Reviews
Written By Ewelina Kanty
Today I come with a short review of my new AMELI Zurich handbag (model Viadukt Work in greige), which will start a new series of posts on my blog, focusing on trustworthy, sustainable brands that are high-quality and still reasonably priced.
As you probably already know, I'm not a fan of designer purses, big visible logos, and monogrammed handbags, but please, remember it's just my personal choice and preference. However, I would lie if I said I never had a high-fashion bag wishlist. Of course, I had! A few years ago, I would be ready and fully motivated to save on my dream purse for months! And, just to be clear, I don't see anything wrong with splurging on a designer item from time to time - especially if it's something that was on your wishlist for ages. But every time I think about how much money I've wasted while buying and then selling my designer bags, I'm just mad at myself because I could invest this money much better. Now, my handbag collection looks completely different, and I would not spend thousands of euros on something that does not fully meet my expectations and real needs.
What has also changed is my approach to fashion. In the past, when I didn't pay so much attention to quality, I was able to buy poorly made clothes just because I wanted to save money on a dream purse. Now I'm all about balance while putting my outfits together and prefer to invest my money well in a lesser-known bag brand that is more affordable and still beautifully designed and well-made. Thanks to this, I can also afford better quality clothes and splurge a little bit more on a quality coat, sustainable jeans, or premium sweater from time to time. I recently decided to sell my burgundy crossbody bag - it was a beautiful purse; however, I did not use it as often as I should. So I had an excellent opportunity to get something new that suits my current lifestyle, and that's how the VIADUKT WORK model from AMELI Zurich appeared in my collection.
About the brand:
AMELI was found in 2020 with the ambition to disrupt the handbag industry. All their bags are designed in Switzerland and handcrafted in the family business in northern Italy. What I like about this company is its values and ethical practices when it comes to production. They pay attention to the sustainable use of materials and fair working conditions. Speaking about the materials - they are all high-quality, carefully selected, and sourced in Italy. The name AMELI stems from the french girl name Amélie and the french verb améliorer, meaning to strive, boost, enhance. And what I truly love about AMELI is that they support and empower women by donating 5% of their profits to women's education, and you can read about it on their official website here.
About the design:
As I mentioned, I got the model VIADUKT WORK - an excellent example of a classy, elegant, and timeless business bag for work. The handbag is very spacious - it fits laptop and A4 format. The exact dimensions are: 40cm x 26cm x 13cm (weight 1.3 kg). It has an adjustable strap, a top handle, a large zipper compartment on the backside, a separate laptop compartment, and four slip pockets that are great for a mobile phone or daily essentials like cardholders, headphones, keys, lipstick, etc. The magnetic closure is practical and easy to use - getting into the purse is super easy, and after closing the handbag, everything inside is well secured. I love the versatility of this model - the bag can be carried as a backpack, crossbody bag, over the shoulder, or using the strap as luggage pass-through on your suitcase. But personally, I love to wear it as a backpack and (because of a practical top handle) as a hand-carry bag or on the crook of my arm.
About the materials:
The VIADUKT WORK model is made from high-quality and carefully selected Italian soft-grain leather with a scratch and dirt-resistant surface. It's available in two sizes and a few elegant colors - I got the greige which is a perfect taupe shade that goes with both - warm and cool tones. But, in case you're looking for a vegan handbag, check out their similar options - model CENTRAL and BELLEVUE made of apple skin. The bag's craftsmanship is beautiful, and the leather - incredibly soft, flexible, but most importantly durable - I didn't notice any scratches so far. It has gold-plated hardware with a protective layer - the color is very subtle and elegant. When it comes to the lining - it's made of a nylon-viscose mixture with high resistance (super easy to clean), also in beige color.
The VIADUKT WORK is an elegant, timeless, yet highly functional bag. In my opinion, it will be an excellent alternative for women working in a corporate environment. Personally, I fell in love with AMELI's designs when I saw their signature bag Bellevue on Pinterest. For me, a VIADUKT model is a perfect option for work - not only it fits my laptop (15"), but also: my digital camera, small paper notebook, documents (A4 format), big wallet, small make-up bag, keys, sunglasses with etui, book, or Kindle, tissues, snacks, small water bottle, small umbrella. In my opinion, the quality of stitching hardware and leather is impressive - still, they offer complimentary repair service, which is really awesome!
You can order all the AMELI handbags on their official online store here - they ship worldwide, excluding UK, Russia, and China. Currently, theshipping & return to Germany and Austria is free of charge. However, if you're from Munich - they have some bags available at Jutelaune, Herzogstrasse 68.
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.Ewelina Kanty
