I Destroyed $3,600 Worth of Luxury Briefcases—Here’s What I Learned About What You’re Really Paying For
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Time to read: 6 min
Luxury is supposed to mean excellence—materials, craftsmanship, and integrity. But after dissecting two luxury briefcases worth a combined $3,600, I realized something was deeply wrong with the industry. What I found shocked me so much that I moved my entire family to Spain, where my journey toward true craftsmanship began.
This is how a $1 million mission, followed by 2.7 million people, started—with two expensive briefcases, a pair of scissors, and a desire to understand the truth behind “luxury.”
In this blog, we will answer the following questions:
What are you actually paying for in today’s “luxury” briefcases—materials, craftsmanship, or marketing?
How did dissecting two $1,800 briefcases expose the truth behind modern luxury standards?
What does real luxury look like when built with honest materials, transparent pricing, and true craftsmanship?
What's Inside?
The First Briefcase: A Luxury Price Tag Hiding Fancy Plastic The Second Briefcase: A Sales Associate’s Assurances—And a Disappointing Truth The Turning Point: Why Was Mediocrity the Standard? Selecting Leathers That Actually Deserve the Word ‘Luxury’ Finding the Craftsmanship: The 400-Year-Old Tradition of Ubrique, Spain Introducing: The Senior Briefcase Only Small Batches, No Mass Production This Is What Luxury Should Have Been All Along Want to read more? Frequently Asked Questions About Tanner
The First Briefcase: A Luxury Price Tag Hiding Fancy Plastic
The first bag I tore apart came from one of the most recognizable luxury houses in the world — Louis Vuitton. Its price: $1,800. Its materials? Well… mostly not leather.
Instead, I discovered coated canvas, which is essentially a fabric layered with plastic. Yes, it’s printed nicely and marketed beautifully, but it is still plastic with a thin layer of leather accents stitched around it. Aside from some well-made hardware, everything else felt painfully mediocre.
That was my first red flag: How could a “luxury” bag use bargain-tier materials and still sit on a shelf with an $1,800 price tag?
The Second Briefcase: A Sales Associate’s Assurances—And a Disappointing Truth
The next briefcase, Montblanc, looked more promising. The exterior leather seemed decent, nothing extraordinary, but at least real leather. What caught my attention was the interior. Something felt off.
I asked the sales associate—five separate times—whether the interior lining was leather. Every time, he confidently answered yes.
When I got home and checked the brand’s website, reality hit me: PU lining. Plastic. Again.
Whether he didn’t know or he lied, I’ll never know. But what I do know is this:
I walked out of that boutique paying another $1,800 for a product made with average leather and plastic lining.
When I dissected it, my suspicions were confirmed. The craftsmanship was fine, but nothing special—just heavily finished leather designed to hide imperfections and reduce cost.
Two luxury briefcases, two disappointments.
@tanner.leatherstein Two luxury briefcases. $3,600. Both promised excellence… but both disappointed. I had to move my family to Spain to craft a real luxury bag. #lv #louisvuitton #montblanc #pegai #leather #leatherbag #briefcase #trueluxury #madeinspain #fypシ゚viral #tannerleatherstein ♬ original sound - Tanner Leatherstein
The Turning Point: Why Was Mediocrity the Standard?
That moment changed everything for me.
Two consecutive $1,800 “luxury” briefcases had given me mediocrity. No exceptional leather, no superior craftsmanship, no real justification for the price tag.
I expected excellence. I got shortcuts.
So I made a decision: If I couldn’t find a luxury briefcase worth paying for, I would build one myself.
Selecting Leathers That Actually Deserve the Word ‘Luxury’
Throughout my career, I’ve dissected hundreds of bags and handled thousands of leather samples. I knew exactly where to look for the best materials on Earth.
I narrowed it down to two world-class options:
1. Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather (Tuscany)
For the purists who love natural aging and raw beauty.
This leather is tanned in the heart of Tuscany using recipes perfected over millennia. It patinas with time, developing character unique to your life and your journey.
2. German Shrunken Calf
For those who prefer refined luxury and timeless elegance.
This is the most expensive calfskin used in luxury fashion, known for its durability, softness, and natural grain. No artificial embossing—just pure, premium character.
Great leather is the soul of a luxury product. But leather alone isn’t enough. It needs master hands.
Finding the Craftsmanship: The 400-Year-Old Tradition of Ubrique, Spain
This search for honest craftsmanship led me to Ubrique, a small mountain village in Southern Spain known for producing bags for some of the top luxury houses for the last 400 years.
The artisans here don’t just make bags. They protect a tradition.
I was so committed to doing this right that I moved my entire family to Spain. Side by side with these craftsmen, we made deliberate choices:
Full leather interior AND exterior
No plastic linings
Avoiding painted edges whenever possible (they crack and peel over time)
Traditional techniques that guarantee longevity, not just short-term beauty
Every decision added cost, complexity, and time—but this is what luxury should be.
Introducing: The Senior Briefcase
Together, we created The Senior Briefcase—a bag designed to last a lifetime, not a season.
Early customers loved it. The response was overwhelming. Many told us it was the first bag that finally felt like “real” luxury.
But here’s what the big brands never reveal:
The Real Cost Breakdown (Yes, The Actual Numbers)
Vegetable-Tanned Version
Italian veg-tan leather: €100
Hardware + Ubrique craftsmanship: €140
Total Cost: €285
German Shrunken Calf Version
German shrunken calf: €145
Hardware + craftsmanship: €140
Total Cost: €285
We use a modest 4× multiplier and price The Senior at €1,250—far below the disappointing luxury bags I started with, despite using superior leather and craftsmanship.
No plastic linings. No misleading sales pitches. No shortcuts.
Only Small Batches, No Mass Production
Because each piece is handmade in small batches, The Senior often sells out. We’re a small team—nothing like mass-produced luxury giants—but we produce new batches regularly.
If it’s out of stock when you visit, you can pre-order and receive yours within a few weeks.
This is slow luxury. Honest luxury.
This Is What Luxury Should Have Been All Along
Luxury should never have been about logos.
Or marketing.
Or plastic.
It should be:
Exceptional materials
Master craftsmanship
Transparent pricing
Products designed to last decades
If you’re tired of underwhelming “luxury” and want a briefcase that will be the last one you ever need, you can find The Senior at pegai.com.
Because luxury shouldn’t be a lie. It should be a legacy.
Want to read more?
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I submit my product for the Leather Bureau of Investigation, and what happens after submission?
To submit your product, please complete this form. Once submitted, we'll review the details to determine if your product fits our project. If accepted, you'll receive an email within seven days. In return for your donation, we’ll send you a free product from our PEGAI catalog, and all information provided will be kept confidential. If not selected, you’re welcome to submit other products in the future.
This project is only for leather goods customers. If you're a brand, please refer to the Chopping Block / Rip My Bag Challenge FAQ.
How can I suggest a brand for review?
You can view all the brands currently on our list here: Brand List.
If the brand you want to see reviewed isn’t listed, simply leave your suggestion in the comments section! We’ll gather all suggestions and add them to the Suggestion Box in Tanner Leatherstein's website's Forum for voting, where the most requested brands have a chance to be featured next.
Does Tanner offer advisory services?
Unfortunately, not at this time.
Is Tanner available for media interviews?
Yes, Tanner is open for media interviews! If you'd like to collaborate on a feature or interview him, please email him directly at tanner@pegai.com.
Whether it's about leather crafting, brand reviews, or the business side of PEGAI, Tanner is happy to share his insights and expertise.
How can my brand participate in the "Rip My Bag" Challenge / Chopping Block?
Thank you for your interest in our "Rip My Bag/Chopping Block - Incognito" review program! This initiative offers leather brands a chance to be featured in front of a highly engaged audience.
- Limited Spots: We are only accepting 25 brands this year (2025), so space is limited.
- How to Apply: Submit your brand via the link below to join the waitlist. We will assess your products against our program’s standards. Submission does not guarantee acceptance.
- Notification: We’ll notify you of the results once the assessment is complete.
Program Fee: $1,250 USD
This fee covers production, due diligence, and content creation costs.
Please review the full terms and conditions available on the link for detailed information about the process.
We look forward to collaborating with you and showcasing quality craftsmanship to our audience!
About Tanner
Tanner Leatherstein
Known as the "butcher of leather bags," Tanner has amassed over 2 million followers and 301 million views, with features in outlets like The New York Times and Financial Times. PEGAI, Tanner's brand, embodies his passion for crafting premium leather goods with unmatched authenticity and precision.
