Alternatives to Mulberry

[BeverlyGoldberg]

I'm looking for a decently made leather hobo or tote. Mulberry used to be my destination for this but they have gone silly expensive. My trusty old satchel is looking a bit tired and I want something new.

Are there alternatives to Mulberry that are well made and not crazily priced? I'd quite like something a bit less well known than Mulberry but that still looks well made.

[QuimWilde]

Mimi Berry

Beautifully made, gorgeous leathers, all made in England too. I stopped buying Mulberry when the prices went daft - the quality went downhill at the same time.

[3luckystars]

They are really lovely! Still too dear for the likes of me, but I think they are gorgeous and would love one.

[QuimWilde]

John Lewis often has them in their sales - I bought this one reduced to £147 last year. They had the Peggys for £150 too.

If you love Mulberry, you could consider pre-loved - there are some bargains to be had on eBay but definitely get them authenticated on The Purse Forum first.

[bojorojo]

Mulberry are in serious financial trouble. Too expensive and too in the past.
Similar quality can be found at Ralph Lauren sold by House of Fraser. Great bags for a lot less money. Also, not too common.

[3luckystars]

No I don't live mulberry at all, I love the mimi berry ones you posted! A few of my friends have mulberry bags, one friend has about 10 of them, they are not for me at all, but i am a bit cluelsess about bags. Thanks for the tip about John Lewis sales.

[bojorojo]

On the high street, Massimo Dutti bags are less common than Zara ones. Well made and well priced. Jaeger also do bags which will last forever. Wait for the sales. I like the DKNY quilted bags and Russell and Bromley have a host of lovely bags.

My Mulberry bags would not really be saleable pre-loved. They are very pre-loved and used. I do have an Alexa blue suede one that still looks pretty good. I got it half price so not too bad.

If you are within reach of Bicester Village (outlet stores) - there are always bargains there and it is fun looking around the high quality stores. They have Mulberry, Gucci, Prada, Tods (love their bags), Alexander McQueen, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and lots more.

[knowler]

I'd look around some of the clothing shops/brands that do good quality clothes such as Jaeger and Hobbs. I got this from Hobbs for work recently and have had lots of compliments. It's also great for carrying lots of work related crap, plus nappies and wipes :)

Might not be what you're looking for exactly, but you get the idea.

[BeverlyGoldberg]

You are brilliant! Mimi Berry is the name I had forgotten. I think I have found my Mulberry alternative and they seem a lot less obvious than Mulberry.

I have a petrol blue zipped tote from Jaeger which I love but it doesn't go with everything. It's also enormous, when we moved house it doubled as an overnight bag for me and baby.

Thanks all again :)

[Catgirl83]

I have the same issues with Mulberry. Have you heard of Village England? I had the Beamish hobo bag and absolutely love it.

[Dancergirl]

Mimi Berry seem very expensive for unlined bags....

[MrsSchadenfreude]

How about Coach? Cheap in the sale, or on eBay.

[QuimWilde]

Dancergirl not all of them are unlined, just the more sturdy leathers. My Juno is lined. Lots of the classic Mulberrys (Bayswater, Roxanne etc) aren't lined either.

[Dancergirl]

Thanks quim I Iike the look of the Peggy

[ZaraW]

Frye bags are very well made and last forever.

[3luckystars]

I just had a look at those Village England bags recommended above and they are lovely too! You all have great taste.

[Dancergirl]

God, I knew I shouldn't have opened a bag thread! I want a new bag now!

[twilightcafe]

I love my Village England bags. They look great but don't come with a daft price tag.
I have the Cranleigh in red and black/leopard print.

[ShinyShinyShiny]

Another vote for Village England, I absolutely love the bag I bought recently.

I used to be a Mulberry lover but I've not bought one for years, I still love my original bags though and use them all the time.

[faustina]

Ally Capellino are very nice too - same kind of thing as Mimi Berry

[BeverlyGoldberg]

I'm not feeling Village England in the same was as I used to Mulberry.

I've been looking at slightly obsessing over the Cambridge Satchel East West tote.

[QuimWilde]

Cambridge satchels look lovely but because they're split leather, as opposed to full grain, the top pigmented layer eventually cracks. I have two and it's happened to them both. They're also very stiff and you can't fit much in them - I love mine but they're not very practical or durable.

Not sure if they're your style but you might like to look at Scaramanga - their satchels are absolutely gorgeous and the most hard-wearing bags I've ever had. I have ones that I've used for six years and they actually look better now than when they were new. They're ethical and really reasonably priced, too. Can't recommend them enough

[faustina]

I bought a Cambridge Satchel Company bag for DS2's GF at Christmas - it was a lovely shape/design but the leather felt so cheap and hard, I got home, had a think, and then took it back again (lovely customer service). They had a very limited range of more expensive bags in nicer leather which I wouldn't have minded buying, but not the style I was looking for

[Dancergirl]

I'm lusting after baia bags at the moment, they look gorgeous