Cuyana Bags Review
Table of Contents
About Cuyana Bags
I have a lot of clothing and accessories. Many of which I don’t wear all that often. I’m looking to change that by cutting back on shopping and donating, and creating a wardrobe I feel good about.
Cuyana is a conscious accessories and clothing company that creates versatile collections for modern women. Their whole MO is “less is more,” helping women minimize their closets and shop mindfully[1].
The brand has been featured in Town & Country, Marie Claire, and Grazia, and its bags have been seen on celebs like Megan Markle, Jessica Alba, Reese Witherspoon, and Angelina Jolie. It also has a massive Instagram following of 281k.
To top it off, PurseBlog named Cuyana in their article titled, The 11 Best Emerging Bag Brands to Watch in 2018, and Wirecutter included the brand’s Classic Structured Leather Tote in The 6 Best Tote Bags to Match Any Style in 2020. It’s clear that many love Cuyana for its timeless, sustainable styles—but is it worth adding to your collection too?
In this Cuyana bags review, I’ll take a look at the brand and its products, customer ratings, promotions, and more, to help you decide. Let’s dive in.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our mission is to help you make better, more informed purchase decisions. Our team spends hours researching, consulting with medical experts, gathering insight from expert professionals, reviewing customer feedback, and analyzing products to provide you with the information you need.
Overview of Cuyana
Cuyana was founded in 2011 by Shilpa Shah and Karla Gallardo in San Francisco with a focus on creating high-quality sustainable designs. They wanted to use only carefully selected fabrics and top-notch materials for their collection of accessories, creating items with positive impact that were made to last.
Their mission has always been to “create a global design house that inspires intentional buying through pieces that are crafted with integrity.” Intentional buying is an important topic for me right now. Slowing down the rush of spending on fast fashion, I like that Cuyana encourages mindfulness and big-picture shopping.
Since its inception, this digital-based brand focused on creating direct-to-consumer, affordable luxury pieces and believes in purchasing fewer but better-quality pieces that customers will love for years to come.
The brand is headquartered in San Francisco but its products are made in Italy, the United States, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, China, and Portugal, working alongside many small family-owned factories and developing relationships with their suppliers.
Cuyana is also giving back by partnering with H.E.A.R.T., a nonprofit organization that helps female victims of abuse, and thredUP on the Lean Closet Program that encourages women to pass unused items on to those in need.
Before I get to the goods in this Cuyana bags review, let’s take a look at the brand’s highlights.
Highlights
- A wide range of quality bags and bag accessories
- High-quality and sustainable materials used for all products
- Affordable price point for designer-quality accessories
- Offers Afterpay options on select products
- Free US shipping over $95
- 2-year warranty on all orders
- All returns are free when sent 30 days after the shipping date
Cuyana prioritizes making their products work effectively for customers. Cuyana wallets, bags, and organizers are high-quality, sustainable, and affordable so they can be accessed and used—no matter your lifestyle.
Made from fine LWG Gold Certified Italian leather and GOTS cotton canvas, I was delighted to find some recycled options in the collection as well. Just ahead, I’ll walk you through Cuyana’s beautiful leather goods. Let’s get started.
Cuyana Leather Goods Review
Up next in this Cuyana bags review, I’ll feature some of the brand’s best-selling bags and bag accessories to ensure you’re equipped for work, the gym, or errands.
Whether you’re looking for a tote, backpack, or shoulder bag, Cuyana has something that works for your needs and your schedule. I noticed that all bags are available for purchase with afterpay too—meaning you can split up your payments into 4 easy instalments.
Cuyana Leather Backpack Review
Some days are purse days, others call for a backpack. The Leather Backpack is a sleek style that is extremely versatile. With its easy access front pockets and a main compartment that can hold a 13” laptop, you can rock it to class, work, or to the cafe on the weekend.
Made from heavyweight LWG Gold Certified leather, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing your new favorite bag was tanned responsibly.
The Leather Backpack comes in black, cappuccino, and stone in 13” for $478 and 16” for $498.
Cuyana Leather Triple Zipper Weekender Bag Review
Sometimes, a girl’s just gotta go places. If you need a bag that will carry just the essentials, the Leather Triple Zipper Weekender Bag has 3 compartments and the zipper components keep everything in place. I think it’s a fantastic option for weekend jaunts to the countryside or last minute long-weekend flights.
This thing is ready for action and it’s made to keep you organized in the process. With 3 slip pockets, an interior shoe pocket, a water bottle compartment, and so much more, I love that it features a luggage slip in the back too.
Carry this sustainable option as a top handle or cross-body bag with an adjustable strap when not jet-setting. Made from Italian leather, grab it in black, sand/chestnut, or soft grey/natural, add the Leather Triple Zipper Weekender Bag to your getaways for $348.
Want extra flair? Get it monogrammed.
Cuyana Classic Leather Zipper Tote Review
I believe everyone should have a tote in their handbag rotation. A simple, roomy design, it has your back on all occasions. I’m particularly fond of the Classic Leather Zipper Tote thanks to its sophisticated charm.
Large, lightweight, and soft, this leather tote bag is ideal for anyone on the go. Made by hand in a family-owned workshop in Turkey, this bag is LWG Silver certified and tanned responsibly.
It’s available in 5 colors like stone, black, and caramel and can be monogrammed for a personal touch. To make sure this bag will be the right size for you, here are the dimensions: H 13.5” x W 18” x D 5.75”, with a handle drop of 9” and an overall weight of 1.8lbs.
The Classic Leather Zipper Tote retails for $227.
Cuyana Work Satchel Review
A work bag needs to be a few things: big enough to handle a laptop, packed with organizational pockets, and professional. The Work Satchel is all of those things.
Featuring a zippered compartment and a laptop sleeve that will hold a 15” laptop, it also has 2 small interior pockets, a cross-body strap, and a top handle for easy carrying.
What’s more, this beautiful bag is made outside of Pisa in a small family-owned factory. Made in black, clay, and quartz, the Work Satchel retails for $395.
While this sophisticated bag isn’t available right now, I’d recommend checking out Cuyana’s System Tote instead. Doubling as a weekend bag for $278-$298, add on the Tote Organizational Insert for similar features.
Cuyana Saddle Bag Review
The Saddle Bag is a beautiful take on a forever fashionable style. Made with high-quality Italian leather and suede in Cuyana’s factory outside of Pisa, Italy, the bag is H 9” x W 10.75” x D 3.5” with an adjustable strap length of 19″-25″.
This bag only weighs 1.3 lbs and the gold hardware adds a hint of extra sparkle. I think it would make the ideal brunch partner or pick for a casual date night. Made in black and nude, the Saddle Bag retails for $298.
I learned that this particular style has received an update. It’s now called the Modern Saddle Bag and is available for the same price.
Cuyana Camera Bag Review
The Camera Bag is a modern take on a vintage design. It features a zipper closure, adjustable strap, and an exterior slit pocket for easy access to all your goodies. Made from beautiful Italian leather, I think it’s the perfect accompaniment to a day of shopping or a night out with the girls you wan’t to be totally hands free.
Measuring, H 6.25” x W 9” x D 2.75”, this chic bag comes in black, cappuccino, caramel, and my personal favorite, chocolate croc-embossed for $160-$195. Though this style isn’t available right now, I’d recommend checking out the Mini Double Loop Bag for a similar look.
Cuyana Pouch Review
I can’t live without pouches. They keep all of my mess organized and I’m kind of nuts about this one. The Pouch makes for the perfect organizational compartment. Featuring gold hardware and a large interior, the pouch is available in the brand’s classic pebbled leather in black, blush, and stone.
Measuring H 7.5” x W 11.5” x D 2”, it weighs just 8oz so you can load it up with all of the essentials for a night out or keep your makeup and skincare safe when traveling. Get the Pouch for $78.
Cuyana Classic Zip Around Wallet Review
I enjoy understated accessories, so The Classic Zip Around Wallet is right up my alley. Though it doesn’t demand attention, its pebbled leather and smooth color can’t help but get noticed.
Sustainably and exquisitely made, this compact wallet has dimensions of H 4.5” x W 7.75” x D 1” and features:
- 8 card slots
- 2 bill slots
- 1 center coin zip pocket
I think it’s a solid choice for those partial to a classic design. Available in 6 colors including light stone/blush and blush/ecru, you can get the Classic Zip Around Wallet for $178.
Cuyana Tote Organization Insert Review
I love tote bags, but like the next girl, I dread tossing in my essentials to swim around and clang into each other. The Tote Organization Insert was developed to keep things separated and safe.
Made in a woman-owned factory in Turkey, it comes with a key clip interior pocket, and fits a 15” laptop and water bottle.
The polyurethane microsuede adds an extra layer of durability to your favorite new sustainable tote bag, shielding your phone from your water bottle and keeping your essentials organized and accessible.
The Tote Organization Insert is available in black/blush and blush for $98.
Cuyana Bags Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
My mission in this Cuyana bags review is to give you the full scoop on the brand, and I simply couldn’t do that without customer feedback. After a quick web search, I learned that there aren’t many Cuyana reviews available online from independent sources. With that said, what I did find was positive overall.
For example, Cuyana Reddit reviews are extremely positive. One customer wrote, “I discovered Cuyana and fell in love with their products.”
Specifically, one Reddit thread applauded the Classic Leather Tote, describing it as “an absolute dream. I’ve used it every day for close to a year and it still looks just as good as the day I got it.”
Another customer wrote rave reviews on the Work Satchel, saying, “I love this bag and will get a ton of use out of it.” It’s safe to say the brand is loved in Reddit communities.
Heading over to a Cuyana bags review on a blog called BlondesandBagels.com, I read about the author’s experience with the Tall Structured Zipper Tote. The review praised the brand and concluded that “In terms of sustainable leather bags, Cuyana is up there with the best of them.”
This BlondesandBagels.com review also highlighted the brand’s:
- Great designs
- Fair prices
- Convenience
- Amazing customer service
Checking in with Sitejabber next, I saw that Cuyana had an average rating of 4/5 stars out of 5 reviews. As amazing as some find the brand, the reviews highlight that the products are high quality but some negative claims pointed out that the costs were a little too high.
In my experience with sustainable designer bags, Cuyana’s are some of the more affordable options on the market. They’re not cheap, fast fashion bags and the prices reflect that.
The only other negative reviews about the brand’s quality and style were that they were very simple and that some designs aren’t as functional as they should be.
Considering all that I turned up for this part of my Cuyana bags review, it appears more people love them than not. While there wasn’t a ton of feedback, what was there was helpful in understanding the quality of the brand and its bags.
Are Cuyana Bags Worth It?
Is Cuyana a good company? My answer is a simple, but hearty: yes. The brand’s products are stylish, efficient, and affordable for any occasion or errand. Plus, I think the fact that celebrities love and frequently buy from the brand is a pretty great sign of their look and quality.
Although the brand is at a higher price point than the average purse brands, their products are well-priced for designer quality items and most customers love their simple, elegant designs. I’m a big fan too.
What’s more, Cuyana offers Afterpay making buying their products more accessible.
You can find a variety of high-quality styles that will suit your personal needs while also being sustainable and well-made. Their products also ship internationally and there are affordable shipping options for US customers.
If you are in the market for a new bag, I don’t think you’ll need to look any further than this Cuyana bags review—aside from hopping over to the brand’s website to browse the selection yourself.
After reading about multiple products on the Cuyana official website, peeking through customer reviews, and searching for acclaimed sources, here’s my verdict of this Cuyana bags review: I believe their on-trend purses are totally worth the investment.
Cuyana Bags Promotions & Discounts
While searching through the brand’s website for this Cuyana bags review, I discovered that the brand offers free shipping on orders over $95–which isn’t a hard total to rack up considering how gorgeous their bags are.
Though there isn’t currently a Cuyana promo code available, I recommend signing up for the mailing list to stay in the loop for future deals.
Where to Buy Cuyana Bags
You can buy Cuyana Bags on Cuyana.com or at one of their retail locations.
Since Cuyana is a direct-to-consumer brand, you won’t find them at other retail shops, but the brand does have a few of their own:
- San Francisco
- Palo Alto
- Venice
- Pacific Palisades
- Chicago
- Boston
- NYC Upper East Side
- NYC Nolita
FAQ
What is Cuyana?
Cuyana is a direct-to-consumer fashion and accessories brand known for its positive impact on the industry.
What does Cuyana mean?
In the Indigenous Quechua language, Cuyana means “to love”.
Where are Cuyana bags made?
Cuyana products are made in Italy, the United States, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, China, and Portugal.
Is Cuyana vegan?
While writing this Cuyana bags review, I found that Cuyana is not a vegan brand but that its products are sustainably-made.
Where does Cuyana ship from?
Cuyana ships from the Bay Area in California.
What is Cuyana’s Shipping Policy?
No Cuyana bags review would be complete without details on shipping, so you’ll find them all here. Cuyana offers free ground shipping via FedEx on orders over $95. There is also a $5 flat rate shipping on orders under $95 and it takes 3-8 business days for arrival. Your other options:
- 2-day FedEx delivery: $25
- Overnight shipping: $35
- 2-day to Hawaii and Alaska: $15
- International Shipping is available for $35
For a complete list of countries they ship to, visit their website to learn more. All duties and taxes will be available when you checkout. International orders are shipped within 1-2 business days.
What is Cuyana’s Return Policy?
This Cuyana bags review found that their return policy is as follows:
Domestic Returns:
- Unused and unworn products will be accepted if sent within 30 days of shipment
- All Cuyana returns are free
- Shipping fees are nonrefundable
- Monogrammed items are final sale
I’ll note here in this Cuyana bags review that all international items are final sale. If you would like to make a return, follow these steps:
- Log into your Cuyana account
- View order history
- Select the item(s) you wish to return
- Click ‘return’ on the item(s)
- Follow the steps outlined on the website
- It can take up to 5 business days for a refund or credit to be processed
- You will receive an email confirmation of your refund and your original form of purchase will be credited
You cannot exchange items unless they are defective or damaged. If you have a product that you feel has a defect, Cuyana offers a 2-year warranty on all orders. The Cuyana repair policy is free of charge and covers manufacturing defects.
How to Contact Cuyana
If you have any questions after reading this Cuyana bags review, you may contact their team via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Other inquiries: [email protected]
- Phone: +1 (844) 326-6005
- Text: +1 (415) 903-4106 (SMS rates apply)
Customer service is available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm PST.
Looking for other awesome handbags? Check out our reviews for other bags & accessories brands:
Article Sources
- Bardey, A., Booth, M., Heger, G. and Larsson, J. Finding yourself in your wardrobe: An exploratory study of lived experiences with a capsule wardrobe Sage Journals International Journal of Market Research, p.147078532199374
How long does it take to get my bag?it’s under my daughter n laws name .Ana Rodriguez…..from Garland Tx. Not sure of the item number .it’s been 4 weeks does that sound right??!!call me with any information thanks!469 671 9490