Modalu - any experience with this brand? Pippa satchel

[Umlauf]

H, I'm looking for a bag to serve both as a work bag and a baby changing bag. I really don't want a purpose made baby changing bag and quite fancy the look of the pippa satchel. Am ordering from overseas so wanted to be a bit surer before taking the plunge. Has anyone had any experience of this bag, or just modalu in general? Or do you have any other recommendations for a bag that will serve both purposes (big enough for a4)

Thanks!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I have several Modalu including the smaller Pippa, and very happy with them. All very nice quality IMO.

[polyhymnia]

I have the smaller Pippa too. I very much like the design, specially all the compartments, which would make the larger version a good work bag.

However, I find the metalwork too bright - almost 'blingy'. Brighter than it looks online, IMO. This makes the whole thing look less elegant and expensive to me, and I don't use it that often. (I also made a bad choice on colour - a very light grey, which isn't practical for autumnn and winter).

But clearly lots of people are quite happy with the metalwork, so it's just a matter of personal taste. I dislike the bright metalwork on quite a lot of Mulberry bags, for example.

[Umlauf]

Thanks for your replies! I really love Mulberry and was lucky enough to find a gorgeous chocolate one for a song in Bicester but I can't afford another.

This is the modalu I've seen: www.johnlewis.com/231737695/Product.aspx

Lots of pockets so practical for baby bits maybe...

[Umlauf]

poly I love the larger version but have a feeling ill be needing my hands free!

[mollymole]

it is made in a very poor region of india and they pay the workers much less than the recommended 'daily living wage' , but because the caste they pay to are 'untouchables' who no one else will work with the workers have to accept this low rate if they need to work.
do you still want this bag ?

[Umlauf]

Really molly how do you know that? I always thought John Lewis to be a fairly ethical supplier?

[TheCraicDealer]

Here, OP.

Although Modalu?s is not a sweatshop ? the factory is clean, with ceiling fans to cool staff ? there is no escaping the fact that some of these people are the most poorly paid in India. Higher castes generally refuse to work with the hides of cattle, which are considered by many Hindus to be sacred animals.

In India, the minimum legal wage differs between states but the figure for a leather worker in Tamil Nadu is low compared with those in the same industry in other states. It is 121.9 rupees for an eight-hour day, equal to £1.39, or about 17p an hour.

If you read the article you can see they do increase wages once they've been there a while. Still, I'd be more keen to buy another one of their bags if they were a bit more concerned about not exploiting India's crap legal wage legislation.

[AlwaysBizzy]

Imagine the profit margin they are making!!!!! that's enough to put you off surely? They get to employ the cheapest people in India and charge £200ish for a bag....jesus...how profit do you have make??. I'm all for making money but there a limit.

IMO I think they look a bit cheap tbh. The metal plate badge on the front is a bit too shiny to be tasteful. If you take an objective look ....it's an old lady bag with a shiny metal logo. Bit too tacky for me.

[AlwaysBizzy]

Try this www.net-a-porter.com/product/327109

Or this www.net-a-porter.com/product/332976

[Umlauf]

Thanks buzzy, I really like the Michael kors one but sadly it doesn't fit my brief or budget :-(

I need one that's A4 for work stuff, has compartments and an over the shoulder strap so I can also use it as a changing bag when the baby comes. I have a max budget of £200 (although could stretch to... £230/240) if I was head over heels in love with the bag! It needs to be softish leather as well. I like satchel style bags but the zatchels/Cambridge satchels are too stiff. Wild quite like a feminine bag and not averse to a bit of colour. Really like to Michael kors one!! Not the Chloe one so much, somehow the shiny leather makes it look a bit cheaper. If you see anything else let me know!!

[LaurenBacall]

Go for hat you like! You'll be using it, not us! I've been looking at the small Pippa Grab and the Millie for days with Christmas money burning a hole n my purse!. If you do order a bag, let us know what it's like!

[Jammygal]

I have been looking at the pippa bag in the sales after Chrimbo but have tbh and say the sweatshop article has left a sour taste. Now I'm glad I didn't fork out! I reacon Pippa Middleton will be throwing hers in the skip now too! (Or I'd like to think so!)

[madammecholet]

I've got this in last years pink, I use for work days and kids days... Its very roomy, I like it as I can stuff it full and sling across body.. Would def fit A4 folder..

[Bakingnovice]

Modalu are not an ethical brand. I would not buy from them, perhaps these companies should pay proper wages to the workers. I wouldn't mind paying extra for a bag of I liked it and if I knew it had been ethically manufactured.

[polyhymnia]

I'd also say that the leather of the Pippa, though it seems good quality, isn't terribly soft.

If it's true that they're not an ethical brand that's certainly a deterrent - a stronger one than my feeling that the bright shiny metalwork makes the bag a teeny bit 'vulgar'.

[polyhymnia]

Agree with AlwaysBizzy, it's the naff metal plate that does it.

[polyhymnia]

Oh, and the kitsch little metal shells!

[Missbopeep]

It's such a shame that a some brands market themselves as British which implies that buying=jobs for people in the UK.

I sold my small Pippa on ebay because I went off all the gold- thought it looked trashy. I much prefer the look of Longchamp in that respect - they tend to use stainless steel / silver metalwork although they are more expensive.

[polyhymnia]

Agree with you about Longchamp - much more tasteful.

Perhaps I should sell mine on ebay - did you get a reasonable price?

[Missbopeep]

I bought it for £160 I think from J lewis (small pippa in tan) and sold about 9 months later- very good condition- for £77. Hoped for more but the craze was waning a little by then.

[polyhymnia]

Thanks for the info. I suppose craze may have waned a bit more by now ...

[Umlauf]

I can't stand long champ! I bought one when I was 16, saved for a Ohio
E year! It broke within 4 months, sales assistant said I shouldn't have carried my schoolbooks in it! Over a decade ago but my grudge has stuck!! Any other ideas?

[Missbopeep]

I don't know- there may have been a re-surgence. :)
You could always put it with a reserve- that's what I did.

I liked the bag- the size and shape etc- all except the bling factor and the longer I had it, the more I hated it.

[Missbopeep]

You bought Lonchamps for carrying school books? OMG. :)

[Umlauf]

A whole year, not Ohio e year. Don't know how the ipad managed that...