Zatchels Classic Satchel Review

A couple of weeks ago, I became the proud owner of a beautiful Zatchels satchel after winning a Facebook competition. I enter giveaways on a fairly regular basis never believing I'll ever win, so to say I was surprised and elated to find out I'd won is an understatement! I still cannot quite believe I won such a wonderful prize, but I guess luck was just on my side that day.

Two days after I was notified by the competition holder, a large cardboard box appeared on my doorstep. I'd assumed (for some reason) it would be the smallest satchel in the range, but the satchel concealed within a black drawstring dust-bag looked enormous. I soon learnt I'd won this 14.5 inch Classic red satchel!

I thought I'd review the bag for you, since it's so beautiful, and also because I know some people aren't sure what to think of Zatchels after being disappointed by the length of time they had to wait for orders from their birthday sale back in April. I personally had to wait ten weeks to receive my heart print barrel bag, but I discovered it was worth the wait. And this one would have been, too. I should add, this is NOT a sponsored post or a condition of the competition; this is solely a review of a product I am pleased with.

Zatchels's Classic satchels have to be my favourite out of the eighteen collections they currently have to their name (closely followed by the Love Hearts and Polka Dots collections, naturally). I've been coveting a simple block-colour leather satchel for many years; there's just something so effortlessly stylish about this style of satchel. A simple, unspoiled design based on those from the past. It's the style many people would associate with school bags of days gone by, although sadly growing up in the eighties and nineties my school bags were never so chic.

My Classic red satchel is made of matte leather of the finest quality I've probably ever seen, which can really be felt when you pick it up or run a hand across it. It's a heavy weight, thick, and so sturdy. It's so perfectly put together, with the neatest stitching and not a single defect. I'm truly impressed by how beautifully made it is; especially knowing that it's been hand made! Zatchels make all of their bags by hand, using a small team of expert craftsmen, and I really believe that to be true. The satchel has been made with true skill, far superior to the quality of anything you find on the high street. It's a work of art!

If I had chosen the colour myself, I would have gone with either navy or red, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to own a satchel in a colour I've lusted after for years. The red is a beautiful deep dark red, darker than these photos suggest. The best comparison I can make is to liken it to the colour of a deep red apple. It's a very Autumnal shade; it's classic; it's professional... something I can imagine using for a job interview in the future.

The satchel features two silver nickel buckles which need to be unfastened and fastened by hand. This is in my opinion, a little inconvenient, but on the other hand, it helps to keep the contents of the bag secure from pick-pocketers.

Inside, the bag has two compartments, a large main section with tons of room for those daily essentials and

 wide enough to hold A4 items, and a smaller section at the front with plenty of room for keys, your phone, and other items you need to grab quickly. It's a large day bag, and great if you're like me and like to bring the kitchen sink with you when you're out for the day.

Something which I'm particular with when it comes to bags is the length of the strap. I like cross body bags to be long enough to sit on the hip, but they're often far shorter. This satchel, however, can sit beyond the hip on the longest notch, which I am thrilled about! It has a 150cm long strap which can be adjusted to several different lengths to cater to different needs and preferences. Perfect!

The Classic leather satchels come in five different sizes from 11.5 inch to 17.5 inch in width, starting at £86. I was given the medium size, 14.5 inch, which is £92 before adding in extras such as a handle, strap slider, and / or personalisation. My satchel was given a handle which would cost an additional £8, bringing this beauty to £100. I'm pleased it has a handle as I personally prefer the way it looks with one, and I like having the option of carrying it by hand. It's an extremely sturdy handle, and I can't imagine it losing shape over time. This bag also has a card holder on the front, which seems to be part of the basic design for satchels over 13 inches... although, I'm not sure if I'll ever make use of it.

So, I'm completely impressed and in love with my Zatchels satchel, and I've yet to find a fault in it. It's high quality, beautifully made, and has all the features a good day bag should have. I can see this satchel complimenting a variety of different outfits, and I'm especially looking forward to accessorising my Autumn outfits with it. I'd happily have paid good money for this satchel, and I'm likely to collect others in the future. I have my heart set on buying a violet pastel polka dot bag one day.

I'd recommend this satchel if you're thinking of purchasing a leather satchel, and to my knowledge, Zatchels currently have a pop up outlet shop at Bicester Village, and a factory shop in Leicester, if you're looking to grab a bargain!

Do you own a Zatchels satchel? What do you think about them?