I’ve always admired the pillow-y goodness of the new Bottega Veneta bags (like this and this), but I am not willing to shell out thousands of dollars on a bag that is most likely to just be a trend. But when I saw the cloud-like Bombon bags from Hereu, a small Spanish brand, I was willing to give them a try. These days I’m all about the small artisanal bag brands instead of the big-name luxury ones because for the most part the small brands make just as excellent bags (and they’re usually lighter since they don’t have a leather-lined interior).
I first found Hereu on Instagram but with a little digging and I learned that they’re part of the LuisaViaRoma Sustainable collection (a special section of LuisaViaRoma that highlights items made by ethical trading or production, with organic materials, recycling/upcycling, and other sustainable qualifications). And on Hereu’s site I learned that their products are all made in Spain by local artisans. I appreciate that they are a Spanish brand using local producers since they would then have direct access to their products to do quality control. And I have to say the quality of this Bombon L bag is pretty great.
The lambskin leather is wonderfully soft and pillowy, which is perfect for a cloud-like purse like this one. Yet the bag is lightweight overall due to the cotton-lined interior. Inside there’s one inner pocket where I usually stash my card case. The overall design of the bag is great with a strong magnet closure as well as snaps on the side so that you can open the bag wider if you need to (but otherwise you can keep the snaps closed so the opening is smaller). The handles are a nice pillowy braided leather and easy to carry. One reader did say she would be concerned about dirt and grim getting into the braided handles but I’m not too worried (maybe if the bag was a lighter color I would be more careful). And last but not least, there’s an adjustable shoulder strap so this bag can be carried crossbody (a must for me).
I chose the larger Bombon bag because I wanted to be able to carry all the toddler snacks and toys. The larger size also has a more substantial shoulder strap, which I like. The Bombon L bag measures 7.75in by 13.75in with a depth of 6in. But there is also a small Bombon bag that measures 6in by 8.5in with a depth of 5in. If you’re one to carry just the essentials, then maybe the smaller bag would be a better size for you (plus it’s so cute!).
The only drawback to this bag is the hardware: I wish it had been gold instead of silver to better match the brown leather. Also the hardware is quite lightweight and reminds me of the hardware on my $99 Quince leather crossbody. I think if they just upgrade the hardware, the bag would look and feel more like a luxury bag.
I purchased my bag directly from the brand, and with the Euro to USD conversion at the time I paid closer to $600. But some US retailers are selling it for less. Shopbop has the large Bombon bag in black and the smaller one in pink. Bergdorf’s is selling a small black Bombon, Veronica Beard is selling a small blue one, and Matches is also selling a small black one. You can also find them time to time secondhand on the RealReal now (their current selection of Hereu items here).
Anyway if you follow me on Insta, you might be tired of seeing this bag since I carried it constantly in January and February. Overall the bag has held up beautifully even with constant use. And even though the lambskin looks delicate, there’s no scratches or abrasions yet (and I’m not one to baby my bags). And it can handle a little water (as long as you wipe it off asap). If anything, the bag has softened a little and looks even smooshier and yummier than when I first got it. I 100% love this bag. As the only brown bag in my collection, be ready to see it in heavy rotation! 🤎
{January 2022 Update: I’ve been using this bag off and on for a year now and it’s held up like a champ. Still no scratches or abrasions and looks like new. This was probably my best investment in a brown bag ever.}
Please note I was not paid for this post nor did I receive this bag as a gift. But this post does contain affiliate links that could result in my earning a small commission (at no cost to you) if you click and make a purchase. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!