Carry On: Sourcing Bags

Phase 3.

1. Production Hubs

• Shiling (Guangzhou): The "Leather Capital". Huge material market for PU/Leather. Best for handbags.
• Pinghu (Zhejiang): The center for Luggage (Suitcases).
• Baigou (Hebei): Cheaper, lower quality bags.

2. Materials

• PU Leather: Synthetic. Cheap. Peels after 2 years.
• Genuine Leather: Expensive.
• rPET: Recycled plastic bottle fabric. Very trendy for backpacks.

3. Luggage Testing

• Drop Test: Ask the factory to drop the loaded suitcase from 1 meter. Does the wheel break?
• Handle jerk test: 5000 cycles.

Summary

The zipper is the first thing to break. Specify YKK or SBS zippers. Do not use generic unbranded zippers.