von Holzhausen Large Shopper Tote Bag Review

Wrapping up the week with a highly requested review of the von Holzhausen Large Shopper Tote. For something that is quite large, this tote has fast found its way into regular rotation, due to how practical the size is for my current lifestyle. 

Wearing Everlane alpaca knit; Everlane 90s cheeky straight jeans; H&M houndstooth jacket; About Arianne pumps (also here); von Holzhausen Large Shopper Tote; Mejuri earrings; Linjer rings

I’m not overly precious with my bags, and this one has had the added bonus of being dragged around the house by our little boy, so I can give you a serious update on the wear and tear. Plus, I thought it might be useful to get a look at what you can actually fit inside.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $495 USD (or approx $640 AUD at time of this post)
Available in six colours: black, stone, caramel, taupe, denim, and oat
Made in: Italy
Fabric: 100% vegan technik leather exterior, and soft microfibre interior 
Dimensions: 14 ½” Height, 15″ Width, 5 ½” Depth and 8 ½” Drop
Care: Easy to clean with soap and water

SIZE & WHAT FITS INSIDE

So this is a big bag. You know, the kind that will fit everything but the kitchen sink. So the relaxed nature of the bag is definitely a positive, as it tucks in under the arm quite nicely, and will slouch in the centre depending on how you’ve packed it.

The interior is just as spacious as you’d expect. It’s one large compartment, with a small pocket on both sides – one is open, the other has a zip closure. And they’re pretty easy to reach. I do with that the zip up pocket was large enough to fit my iPhone, though if I’m honest it’s often in my hands anyway! 

This tote tends to shift between being packed in the undercarriage of the pram, to being my go-to for dashing out the house, so the contents change. Some of the things I’ll pack inside include; a DSLR camera with large lens, a laptop, change mat + nappies, a scarf, handbag essentials (wallet, house/car keys, phone, lip balm), moisturiser, sunglasses, fragrance, snacks, a couple toys for our boy. The list goes on. 

Hopefully the above snap will give you a good sense of what you can fit inside. I will say that a slightly lighterweight/thinner knit scarf would fit a little better, as the magnetic closure was only *just* able to snap shut.

QUALITY & DESIGN

I think the thing that most intrigued me about the von Holzhausen Large Shopper Tote – and the brand’s bags in general – was the use of their Technik leather. 100% vegan, it’s touted as being lightweight, durable (scratch and stain resistant), water resistant, easy to clean, as well as having a low carbon footprint from manufacture. Which got me curious.

There’s a bit more information on their website about Technik leather, which has a slightly grained effect, caused by impressing the texture into the exterior resin layer. Fascinating. And the microfibre lining is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. 

Do I think this looks just like real leather? Not quite. While it does come close at mimicking the touch and feel, when I compare it to other bags I own, I can see a slight difference. Though perhaps this is coloured by the fact that I already know it’s a specialised vegan leather. For anyone curious, I haven’t noticed any discernible scent to this material at all.

One thing it does do though, is hold up to its claims on durability. Mine has been caught in the rain, been dragged around our house by our 15mo boy, been dropped on pebbles at the park, shoved under seats. The whole lot. And there isn’t a single scratch or mark. There’s no wear or degradation to the glazing (yet). And the handles, which to me seem on the “thin” side, don’t show any side of stretching or wear, despite how much I’ve stuffed this bag full.

On the design side, this is a tote which is much more interesting than your classic streamlined option (Cuyana is always a fave I like to mention). It’s angled, and has a flat base. I like this as it makes organising the interior much simpler than a tote which curves on the sides. The side profile is a little wide, so I’d recommend a smaller option if you’re petite, as this will likely overwhelm your frame.

There’s no visible logos/very minimal branding. At the front of the bag there’s a knotted drawstring which you can tighten. This knotted detail is again reflected in the straps. The closure is magnetic, with two flaps either side which provide a bit more protection and security.

The straps do slip through the holes at the sides, which means that it can technically be worn crossbody. But I find this a little awkward to do because of the size. And, the length of the strap means that the bag will hang a little too low for my liking (and I’m 172cm tall for reference). Which actually brings me to my only niggle about this bag. Sometimes, if it’s super full and I only grab one strap, the other will slip through (and go “long” if this makes any sense!) making me feel like I have less purchase on my belongings. 

VON HOLZHAUSEN LARGE SHOPPER TOTE FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed using my von Holzhausen Large Shopper Tote. More so than I anticipated. It’s been perfect for play dates with my little one. But equally ideal for those work days when I need to fit my essentials, laptop and DSLR camera in my bag. The size is also great if you pack your lunch for the office; there’s plenty of space inside for a lunchbox, a pair of heels, notebook. The works. 

For full transparency, this bag was received as a PR/gift, but I could definitely see myself spending on a bag of its ilk. For me, practicality really wins out when it comes to my wardrobe right now. Plus I like that this combines functionality with style. And it’s easy to forget that the bag is made from vegan leather.

The price point is mid-range; more than you would pay for other vegan leather alternatives, but not quite as much as you would spend on a bag from say… Stella McCartney. And if you ask me, this really does fill a gap in the market for vegan leather bags; not quite what you would expect from a designer handbag purchase, but also a number of steps above brands like Angela Roi, Matt & Nat or Charles & Keith. So I do think the price is warranted, given how durable and well made it is. Plus, you typically find that items manufactured using more sustainable and environmentally-friendly methods tend to come at a premium.

I’m not crazy over the whole “crossbody” function of the large shopper tote. It’s a design detail that I think could have been left alone, as it’s the only element that doesn’t execute well in reality. From my experience anyway. So as such, I’d prefer if the straps were affixed to the body of the bag, and perhaps didn’t have the knotted detail, which can sometimes dig in a little if you’re carrying a lot of heavy items.

OH! And I almost forgot. It basically feels featherweight. Real leather weighs three times as much as Technik leather. 

I hope that this review was helpful, especially if you’ve had your eye on one of the von Holzhausen bags. If you have any other questions, just let me know in the comments section below! xx