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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 3.5
Hardware: 3.5
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 3.5
TOTAL: 3.70
Brand Website: bybanoo.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
BY BANOO is a Swedish leather brand founded by sisters Persheng and Perdica, who have Iranian roots. The brand emerged from Persheng's experience as a management consultant, during which she struggled to find a work bag that combined style, quality, and functionality. Recognizing this gap in the market, she and her sister, who was studying to become a medical doctor, decided to pause their careers to create BY BANOO. Their mission is to design optimal work bags and accessories that empower the modern careerist.
The name "BANOO" is derived from the Persian word meaning lady, queen, or woman. Initially considering the name "Banoo," they opted for "BY BANOO" when the former was unavailable, symbolizing "by the queen" or "by the lady," reflecting their heritage and the brand's focus on women's empowerment.
FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD LEATHERCRAFT
READING MY ASSESSMENT SCORES
LEATHERVERSE MATRIX
The Leatherverse Brand Matrix visually compares leather brands based on sophistication and pricing, helping consumers understand their market positioning.
Legend
Vertical Axis: Ranges from simple artisan crafts to exclusive, master-crafted items.
Horizontal Axis: Covers pricing from low (no brand premium) to high (perceived luxury), with 2x multipliers for basic products and up to 15x for heavily marketed luxury items.
Diagonal Line: Represents the balance between price and performance. Brands on the line offer good value, those below suggest poor value, and those above offer exceptional value.
AUDIENCE & CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE
Based on these criteria, how would you rate By Banno as a brand?
How would you rate By Banoo as a brand?
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PRODUCTS REVIEWED
By Banoo Bags: A Scandinavian Design Win or Just Another Pricey Trend?
By Banoo's 12 Hour Duffle Bag
Watch the videos here:
When it comes to leather bags, craftsmanship, material quality, and pricing play a crucial role in determining whether a product is worth your hard-earned cash. Today, we’re diving deep into By Banoo, a Swedish brand that challenged me to test their leather duffel bag. Let’s see if it lives up to expectations or falls short.
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.
First Impressions: A Unique Duffel Bag Design
At first glance, the By Banoo duffel stands out with its sleek yet functional design. It boasts a well-thought-out compartment structure with multiple pockets for better organization. Unlike most duffels on the market, this one has a defined structure, giving it a polished and modern aesthetic. From a design standpoint, I’d rate it a solid 4 out of 5.
Construction & Workmanship: Clever Yet Cost-Conscious
Upon dissecting the bag, I noticed that the support materials were used wisely, although they leaned towards the budget-friendly side. The polyester lining is durable and easy to maintain—a practical choice, though not the most luxurious.
The inner craftsmanship is clean, with neatly placed elements throughout. However, some thread endings are exposed, and the edge paint on the handles is lightly applied. Notably, the bag avoids edge painting in favor of turned edges and piping. For these reasons, the workmanship scores a 3.5 out of 5.
Hardware: A Mid-Level Choice
The bag features protective feet at the bottom, which is always a plus, but the hardware isn’t customized with branding. The coating on the hardware is mid-tier, nothing extraordinary. While it gets the job done, it doesn’t scream premium. Hardware score: 3.5 out of 5.
Leather Quality: What’s Beneath the Surface?
The bag combines suede and pebbled cowhide leather, which offers an interesting contrast in texture. According to the website, the suede has a water-repellent application—a much-needed feature since suede can be difficult to maintain. A quick water test showed that the treatment does provide some protection against light rain and splashes.
However, when testing the pebbled leather with acetone, it revealed a significant pigmented finish. This means the leather surface has been heavily corrected, making it less breathable and more uniform in appearance. While the leather originates from Italy, it feels standard rather than premium. Overall, I’d rate the leather 3.5 out of 5.
Cost Breakdown: How Much Does It Really Cost to Make?
When breaking down the cost of this By Banoo duffel bag, the materials and labor give us a clear picture of its true value. The suede portions of the bag require approximately six square feet of leather, which I estimate to cost around $20, while the eight square feet of pebbled cowhide used for the rest of the bag adds another $28 to the total. This brings the raw leather material cost to approximately $48. Beyond the leather, assembling a bag of this size and complexity in Portugal—where the brand produces its goods—would likely require around $125 in labor, including the cost of hardware and additional materials. Altogether, I estimate the total production cost to be somewhere between $173 and $175. Given that I purchased this bag for €710 (around $740 USD), the price multiplier sits at around 4.2x, which falls within a reasonable range compared to similar brands in the market.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
While By Banoo’s duffel bag isn’t an ultra-premium leather bag, it does offer a well-structured, stylish, and functional design at a fair price point. The use of suede and pebbled leather in high-contact areas is a smart choice, and the water-repellent feature adds practicality.
If you’re drawn to Scandinavian aesthetics with a balance of form and function, this could be a solid option in the leather market. I’ll be keeping an eye on By Banoo to see what else they bring to the leather game.
Would you pay €700 for this duffel? Let me know your thoughts!
Scorecard
NEUTRAL
★★★★☆ - 3.70
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