DeMellier Vancouver Bag - My Honest Review
This weekend I've promised you a full review of the Vancouver bag from the DeMellier brand. I hope it will be helpful for those of you who are still thinking about getting this specific model.
DeMellier is a fast-growing, award-winning contemporary handbag brand based in London. Founded by Mireia Llusia-Lindh, a Harvard Business School graduate who worked in the fashion industry as a strategy advisor and always had an interest in the world of fashion design. Her mission was to create a brand that would change how people view and carry accessories like handbags. When Mireia decided to launch DeMellier, she knew she wanted to do things differently, so she embarked on a mission to create bags without compromises. As you already know, I love supporting and promoting female-owned and sustainable brands, so before I get into my review, let me mention the main pillars and values of the DeMellier brand, which for the founder herself when building the brand, were a priority, and for me became the reason why I loved their purses.
1. Empowering women.
All their handbags are designed by women for women - when creating the collections, Mireia and her all-female design team think first and foremost about all the amazing women who will be wearing their pieces. Each DeMellier bag is designed to make women feel special and empowered.
2. Sustainability.
The more I learn about ethical production, the more I appreciate DeMellier's three core values: sustainable manufacturing, sustainably sourced materials, and sustainable operations. All their handbags are handcrafted in southern Spain by local artisans using the finest Italian and Spanish leathers. The materials are sustainable as possible, and they only work with certified tanneries and trusty factories that offer fair wages and a safe working environment. DeMellier handbags are crafted with smooth, small-grained/grained, croc, or lizard-effect leather. In their summer collections, you can also find beautiful designs made of plastic-free raffia and baskets made from 100% natural palm leaves.
3. A Bag, a Life.
As I said already, DeMellier was founded with the vision of doing things differently, and what's really worth mentioning is that from every sale, they donate funds to purchase a set of lifesaving vaccines and treatments aimed to save the life of a child in need. You can read more about their permanent charity initiative in collaboration with SOS Children's Villages here.
4. Timeless designs.
When doing a low-buy-year challenge in 2022, I decided to minimize my handbag collection and keep only such designs (and brands) I trust, which I like now and will also use in the following years. That's why I genuinely like DeMellier purses - they are modern yet timeless and will stand the test of time.
So, when it comes to the DeMellier brand, I discovered their designs at the beginning of 2020. Their Venice Mini bag was on my wishlist for a few months, but when placing my first order, I finally decided on a slightly more minimalist model - the Vancouver in black-grained leather. As soon as I received the parcel, I was amazed by the quality of this bag and its design. It came beautifully wrapped in an elegant black paper bag with a DeMellier logo. The package also included a dust bag, a "thank you" card with some information about the brand, a little card with leather care instructions, and return information - they offer free shipping & free returns on all orders (UK and USA) and free shipping & returns on orders over £200 (EU and rest of the world.)
The Vancouver handbag quickly stole my heart. I really liked it for its practicality, versatility, and timelessness. However, there was one thing I regretted a little - that I didn't choose the lighter color. At that time (May' 20), my handbag collection was slightly bigger and consisted mainly of black options. And since it was spring, I must admit I regretted not deciding on caramel or taupe beige. Still, I was very happy with that bag, and because I was using it daily, I promised myself that I would get the exact model for my next birthday, but this time in a lighter shade. As I planned, so I did. In November '21, I ordered the same model in smooth leather and lovely caramel/toffee color. And because I reached for it more often than for the black version, I decided to keep only the Vancouver in caramel during my last year's seasonal closet declutter.
Moving on to all the details about the Vancouver in a toffee smooth leather:
Leather.
Regarding packaging, again, everything came beautifully wrapped. What I immediately liked when I opened the box was the leather quality. As I said, I decided on the smooth option in a lovely deep toffee shade - it quickly became one of my most used handbags.
If you check the DeMellier website, you can read that this leather option has a subtle shine. However, the handbag is definitely not glossy! It's just a subtle effect that, in my opinion, makes this model more elegant and sophisticated.
If you asked me which type of materials I would describe as more durable (grained leather or smooth leather), I must admit that I had more scratches on the black model than on the current toffee version. And I have no idea what it depends on, but it's definitely more pleasant for me to use the version made of smooth leather.
Color.
As for the color of the bag, I didn't use any filters in today's pictures, so you can see how this specific toffee shade looks in natural daylight. I think it's such a versatile color that goes beautifully with both cool and warm tones. Also, I haven't noticed any major issues regarding the leather, like color transfer, etc. Same thing with the stitching and glazing. Of course, I have a few small scratches, and even though it's a structured and boxy model, the leather has become a little softer at the edges. Still, it's something completely acceptable - especially since I have had this bag for 1.5 years and use it at least 3 times a week.
Interior.
The Vancouver model is lined with sustainable black cotton, made with 30% recycled cotton and 70% cotton. The bag has a roomy main compartment, a zip pocket (to keep your daily essentials safe and secure), and a smaller front compartment.
Dimensions:
Width - 23cm/9"
Height - 18cm/7"
Depth - 7cm/3"
What can I fit in the Vancouver bag?
Front compartment - iPhone, AirPods, tissues.
Main compartment - big wallet, sunglasses with etui, keys with etui, mirror/powder, lipgloss, perfumes (15ml), Kindle Paperwhite, and a small snack.
Zip pocket - cardholder, money, etc.
Logo & hardware.
I truly like the quality of the hardware and the lock - it's gold and shiny but not tacky at all! Again, it's a subtle shade of gold (not too yellow and not too orange) that will go lovely with your daily jewelry. What's also important to me - the bag does not squeak where the hardware meets the leather. It had happened to me before with a bag from another brand, and I admit, it was quite annoying during daily use. The DeMellier logo is also very delicate and discreet, which I really appreciate.
Design:
I love the minimalistic design of the Vancouver option. It's a classic, chic, yet functional, and wearable bag. It has an adjustable strap (106-116cm) and can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag. I love to pair this purse with simple, monochromatic outfits (all black, all beige), but it also looks great styled with more casual clothing like denim, sweatshirt, and sneakers.
Price.
The Vancouver bag currently costs €445. When I got my first option in May '20, it was €425, so we can see a little increase in price here - however, this is totally understandable, especially when everything is getting more and more expensive due to the costs of the materials, production, transport, etc. For me, it's a bag I will keep for years and something that will never go out of style. And when it comes to the price, in my opinion, you get the quality you paid for. Also, the Vancouver model might be a great affordable alternative for high-end options like Hermés Constance or Celine Classic bag.
So, finally, let's summarize all the pros of the Vancouver model:
ethical production
sustainable and high-quality materials
charity initiative
classic and timeless design
fair price
weight - the bag is very lightweight, which makes it very comfy for everyday use
cotton lining - it's easy to clean
uniqueness - you might see DeMellier handbags often styled on Instagram or Pinterest. But, in my opinion, it's still a niche brand. For me, it's a big plus, and every time I style my Vancouver bag, I feel I wear something unique and not something that everyone else's wearing.
the bag is available in several colors and textures - thanks to that, you can find the perfect bag for your everyday needs.
Cons.
As you can tell, I really love the Vancouver bag. It's one of these purses I want to keep for years because of its functionality and versatility. And to be honest, for the last 18 months, it wasn't easy for me to find any bigger cons about this specific model.
Yes, the bag is made of soft material that might scratch a bit, but you can expect that when buying a purse made of smooth leather. Also, even though it's a boxy and structured bag, I highly recommend using a handbag shaper/filler (or just bubble wrap or soft paper) to keep its shape.
When it comes to the gold details and closure, I can't complain here as well. The only thing I noticed - it's easier for me to close the bag when I have something (tissues or small wallet) in a front pocket/compartment. Otherwise, I need two hands to clasp the lock. Still, when the handbag is closed, it stays closed - it never happened to me that it accidentally opened itself, etc.
And if I could have a small wish for the Vancouver model - it would be great if the bag had a small slip pocket in the back, where I could quickly hide my phone, face mask, or a parking ticket. But as I said, this is just my little wish. I know that such a small detail would be practical for my needs because I often use such a pocket in my black backpack. Still, I know I'll get a lot of use out of that purse this season. It's the perfect color for spring and summer, and I can't wait to style it in new ways in my daily outfits.
*This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links.