When It Comes to Leather Bags, You Need Quality Over Clout.
Too many brands sell their logos instead of quality craftsmanship. And when it comes to a nice leather bag, craftsmanship is everything. Investing in the right leather bag should feel amazing to wear. It should make your life easier. And yes, it should look damn good doing it.
In terms of great bags that feel good on day one and even better on day one thousand, there are really two top contenders I’ve come across: the Coach Juliet Sling ($395) and the Latico Leathers Callie Sling ($245). One is an iconic heritage brand with global recognition, while the other has built a loyal following as a family-run, under-the-radar artisan label since 1984.
I broke it down by leather quality, functionality, brand recognition, and value for price. TL;DR: Coach brings brand polish and a minimalist layout, while Latico delivers full-grain leather, smarter interior organization, and a lower price. For most everyday users, Latico’s Callie Sling edges it on value.
Let’s break it down.
Meet the Brands: Cult Favorite vs. Classic Icon
Latico Leathers:
Latico has been in the game since 1984 and boasts 40+ years of family-run craftsmanship. Their bags are built with heirloom-quality leather and a focus on thoughtful, functional design. They’ve won some niche awards (like the 2020 Carlos Falchi Independent Handbag Designer Award), have donated 150k+ meals to Feeding America, and have been featured in publications like Glamour and Refinery29 for their commitment to quality.
Coach:
Coach has decades of heritage and a global machine behind it. It has sat in the “accessible luxury” lane for a long, long time. You’ll find glazed leather and plenty of logo-forward styles, but quality shifts depending on the collection.
The Side-by-Side Stats
Leather Quality: Latico Leathers
Latico (9.5/10): The Callie Sling is crafted in small batches from full-grain leather… which makes it really shine in terms of developing natural patina over time. “Artisan-made” is usually just a buzzword that doesn’t mean anything. But this bag is straight-up butter-soft. It’s hard to explain until you feel one for yourself.
Coach (7/10): The Juliet Sling uses polished glazed leather… a signature Coach finish that’s durable, scratch-resistant, and instantly recognizable. It’s consistent, it’s admirable, it’s known. It’s pretty solid quality.
Verdict: Maybe you have an affinity for Coach’s signature glazed leather style, which is totally cool. I will personally be sticking with Latico’s leather here (it’s all in the name), for that buttery-soft feel and natural patina that only small batch leather can deliver.
Functionality & Design: Latico Leathers (sort of)
Latico (9/10): The Callie Sling offers 2 exterior zip pockets and an interior organizer with 3 pen loops + an interior zip pocket. It’s got that wondrous quality of having plenty of compartments without looking like the fashion equivalent of cargo shorts. In my opinion, it keeps the minimalist vibe, but adds more functionality to a bag I’m looking to use damn near every day.
Coach (7/10): The Juliet Sling favors minimalism. Its streamlined single compartment with a zip pocket makes it easy to toss in essentials, perfect for someone who values simplicity over compartments. (For me, this happens to not be the case.)
Verdict: I mean, technically, this is subjective. But isn’t this all subjective? I’m going with Latico’s Callie Sling for the usefulness. It looks incredible, and it’s actually practical to use daily.
Brand Recognition: Coach
Latico Leathers (6/10): I’m gonna be honest… I hadn’t heard about Latico Leathers outside of the niche fashion circles I’m in. But once I did, I was hooked immediately by the artisan charm. There’s something exciting to me about giving a brand’s story I believe in when someone asks what bag I’m wearing.
Coach (9.5/10): I mean, Coach is Coach. Everyone and their aunt knows about Coach. If you’re on the wave of wanting people to recognize the brand of bag you’re wearing, this is certainly something to consider.
Verdict: Nevertheless, gotta go with Coach for the brand recognition here.
Price/Value: Latico Leathers
Latico Leather Callie Sling ($245): For this price, you’re getting full-grain leather, built-in organization, small-batch, artisan craftsmanship, and 16 color options.
Coach Juliet Sling ($395): As with most “designer” handbags, you’re paying for the logo here. I’m just gonna be honest. There was nothing I saw in the comparison of these bags that warrants this price difference other than the clout.
Verdict: In terms of value, this is really no contest. With Latico, you’re getting way more bag for your buck.
The Final Take: Which Sling Should You Actually Buy?
If you’re all about brand prestige, polished minimalism, and designer heritage, Coach’s Juliet Sling is a beautiful bag with instant recognition and proven style.
But if you want buttery-soft, full-grain leather, smart storage, artisan construction, and a (way) better price? Check out the under-the-radar Latico Leathers Callie Sling. Personally, I’m going with the heirloom-quality piece from a family-run brand rather than overpay for a logo.