From Website to Reality: The Truth About the Bella Medium Crossbody
Today, we're excited to introduce a new contender in our lineup: Gioia, a brand hailing from India. Let's dive into my review of the Bella Medium Crossbody, which I purchased for $179, and evaluate whether their quality meets our standards.
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 watch/read the full disclaimer here.
First Impressions: Website vs. Reality
When I was shopping on the Gioia website, the Bella Medium Crossbody bag appeared to have a structured form. However, upon opening the box, I discovered that the bag is actually slouchy. This unexpected surprise might disappoint some customers, so I recommend Gioia clearly depict this slouchy characteristic in their product photos to set accurate expectations.
Initial Feel and Look
Opening the bag, I was pleased to see clean workmanship inside. The support materials were solid, and the overall construction was above average. One detail that stood out was the binded edges. This old-school technique requires more work but results in a much more durable finish. Apart from a few stray threads that needed trimming, the craftsmanship was impressive and felt distinctly European.
Interior Workmanship: A Different Story
While the exterior craftsmanship is almost impeccable, the inside tells a different story. The internal workmanship is noticeably rushed, with misaligned seams and hasty stitching. This disparity is significant; the outside of the bag is beautifully crafted, but the inside seems like an afterthought. The bag’s lack of structure is due to minimal padding in the main body, contributing to its slouchy nature.
@tanner.leatherstein This bag's form surprised me! 😱 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 watch the full disclaimer on my pinned video. #tannerleatherstein #isitworthit #leatherbrand #affordablebags #bagreview #fashiontiktok #gioia #madeinindia ♬ original sound - Tanner Leatherstein
Testing the Leather: The Acetone Test
To assess the leather quality, I removed a layer of finish using acetone and discovered full-grain leather underneath with natural pebbling. The leather selection is excellent, with a tasteful finish that enhances its quality and substance. This level of leather quality is outstanding for the bag's price point.
Hardware and Assembly
The Bella bag features zamak alloy hardware with decent plating, which is above average for its price. I estimate the leather for this bag costs around $24, with assembly and hardware in India costing between $55 and $60. This brings the total production cost to approximately $79 to $84. Given this, the $179 price tag reflects a price multiplier of 2.1x, which is a fantastic deal by my standards.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Bella Medium Crossbody from Gioia impresses with its leather quality and visible craftsmanship. The only significant downside is the slouchy nature of the bag, which wasn’t clearly depicted on the website. This is an easy fix for Gioia to help their online shoppers make informed decisions.
Despite the rushed internal workmanship, I’m pleased with the quality and price performance of this bag. It's a great value for the price, and with a few tweaks in their online presentation, Gioia can enhance the customer experience even further.
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