Inside the fake luxury hype: What Aupen doesn’t want you to know?

[@Katie-hb8xl]

THIS is the fashion journalism we need!!! Bravo!!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you

[@rebliew4948]

As a born-and-bred Singaporean, I applaud your attempts to investigate Aupen's true manufacturing origins. While I can't be 100% sure, I'm fairly certain their bags aren't manufactured in Singapore. Your research is accurate: the high standards of living here make it tricky to produce + sell a leather bag at that price point. If you look at Tocco Toscano (a popular local leather brand), their bags are in a similar price range - and are made in a factory in Guangzhou, China, as indicated on their FAQs page.

[@cheapskait]

yes! singaporean here as well and i’m sure if aupen was really manufactured here there would be straits times articles and cna interviews and what not - i highly doubt we have any factories making leather bags here 🤔

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I appreciate that honest disclosure. Nothing wrong with making bags in China as it is a great bag for the prive

[@bookerymy285]

Jumping onto this thread for a shout-out to Tocco Toscano! Not much of an expert on bags and I don't chase luxury brands, but I got a Toscano and am blown away by the quality and its classy silhouette. Would be interesting to see a video on it!

[@karinphua9415]

😂I love tocco toscano in the 90s but now they started selling Pu bags. But I still prefer TT to Charles n Keith which sells Pu at leather prices.

[@miao-m9q]

Charles and keith bags are manufactured in china too. I believe pedro also same. Cos it is owned by the same family.

[@anluxem7876]

My whole opinion and perception on designer bags has completely changed since I’ve subscribed to your channel. I no longer buy any designer bags

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you dor your trust and support. I love seeing new designers in the market but being open and clear is sth I look for on brands I choose to support.

[@benjaminwu5465]

What surprise me most is that some people knew this channel and understood whatever he says in the videos, but they still NEED luxury bags because they feel the pressure to execute tastes and styles to their peers. That’s sad.

[@msl1689]

​@@benjaminwu5465Or maybe they just really like the bags. No need to be so judgmental.

[@benjaminwu5465]

@@msl1689 it is called understanding and learning why people making their decisions and Why they like these bags? If this is called judgmental in your culture then it is fine. Because being judgmental makes me know better. :-)

[@msl1689]

@@benjaminwu5465 Not everyone buys these bags to impress others. You're making a sweeping generalisation. That's what I'm saying.

[@IgnisPhantasma]

Private investigator: 🕵‍♂️🤔💭... Leather craftsman:🤔🧑‍💻📈💡! Love how you're keeping us educated so we can make informed decisions! Fantastic investigative journalism.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Glad to hear that. I am trying to learn this investigative social media journalism as a hobby these days. Its fun

[@felzebub1762]

​@@tanner.leatherstein not leather related but bizzare gimmicky marketing or scam in Sydney Aus- crumbl cookie

[@suzysizzle]

Great investigation! My thoughts are if Aupen didn't specifically infiltrate the celebrities, they probably infiltrated the stylists. Everyone knows that celebrities rely on their style team for what is new/hot in the world of fashion. They could claim that the celebrities came upon it themselves if they plant the bags in the stylists closets. The stylists let the celebrities pick out what they want to wear, but the stylists can strategically place the Aupen bag where they know their client will see it and then its just a couple compliments of them with the bag before it's on the A-lister's arm.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Great insight!

[@LP96925]

My thoughts too. This has happened in the beauty industry as well. Not to long ago a makeup brand sent a makeup artist from Beyonce some items and then used those pictures of Beyonce using the makeup products for advertising. It was a big controversy since Beyonce was not aware and they were basically promoting the product as a Beyonce must-have for concert days. My guess here is that they were paid since they would have stopped using the bags if they saw other celebs were also wearing the bags and them not getting a dime from all the free advertising the brand was getting they would stop wearing them.

[@sazdoxie4247]

You are amazing. Ex-shoe designer/ line builder here. You’ve continually hit the nail on the head with so many aspects of design & manufacturing. Bravo Sir. You’re doing the lords work (just a saying! ) thanks for all you do ❤🙏🏻 👜

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you so much for the kind words! 🙏🏻

[@angelsgirl515]

He’s helping others not waste their hard earned money and not be tricked. That is the Lord’s work.

[@Yougotthis1212]

I used to work in China and there’s no bags being made in Singapore like that, as you stated it would be cost prohibitive. I agree and know based on my experience that they’re made in Guangzhou and there’s more than likely a larger brand behind these shenanigans creating a new market for the money grab. You can find an almost similar shape and style in TJ Maxx made in PU. I only buy exotic skin bags now from smaller businesses in the countries I visit. Support smaller artisans!!!

[@Daintymeow]

As a Singaporean, I am curious how Aupen will respond to your findings. I agree with your assessment!

[@Kelalasdemonx]

They won't 😂

[@raymond-hj1cx]

While it is possible to produce in Singapore, it is super expensive to produce in Singapore. We mainly do small batches at a premium. Also, the craftsman salaries are actually higher than what you listed... trust me, i'm a craftsman in Singapore😂

[@jennypaxton8159]

If the brand is proud of where their product is made, they’re going to put a nice big “Made In Singapore!!!” tag inside. The fact they didn’t has to mean they couldn’t. No one goes that far out of their way to be vague and secretive unless they know people wouldn’t be happy if they found out the truth.

[@BigJ-ks9zn]

Im going to be honest. Im the type of guy that has 0 interest in carrying a bag, but I enjoy your videos and how you break down the bags and brands. I guess part of it comes from my interest in leather work either way.. thank you, and keep up the good work.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I appreciate your support and sicere comment 🙏

[@AdrienneMint]

You know you want one.

[@WesternEasterMan]

There’s been a lot of Chinese companies fronting as Singaporean companies in recent years.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That's an interesting angle I didn't consider but makes sense

[@crab3696]

There is a new law in US that also bans goods made from Xinjiang China due to the use of forced labor from that region.

[@WesternEasterMan]

@@tanner.leatherstein you can search up some articles from this year that covers it. They’re calling it “Singapore-Washing”. Chinese companies are setting up shop to get around tariffs and barriers and to reduce suspicions over Chinese acquisitions in sensitive industries.

[@superlynnie]

​@tanner.leatherstein The Singapore government has been encouraging foreigners (esp. China Chinese) to open "family offices" in Singapore with tax advantages.

[@CBEEBLE]

The only brands that have access to celebrity stylists and by return A list celebrities are the big conglomerates. It’s sounds like LMVH have already bankrolled and used their production/ distribution networks in tandem with access to major fashion magazines, stylists to reverse engineer new product lines/ brands). Of course they would already have the production factories in place in China. “For its part, LVMH's commitments include sourcing 70 percent of its materials from within a radius of 500 kilometers, along with measuring and tracking energy consumption at its stores.” So this would make sense given the “collaboration…”

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I appreciate your valuable insights here. That's what I am thinking

[@purplebutterfly314]

Plenty of brands do this kind of shady roundabout stuff to make it seem like they make their bags in developed countries with tighter working regulations so they trick you into thinking you're supporting a brand with ethical labor practices. The EU law in particular is tailor made for this kind of predatory stuff, brands can say a bag was made in Italy, Spain or France when just one of the manufacturing processes was there, like the final assembly of the product or installing a tag. Meanwhile the bulk of the labor was still made in China by workers who get paid pennies per hour.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

It is simpler to do it in one place and share it truthfully (or at least not mislead), I hope we move to more transparent marketing communication days with today's connectedness. It is getting harder and more consequential to lie and get caught, especially in a market where Gen Z is becoming the most important audience who cares about authenticity...

[@xoxfairy]

That is completely not true. China manufactures can still adhere to ethical labour practices. They are not ALL paid pennies per year.

[@tredjesongen]

​@@xoxfairyok. But we all know about China and human rights and how they treat animals.

[@xoxfairy]

@@tredjesongen LOL that is the most uneducated comment that I have ever witnessed.

[@tredjesongen]

@@xoxfairy Congratulations!😃

[@Person_Not_Known]

After watching you I've basically decided never to buy another corporate branded bag and stick to individuals for unique bags under their own brand.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Individual craftsman work usually comes without any of this fluff. Which makes it a better choice for me anyways

[@alexandraaikonika]

Any recommendations of unique small brands?

[@skyisblueish2633]

There actually is a leather company in Singapore which supposedly provides leather craftsmanship for brands like LV. They have a sub brand called Tresse, where their own products are all weaved leather pieces. I used to work as a retail assistant selling Tresse products, and that's the brand background I was told of. Not sure whether they have any relationship with Aupen but Singapore is a small place, so I can't think of any other suppliers.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thanks for the info! That’s really interesting to know.

[@stjenjen]

But it does not mean this brand provided the craftsmanship for Aupen. Anyone can claim their products are made in Singapore (or even made in Italy). Our cost is so high here, not even sure if they can sell at that price point.

[@plingalingaling]

As a Singaporean, I found this video very eye-opening and illuminating. Thank you for the deepdive into this brand. (And thankfully the Fearless Re-edition, which I also have, received your stamp of approval. 😅)

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I’m glad you found the video insightful!

[@heels4heal]

As soon as you mentioned Singapore, I knew that the bags were made in China.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That was my immediate thought as well given the price point but I wanted to dig as much as I could to find support for my hunch

[@heels4heal]

@@tanner.leatherstein You did a great job doing so, as always!

[@1romancatholic]

What isn’t in these greedy times?

[@nikos1492]

I f****** love this channel I mean look at the effort

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you!!

[@Kitty-Cattie]

From the Spanish craft city to the Chinese leather city to this video, I respect your detective work and courage to reveal the truth! ❤ A journalist at heart~

[@tanner.leatherstein]

A rookie at best for now in investigation work but I enjoy it so much as I learn a lot about leather with each video, I will keep working on it

[@christik6604]

You are so correct on your suspicion. From Trade Compliance standpoint, this raises a lot of red flags and made no sense why the product would be shipped from China if they are claiming it's made in Singapore. If it was indeed made in China, I hope they are declaring the correct country of origin upon import.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That I couldn't see because UPS doesn’t give any info on the from address or those details thatbare not on the label or tracking page. I called and asked

[@harryoppenheimer1558]

@@tanner.leatherstein You might be able to FOIA the US CBP

[@NJ-Cathie]

All those A listers get either paid to carry around with the bag or they are all promos shipped to them for free. It is all a scam.

[@susanm9824]

So true!!👍🏻

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That's my suspicion but can't prove it...

[@ItsTooLatetoApologize]

@@tanner.leatherstein celebrities also use stylists, so maybe the company paid off a few stylists to suggest their bag to their celebrity clients.

[@ehkbv]

how they can even afford that as a new company tho.its really fishy

[@cmg25]

Celebrities are just walking billboards. There is zero thinking behind what they are seen wearing. It is all done for them.

[@TemplarLove]

As a Singaporean, I immediately knew that the bag gonna be made in China 🤣

[@shivanigaitonde6133]

So impressed with this video and the effort you put in! I was just as dubious seeing Aupen ads targetting me all over social media for all the same reasons. Honestly even if a bag seems nice quality for the price, the lack of transparency and suspicious business practices give me the ick lol. Keep up the excellent work - this is the kind of investigative journalism consumers need more of!!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thanks so much! I feel the same way about those ads-something just feels off. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Chanchanlala]

Summary = Aupen is Chinese company masquarade as Singaporean company

[@lolnoorly]

And used the Singapore factory for knowledge then moved it back to China, threw several million at celebs to carry out the bags for 2 hours. Done

[@rlkinnard]

It might be owned by someone from Singapore; their creative team might not be from China.

[@chrisya1705]

Was it also Miniso that's Chinese pretending to be Japanese?

[@dimdull]

I was very tempted to buy an Aupen bag, inspired by a couple of KZbinrs more than half a year ago. I searched the Aupen website and found the address with a picture of the ‘factory.’ The address seemed to be shared by other businesses as well, felt more like co-working space. I felt very uncomfortable with the information and decided not to proceed with my purchase.

[@janetan2220]

As a Singaporean I was surprised to know Taylor Swift carried this Singapore brand. So I purchased the most well known "Nirvana" bag and was shock to receive it from China. I believe China people used "Made in Singapore" to cheat buyers. The 2 owners most probably were paid to register the company. Thank you for this investigation. Though I felt cheated, I am glad you said its made of good leather.

[@doviemeh]

Such an awesome video. And no I dont believe its being manufactured in Singapore. Its a very expensive place to live and Singaporean cost of living is sky high. With just the materials alone if its locally source and artisan labour it be impossible. Also, celebrities stylish and personal shoppers have a web like network so I'm sure theres always this very smart middle man that pushed the brand to reach the social media. In my personal opinion shutting the brand down is a strategy to build up the hype. People that follow the new trend and these celebrities will always be the 1st victim.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It’s clear there’s a lot of strategy behind the scenes, and it raises important questions about transparency and authenticity in branding.

[@missymannequeen]

Thank you for making this video! Definitely quenched my curiosity for a while now. Aupen is a highly suspicious brand and I just couldn't pinpoint where and how it came about as a Singaporean myself. Even when the brand was featured on CNA, I was perplexed how the articles also shared very 'politically correct' and vague responses, I figured it's probably similar because of how they receive the same set of answers from their PR team. The 'Made in Singapore' label is a huge misrepresentation. Will definitely stay away from this brand, they should be more transparent with their processes and communication!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad the video helped clear things up. It’s definitely troubling when a brand’s claims don’t match up with reality. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@creature57]

What a mystery. Well done for not giving up and pursuing this. The information you're collecting is helpful to the consumers.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. It's all about getting to the truth and helping people make more informed decisions. I’m glad the information has been useful to you!

[@joycewarwick6621]

Due to limited restock and to ensure all customers have equal opportunity to purchase, all bag purchases are considered final sale items. As such, we are unable to accept returns, cancellations, or exchanges

[@lemontea3520]

Great investigation! Thanks for your efforts and authentic opinion. Much appreciated.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Glad you like them. I appreciate your support 🙏

[@ChloeMui-m2y]

Thank you for the investigation🙏It's quite clear that the bags are manufactured in China, as Singapore lacks the necessary set up to produce these products, even if they intended to. Additionally, the speed of their PR efforts seems highly questionable. Having worked in-house for other fashion brands, I know that this kind of rapid growth is impossible without paid efforts directly to stylists or celebrities, which further raises suspicion. 😮

[@peilinghuang4843]

Surprised to see my country being featured on your channel! Singapore-made or not, thanks for letting us have your expert view that it’s of good quality.

[@evangelineLKwan]

I got the raffia version of the nirvana bag recently and it was shipped from China. The unboxing was truly underwhelming (no Aupen gift box, only the dust bag and no thank you or brand introduction note etc) and I had to email customer service after 5 days before they even bothered to send me the bag. The bag itself is well made but the customer service and after sales was truly lacking. The bag is highly likely made in China.

[@garligarli]

I wonder if the brand founders are associated with Charles & Keith. The design approach of both brands is quite similar. They both originated from Singapore and invested by LVMH.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Interesting thought!

[@peanutz8638]

To be honest, I can care less about their shady marketing. All I care is you said it is great quality and the price is decent. Looking up their bags now 👀

[@sky2649]

Coming back to this video after a new Straits Times article has just been released today where they interviewed the founder of Aupen

[@jessicaallison8981]

Brilliant investigation, thanks so much for doing this!

[@daydreamerhandcrafted]

The brand indeed only started appearing a few years back here in Singapore, I honestly though it was a scam at first when they showed all the celebrities carrying their bags on their ads. I had not realized they were selling it for that price, the bag does looks good and has a nice design to it. As a leather craftsman in Singapore I do feel that at that pricing it is indeed suspicious, though not impossible, just with a low profit margin. Which brings up the point as you mentioned, they probably have a rich financier behind it to be able to start/sustain the business, or maybe they were just lucky. 🤣 ps: I can't help but notice that on the photo of the craftsman from the Aupen site, the hardware on his table looks a lot like the hardware used by another singapore brand called "Abara" so I think you are right to say that Crockohdial was involved in the process at some point.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Yeah, it’s crazy how often that happens. Sometimes these brands pop up, and with all the celebrity endorsements, it feels like they're too good to be true. 🤣 Interesting catch on the hardware too! It’s always fascinating to see those little overlaps between brands. Makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes!

[@stjenjen]

Wow you did a lot of research on this! Interesting! Always love your videos :)

[@Patricia-hx4dh]

Amazing work, please keep it up!!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you!

[@noname-7992]

We must protect you at any cost. These people will put you in jail for ‘false accusations’.

[@Ellielovescolor]

Since a chunk of the buyers who previously purchased high ends brands are now purchasing less know middle range bags like Aester Eekme, Little liffner, Franlaurer etc I’ve noticed that several Chinese companies are trying to pass for “London based” “Singapore based” companies etc trying to enter that market. However, I don’t know why but their webpage seems always to miss authenticity in terms of story and value proposition.

[@JessicaChen-k1p]

This is your best video yet! I have your togo senior bag and love it!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Super happy to hear that. Thank you for your support

[@SukiKG]

Really interesting video. I visited their website a few days ago after hearing about the brand. I thought it strange they only had a couple of products. Something didn't feel quite 'right'. I was expecting a site that was maybe similar to Polene or Demellier based on the hype around the bags. Good to know the leather and quality are decent at least.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Yes bag was great for the price. I think they going through a revamping process for the lvmh collab next year

[@christolois9705]

Fascinating investigative work from an international legal intellectual property and trade practices viewpoint. It is conceivable that the so called 'influencers and stars' who show off these bags in public are either paid well to do so or the bags are pushed to them by their own agents who are skimming the cream off the top themselves, Whatever, the shallowness of the high fashion industry never fails to disappoint. In this instance their assumption that all consumers can easily be fooled has at least been proven wrong by your video.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you for that thoughtful take! The fashion industry's complexities can be frustrating, especially when it feels like authenticity is lacking. I’m glad my video helped shed light on some of these practices. It’s all about keeping things transparent and making sure consumers know what they’re really getting!

[@spinlee]

This is a very detailed and thorough investigation. I enjoy the whole video. Thank you so much

[@ewascheer7951]

Thank you for standing for quality! in the last 10-15 years the quality of designs and production has tumbled. The worst is that the younger generation has no point of reference to judge what is good and what is garbage, and can be sold any junk without even knowing at a high price. Thank you for educating people.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you! It’s crucial to raise awareness about quality and help others make informed choices.

[@McKenzie.540]

Loved this! So interesting....love your videos, so educational. I look at the leather industry so differetly now.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Glad you like them!

[@majbrittkjaer6134]

I have the Nirvana in white since almost 1 year in real leather, and I love it… used it a lot, and still like new. I have seen several bad reviews and people saying their vegan leather bags were bad, but the one I have is really nice, although a little small for my taste in general. But the company / website have always been a little strange and I realised after receiving the bag, that there was no possibility for return, to ensure you only order what you really want… not that I wanted to return, but still, strange… 😊

[@ehkbv]

isnt not having a return choice illegal?

[@nainex52]

A hidden takeaway is that it seems like the bag is good quality and good value… despite the “deception” every luxury brand has anyway. In Singapore, commissioning a men’s wallet is S$300+ (USD 230). There is no way a bag would be US$340 made here.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Yes, the bag is great value and that's what I felt like the price doesn't makes sense if it was made in Songapore

[@arpoehler]

I have two Aupen bags, both are leather, the Nirvana (which they still sell) and the Purpose (no longer available). I purchased the Nirvana for $340 and it is truly a beautiful bag. I would say especially for the price, I feel like I got a great deal. It looks and feels beautiful. The Purpose was $170 and it's trash. The leather on the purpose is way, way lower quality than on the Nirvana. Also, the leather seams have visible glue on the Purpose and the lines of the bag aren't straight. The Purpose looks like a dollar store bag. I think they use different factories to manufacture their bags and completely different inputs. I purchased both bags around the time they announced their partnership/investment with LVMH.

[@flighter7713]

Every since the pandemic, I don't follow brand names, I follow craftmanship.

[@day6hwaiting708]

This is phenomenal investigative work. Although you usually focus on reviewing quality of goods, you have an impressive talent for producing long length investigative documentaries. I am from Malaysia (a country situated next to Singapore) and was very surprised that luxury leather goods were able to be produced locally at that specific level of craftmanship and sold at that price point. Note that Singapore is an extremely small country with limited resources and as you mentioned, a high living wage (if one is to operate on a legal manner). However, I kept an open mind as Charles and Keith, is a popular mass market singaporean brand that has extreme global success so I thought things might have really changed to allow for a mature industry to develop overtime. But of course, the caveat here is that most C&K goods are faux and made of cheap hardware. So I am really glad this video was made and does support my scepticism.

[@Twertyuu]

C&K's hardware are actually pretty good quality that is comparable to some mid-range luxury brands like MK, Kate Spade, etc but without their price tag.

[@day6hwaiting708]

@@Twertyuu I think it may have to depend on the type of bag because I personally have owned a couple and they do scratch very easily. But regardless, the bags are pretty sturdy.

[@yasminm.1801]

“vegan leather, aka plastic” 😭😂😂

[@lovealwaysjasmine]

Ugh I got one of their bags, the lover, and it felt so cheap. I couldn’t return it since they were “going out of business” 🙄

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That's interesting, but they are not going out of business in fact they are doubling down it seems like

[@perthkraya3209]

It was a scam😅

[@lovealwaysjasmine]

@@perthkraya3209 yup

[@contact-bf2rw]

My god this is extremely high quality and thougtful video! Respect!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you so much!

[@amymeir2235]

Love the deep dive and investigative reporting.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you!

[@haneyletpajo2922]

Wonderful video! I agree with you because, based on what I have observed, Singaporean companies typically outsource the manufacturing process for the reasons you stated. For example, the cat food I buy is a brand from Singapore and is only headquartered in Singapore, and they disclose that their products are indeed manufactured in other countries, such as Thailand.

[@kiwiyao]

Many companies in China have been very fond of using illicit transshipment to avoid taxes or enhance their brand image in recent years, including the countries such as Taiwan, Japan and Singapore are all victims.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thanks for your comment. It’s a complex issue that affects many regions, and it’s important to stay informed about such practices.

[@G..G..]

Thank you Tanner. Great investigation...

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Glad you like it

[@shivapazoki1881]

invastigative journalism at its most pure... thank you

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you! I’m glad you appreciate the deep dive-it’s all about keeping things real and honest. Appreciate the support!

[@a.leehilliard4716]

Designer bags are a total con. Company owners are laughing all the way to the bank. Never3 buy one bec ause a star has one. They get everything for free

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That start wearing a bag scheme is working wonders for brands and for the stars as well I guess. So it is a well oiled machine producing hype for who likes it

[@anettedidriksson398]

A while ago you mentioned that you would review Mulberry. Have I missed it or is it still in the pipe line? Really enjoy what you are doing on this channel! Greatings from Sweden!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Still in the pipeline. I was a bit slow on video last couple of months during my move to Spain but next month we will pick up some speed.

[@ehkbv]

@@tanner.leatherstein hope youre enjoying your new home!!

[@chillwithmari]

I doubt that those A list celebrities get those bags organically. Most likely this company has connections with celebrity stylists who then pushed those bags to them

[@tanner.leatherstein]

That's what makes me think there is an established fashion business connection behind the scenes making that access quick and easy from their existing relationships with the celebs and stylists

[@babagonzales]

It’s not the first time a Singapore company partners with LVMH - Charles & Keith previously did :)

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I saw C&K everywhere in Taiwan and got curious but they told me most of their bags are pu so I decided not too buy one for review

[@E-Diva]

It is definitely made in Guangdong China, folks are getting played.

[@User9781yt]

Love your investigative skill! I feel like watching a detective movie and it’s great to watch while I snack or eat.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you so much!

[@KikiCorallie]

😂😂😂😂 I burst in laughter when you said the shipment originated in guangdong, china 😂😂 I remember this online bag brand JW pei was really hyped. I also checked the country or origin for shipping they said it came from china

[@vsegador]

Great video as always! This brand has always felt sus to me.

[@titafren]

Thank you for exposing this - i ordered a bag from Aupen and it is very clear --- the origin of my order from the shipment tracker is China! 😳 How can a 'made in singapore' bag be coming from China as point of origin 😂

[@xcf1614]

now THIS is leathertainment

[@cyberanee]

Thank you for your entertaining and insightful reporting. Really appreciate your hard work! I myself had come across Aupen a couple of months back and everything about it seemed too good to be true!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful. I had a similar feeling when I first came across Aupen, so I had to dig deeper. I’ll keep an eye on them to see how things unfold.

[@TheRelizabeth]

They are being sold on eBay. Look brand new. Thank you very interesting. I will stick to my vintage Coach and local bags. ❤

[@hsiensin]

Proud that it is a Singaporean brand!!

[@user-lr2kp2dt5j]

You and your private investigator did a great job giving us questions around this brand🤔.

[@perthkraya3209]

I love this channel its quite refreshing to find honesty where it is in fashion to be pretentious ❤

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you! Your support means a lot!

[@relaxandlivelife7093]

I think the celebrities have signed a none disclosure agreement and are being paid.

[@jeremychau1339]

It seems the Aupen website has removed a lot of misinformation like having warehouse, made in singapre etc.

[@Myamirah]

Wow. What an interesting video. I’m a new subscriber and a newbie to the designer bag game. Your channel seems like a good first step before finalizing any purchase. Great work !

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Welcome aboard!

[@gingocampo925]

I feel like their target customers are the younger generation who doesn’t really care what the bag is made of - they care more about the status that the bag gives them because it is also being worn by celebrities.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I totally get that vibe too.

[@blake1001x]

Hello Tanner. Can you please do Verafied New York bags?

[@heysaras]

Yes, they refuse to list where they manufacture but pretend it’s nyc.

[@blake1001x]

@@heysaras to be fair with Verafied, I just checked my FedEx tracking and item was shipped from Brooklyn NY USA.. I was just wondering why shipment to China is totally free whereas in other parts of the world, you have to meet a certain anount of purchase first before they ship it to you for free.

[@joycewarwick6621]

You can not return the bag. Check out their return policy.

[@karpathian_slaw7928]

Polene being bought up secretly by the Arnault family explains the recently reported drop in quality I would think

[@lfg4300]

LVMH all the way! Thank you for the video!!

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for the support.

[@kellygrace1617]

Keep up the good work! ❤

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you! Will do my best, it's fun anyways

[@brunonjezic6208]

Im really curious about Polo Ralph Lauren half moon leather bag quality. Maybe others would enjoy the video about it. They often make stuff in China while not hiding it and people are ok with it. It is somewhat alternative to this

[@happyhouse4948]

All celebs and influencers wearing the same bag is the only part of this story that sounds unsuspicious to me

[@flonotflow]

What an interesting video. I've thought something was fishy with this company from the outset, they just kind of came from out of nowhere and suddenly were an "It" bag. Makes me wonder about some other things as well as my suspicions about the fake industry.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

I'm glad you found the video intriguing! It’s definitely interesting how some brands can appear out of nowhere and quickly become popular.

[@ms.booklover2676]

I would love it if you would review a bag from the brand. Hobo International, hobobags…. It’s my go-to brand for leather bags. I always look for them on sale.

[@Bagellatte]

As someone living in Singapore, I don’t believe in this bag either and i kept seeing it pop up on Social.😅 I no longer buy any more luxury bags unless I strike the lottery and have money to spend lol 😂

[@Sp0rTyM0M]

I'm from Singapore, never heard of that brand b4, esp made in Singapore! (maybe I've always been on other brands 😂 - tho been living overseas for abt 30 yrs, but frequently visiting home).. I will definitely ask my friends/family back home about this brand..

[@thuydungphan3867]

Thank you 🙏 for all your videos

[@tanner.leatherstein]

You're welcome!

[@swedenseries]

Your analysis is so impressive 👏

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you found the analysis impressive.

[@zapobeduYra]

In the beginning of the video my first thought was China 😂

[@KikiCorallie]

1. no don’t believe the bags were made in Singapore. I don’t think I know anything that is made in Singapore 😅 it’s a beautiful and fascinating country but it’s expensive to live there. I only went there once as a kid so I can’t speak too much on the day to day but I think even s lot of things are imported from Malaysia, India or china. So a bag 300€ with made in Singapore label is so sketchy. 2. I never trust when something is over hyped among celebrities … it’s just too suspicious. So one of the conglomerates definitely paid big checks for the PR stunt. I don’t think Beyoncé or Taylor swift found these bags organically 😂😂 but Aupen the brand itself wouldn’t have so much financing without a big backer for these top celebrities sponsorship

[@tanner.leatherstein]

100% with you

[@relaxandlivelife7093]

We appreciate your videos

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you!!

[@maxduarte7354]

Can you review more men bags please 🙏 🙏, like sling bags, messenger, etc, small to medium sized.

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you for suggestions, moving to Europe next week and will have access to much more brands with lower costs so the videos will gain some momentum and we will look into more mens products

[@Lara-dh5dj]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Could you please make a video about Furla bags and wallets?

[@tanner.leatherstein]

Thank you for the kind words! I’ve actually already reviewed Furla’s Ostrich-printed leather bag. You can watch it here: www.notion.so/leathertainment/Furla-ffa7614c99694e2ca8267ca35fd39217?pvs=4.

[@21BDP21]

Oh they probably didn't pay the celebrity, but paid their stylist or something like that.