Josefina was founded in April 2015 by France Lamy Herbeau, a Parisian mother and former cosmetics industry professional, who teamed up with friend Ángela Esteban Librero to create a bag that could transition seamlessly from work to motherhood. After nearly 18 months of development, they launched the brand with a focus on creating ultra-chic, functional diaper bags that didn’t sacrifice elegance—designed in Paris and handcrafted in Spain by exceptional artisans using lightly treated, high-quality leather . The name "Josefina" reflects this balance: versatile, understated luxury with plenty of organization for modern urban mothers.

FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD LEATHERCRAFT

READING MY ASSESSMENT SCORES

AUDIENCE & CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE

How would you rate Josefina as a brand?

PRODUCTS REVIEWED

Can the Josefina Bag Keep Up with Real Mom Life?

Josefina's Large Balck

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Tanner Leatherstein holds a Josefina bag for the Rip My Bag Challenge, questioning if it can withstand real mom life. Text reads: 'Challenge Accepted' and 'Can the Josefina Bag Keep Up with Real Mom Life?

Today’s Rip My Bag Challenge brings us a thoughtful submission from Josefina, a brand founded in 2015 by a Parisian mother and entrepreneur. Although born in France, Josefina produces their bags in Spain, and their designs clearly reflect their origins—fusing Parisian sensibility with practical, everyday usability. For this challenge, one of our anonymous buyers in France ordered the large black Josefina bag, a model that seems to walk the line between a duffel and a briefcase, tailored specifically for mothers who juggle family life on the go.

DISCLAIMER: The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process.

First Impressions & Design Intent

At first glance, the leather on the Josefina black large bag gives off a matte, natural look—a likely buffed hide with a milled finish that offers some pleasing breakage and pebbling. It’s not flashy; instead, it’s functional and down-to-earth, much like its intended audience. The bag is equipped with multiple compartments, clearly built with moms and babies in mind—plenty of space for bottles, diapers, and everything in between. The interior is lined with canvas-like fabric that complements the leather’s texture well.

This design scores a 3.5/5 in functionality and concept. It’s thoughtfully constructed for its purpose, which shows an understanding of its user’s needs.

Structure and Build

The Josefina bag has a semi-structured form, and it doesn’t attempt to be overly rigid—which is a smart and budget-conscious design choice. Turned-edge detailing replaces edge paint, providing a clean and cost-effective solution that’s well-executed here. This method supports longevity and gives a refined look without the high-end production expense.

On structure, again, it earns a solid 3.5/5. It’s appropriately designed for its function, and the construction techniques are aligned with its price point.

Craftsmanship Details

Upon closer inspection of the interior, I found the craftsmanship to be clean and consistent, though there was some slightly crooked stitching in areas not visible from the outside. For a bag in this pricing tier, this is not only acceptable—it’s above average. Josefina is showing a good level of attention to detail, even in the hidden parts.

So for craftsmanship, the bag also receives a 3.5/5—indicative of quality above expectation for its price.

Hardware Quality

Moving to hardware, Josefina seems to use a gold-coated Zamak zinc alloy, with a mid-layer of copper under the plating. The finishing is smooth and nicely executed, which suggests a thoughtful approach to hardware—again, keeping in mind both aesthetics and cost efficiency. The feel and finish are very pleasant to the touch and eye, especially for this range.

Hardware scores a 3.5/5 as well.

Leather Assessment

Applying acetone to the leather revealed that there is very minimal surface finish, allowing the natural grain to come through—ideal for a product aimed at busy lifestyles, as it’s easy to maintain and clean. Upon closer examination of the pores, the leather appears to be buffalo hide, likely of Italian origin, placing it in the higher tier of buffalo leathers used in this market.

Leather quality is impressive and earns a 3.5/5, matching the rest of the bag's consistent performance.

Cost Breakdown and Value

The Josefina large bag uses approximately 15–16 square feet of leather, and I estimate the leather cost alone to be €45–€50. Factoring in local Spanish manufacturing and hardware, the total production cost would fall in the €125–€130 range.

The retail price paid by our anonymous buyer was €388 (VAT included). After subtracting taxes, the brand receives around €320 net, making the price multiplier approximately 2.5X. While that’s tight for long-term growth and profitability, it’s not unusual for emerging brands with direct-to-consumer models.

Final Thoughts

Josefina presents a functional, stylish, and well-executed product at a fair price point. If you're looking for a family-friendly bag with Parisian charm and Spanish craftsmanship, this brand offers genuine value. Their approach balances form and function with refreshing clarity, and it’s encouraging to see this level of honesty in a niche that often over-promises and under-delivers.