Okay, I have been testing my Mechaly Macie Black Vegan Leather Weekender Handbag for about five weeks now and am ready to post my review!
I have found that it can be difficult to find purses that are vegan, stylish and sturdy. You can usually pick two out of three of these traits, but finding handbags with all three of these qualities sometimes seems next to impossible. There are a few good companies out there providing fashionable, functional bags that are cruelty free, and I am here to tell you that it is now time for us to add Mechaly to that list.
Honestly, I hadn't heard of Mechaly before they contacted me with the opportunity to review one of their bags. But I am always excited to learn about a new vegan company, and now I am particularly glad to have had the chance!
You don't have to be vegan to appreciate a high-quality, cruelty-free handbag, but far too many ethical shoppers have learned the hard way that cruelty free does not always mean vegan. So you will be happy to hear that Mechaly is not just committed to being cruelty free; they are also certified vegan by Vegan.org and PETA.
I have found that it can be difficult to find purses that are vegan, stylish and sturdy. You can usually pick two out of three of these traits, but finding handbags with all three of these qualities sometimes seems next to impossible. There are a few good companies out there providing fashionable, functional bags that are cruelty free, and I am here to tell you that it is now time for us to add Mechaly to that list.
Honestly, I hadn't heard of Mechaly before they contacted me with the opportunity to review one of their bags. But I am always excited to learn about a new vegan company, and now I am particularly glad to have had the chance!
You don't have to be vegan to appreciate a high-quality, cruelty-free handbag, but far too many ethical shoppers have learned the hard way that cruelty free does not always mean vegan. So you will be happy to hear that Mechaly is not just committed to being cruelty free; they are also certified vegan by Vegan.org and PETA.
As I mentioned in the previous blog post giving you a sneak peek at the vegan handbag review I had in the works, when Mechaly approached me with the opportunity to review one of their bags, I was immediately drawn to the Macie Black Vegan Leather Weekender Handbag.
Most of my days are pretty busy and I am often running all over the county, which means I usually have a lot of stuff to pack in the morning that I will need throughout the day. So, while I was pretty tempted by their skull collection, I figured their roomy Weekender was the perfect bag for me to review.
In the previous post, I also mentioned that I immediately put the bag to the test on the first day with a bag of 12 oranges, two boxes of granola bars, a sweater, my day planner, a notebook, a pair of flip flops, two water bottles and my travel tea mug. The best part is that I still had room to spare!
The next day, I didn't have the granola bars, but I did have another bag of oranges -- plus my insulated lunch bag. Rather than having my purse, a tote bag and my lunch bag all looped over my arm, and then piled in my passenger seat, I was able to fit everything in the Weekender, which was way more convenient and definitely more fashionable.
And I think this is where this particular vegan leather handbag really stands out. After all, we can all find some huge, handy tote bag that we can stuff with everything we need for the day, but the Weekender allows you to tote an abundance of necessities in style.
Most of my days are pretty busy and I am often running all over the county, which means I usually have a lot of stuff to pack in the morning that I will need throughout the day. So, while I was pretty tempted by their skull collection, I figured their roomy Weekender was the perfect bag for me to review.
In the previous post, I also mentioned that I immediately put the bag to the test on the first day with a bag of 12 oranges, two boxes of granola bars, a sweater, my day planner, a notebook, a pair of flip flops, two water bottles and my travel tea mug. The best part is that I still had room to spare!
The next day, I didn't have the granola bars, but I did have another bag of oranges -- plus my insulated lunch bag. Rather than having my purse, a tote bag and my lunch bag all looped over my arm, and then piled in my passenger seat, I was able to fit everything in the Weekender, which was way more convenient and definitely more fashionable.
And I think this is where this particular vegan leather handbag really stands out. After all, we can all find some huge, handy tote bag that we can stuff with everything we need for the day, but the Weekender allows you to tote an abundance of necessities in style.
Vegan Handbag Review: Uses for the Weekender
This bag could definitely be used a school bag, work bag or gym bag with no problem. You could pack for a long weekend with room to spare, and experienced packers could probably pack for a week-long vacation.
While I have been mostly using this as a work bag -- and it has really worked out nicely for this -- this has become my go-to bag for just about everything. Need to quickly pack for an impromptu road trip? Grab the Weekender. Need to transport four bottles of wine, a water bottle and a sweater for a night out? I did, and I grabbed my Weekender. Need to pack for a day on campus followed by date night? Grab the Weekender and go.
Aside from oranges, work stuff and wine, I have used my Weekender to tote birthday gifts, groceries, dog park supplies, light bulbs, archery gear, my laptop, smudging supplies, and various bits of hardware and home goods for clients.
Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure I know the burning question that is on your mind at this point. I can hear you saying, "Sure, AJ, it carries produce, school books and work stuff, but will it fit a toilet seat? And not one of those short, round ones...we're talking one of those long, oval ones?"
Well, my friends, I too had this question...and the answer is yes. So if your day ever comes to the point where you need to transport a long, oval toilet seat from one client's house to another, and you would prefer to do so discretely so that other clients do not feel compelled to inquire why you have a toilet seat riding shotgun, the Weekender has your back.
I even took a picture of it for you...
While I have been mostly using this as a work bag -- and it has really worked out nicely for this -- this has become my go-to bag for just about everything. Need to quickly pack for an impromptu road trip? Grab the Weekender. Need to transport four bottles of wine, a water bottle and a sweater for a night out? I did, and I grabbed my Weekender. Need to pack for a day on campus followed by date night? Grab the Weekender and go.
Aside from oranges, work stuff and wine, I have used my Weekender to tote birthday gifts, groceries, dog park supplies, light bulbs, archery gear, my laptop, smudging supplies, and various bits of hardware and home goods for clients.
Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure I know the burning question that is on your mind at this point. I can hear you saying, "Sure, AJ, it carries produce, school books and work stuff, but will it fit a toilet seat? And not one of those short, round ones...we're talking one of those long, oval ones?"
Well, my friends, I too had this question...and the answer is yes. So if your day ever comes to the point where you need to transport a long, oval toilet seat from one client's house to another, and you would prefer to do so discretely so that other clients do not feel compelled to inquire why you have a toilet seat riding shotgun, the Weekender has your back.
I even took a picture of it for you...
Cruelty-Free Purse Review: Quality and Features
Now that we have established the roominess of the Weekender, let's talk quality and other features.
One of the first things that I noticed about the bag is that it is unbranded. I get that some fashionistas may not like this and prefer to display their favorite designers' logos as they go about their day. For those of you who like branded bags, Mechaly does offer some, including the Lainie Satchel Handbag, the Kaylee Vegan Leather Tote and the Jaime Backpack. Their super-popular Skully line is also very distinctive.
I, on the other hand, prefer unbranded bags or bags with subtle branding. So I love that Mechaly has both unbranded and subtly branded options.
Next, let's talk vegan leather. You and I both know that all vegan leather is not created equally. Other things that are not created equally include zippers, D rings, hooks and all of those other findings that tend to fall apart on lower-quality vegan purses. The cruelty-free, leather-like material used to make the Weekender looks and feels like a high-quality leather alternative. Plus, I used the Weekender pretty hard for the last five weeks, and all of the mechanics have held up perfectly.
There are two handy, zippered exterior pockets that are perfect for car keys, protein bars or pens, and the removable strap that comes with it allows you to go through your day hands free while wearing it as a shoulder bag or cross body. This adds to the versatility of the Weekender, which is definitely one of the reasons that I really love this bag and have been able to find so many uses for it.
One of the first things that I noticed about the bag is that it is unbranded. I get that some fashionistas may not like this and prefer to display their favorite designers' logos as they go about their day. For those of you who like branded bags, Mechaly does offer some, including the Lainie Satchel Handbag, the Kaylee Vegan Leather Tote and the Jaime Backpack. Their super-popular Skully line is also very distinctive.
I, on the other hand, prefer unbranded bags or bags with subtle branding. So I love that Mechaly has both unbranded and subtly branded options.
Next, let's talk vegan leather. You and I both know that all vegan leather is not created equally. Other things that are not created equally include zippers, D rings, hooks and all of those other findings that tend to fall apart on lower-quality vegan purses. The cruelty-free, leather-like material used to make the Weekender looks and feels like a high-quality leather alternative. Plus, I used the Weekender pretty hard for the last five weeks, and all of the mechanics have held up perfectly.
There are two handy, zippered exterior pockets that are perfect for car keys, protein bars or pens, and the removable strap that comes with it allows you to go through your day hands free while wearing it as a shoulder bag or cross body. This adds to the versatility of the Weekender, which is definitely one of the reasons that I really love this bag and have been able to find so many uses for it.
About Mechaly
Of course, for most vegan folks and others dedicated to ethical shopping practices, the company is just as important as the product. So here is a little bit about the vegan awesomeness of Mechaly...
The Mechaly brand was born from the founders' desire to blend their love of fashion with their dedication to social action. To this end, their line of edgy vegan leather purses and accessories are designed for people who are always on the go and always on the hunt for high-quality accessories that are stylish and comfortable, as well as cruelty free and socially responsible.
Mechaly is a family-owned company started by French designers in Beverly Hills. Closely connected to their heritage and tradition, the founders named the company after the surname of their maternal lineage and determined the company's founding principles based on those instilled in them by their grandfather in their youth. Among these are respecting all living things, cherishing good health and treasuring each day we are given.
At the heart of the Mechaly brand is a focus on nine basics:
The Mechaly brand was born from the founders' desire to blend their love of fashion with their dedication to social action. To this end, their line of edgy vegan leather purses and accessories are designed for people who are always on the go and always on the hunt for high-quality accessories that are stylish and comfortable, as well as cruelty free and socially responsible.
Mechaly is a family-owned company started by French designers in Beverly Hills. Closely connected to their heritage and tradition, the founders named the company after the surname of their maternal lineage and determined the company's founding principles based on those instilled in them by their grandfather in their youth. Among these are respecting all living things, cherishing good health and treasuring each day we are given.
At the heart of the Mechaly brand is a focus on nine basics:
- Design
- Fashion
- The Environment
- Social Responsibility
- Excellence
- Inclusiveness
- Integrity
- Authenticity
- Being a Voice for Animals
The bottom line is that Mechaly is a brand worth getting to know. From my experience with them, I have found that they are great people making great products that are fashionable, functional and cruelty free.
If you want to support this vegan company and also end up with a mighty-fine handbag to add to your collection, don't forget to use the promo code SHOP35.
Not only will this get you 35% off your purchase, it also gets you free shipping within the USA!
For our friends at the FTC -- this is not a sponsored post. Mechaly provided me with a vegan purse from their line for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
If you want to support this vegan company and also end up with a mighty-fine handbag to add to your collection, don't forget to use the promo code SHOP35.
Not only will this get you 35% off your purchase, it also gets you free shipping within the USA!
For our friends at the FTC -- this is not a sponsored post. Mechaly provided me with a vegan purse from their line for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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