy if it even has that detail!
Truly, expertise doesn’t lie – and I wanted to express my gratitude once again for the incredible knowledge I’ve gained from your blog. It’s helped me to pass up on a lot of unnecessary purchases, while making better decisions on new ones.
Thanks again, and I really hope you keep doing what you do!
Cheers, and have a brilliant year ahead!
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This legit made me tear up haha thank you so much, and thanks for sharing your own experiences and observations too! I’ll do my best to keep adding more intel and learnings as I go along! Thank you so much ❤
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Hello, would like to say I love Yoour blog. You are doping amazing job and such page I was looking for long time. All those pictures of details are great. Keep going on, all best Tom
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Thank you so much!
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