The Complete Handbook of Handbag & Wallet Accessories

I found this book useful but not exactly what I expected. As someone who repairs bags on the side, the chapter on troubleshooting was great and saved me a lot of time on a stubborn clasp. But I felt the section on business opportunities was a bit thin, like it could have been a standalone book on its own. It's a solid reference, but I wish it went deeper on the practical repair techniques instead of spending time on market analysis.

This is a good handbook to have on my desk, but it's not a page-turner. The chapter on types and specifications is thorough and I appreciate the concrete numbers on thread weight and plating thickness. However, as a buyer for a small boutique, I was hoping for more on how to choose accessories for resale. The chapter on choosing the right one felt more geared toward a designer than a retailer. It's good info, just not all of it is relevant to my role.

I have a small leather goods workshop and this book has quickly become a go-to. Chapter 1 alone was a great refresher on how a simple rivet's shear strength impacts the whole product, and the chapter on installation diagrams (the text descriptions were clear enough to sketch from) is spot on. I deducted a star because the glossary, while helpful, doesn't have a pronunciation guide for some of the more technical French terms. Other than that, a top-tier reference.

Finally! A book that treats a magnetic snap with the same seriousness as a car chassis weld. I run a repair service in Chicago and I've already referenced the maintenance troubleshooting chapter to diagnose a customer's failing spring hinge. The specs given on different metal grades are exactly what I needed to justify more expensive repairs to customers. It's not just a list of parts; it explains the engineering logic behind why one accessory is better than another. Highly recommended for anyone doing this professionally.

It's a decent overview, but I felt it skimmed the surface in some areas. The premise is great - a serious reference should fill a gap, and I agree with the problem. However, I expected more on the very latest materials like bio-based TPU, but that chapter was more of a summary than a deep dive. For a beginner it's a good starting point, but as a hobbyist with a few years of experience, I didn't find as much new info as I'd hoped.

The author does a good job of staying neutral and educational, which I appreciate. I was specifically looking for info on installing a gusset frame and the instructions in Chapter 4 were clear enough to follow. I have to say, the writing is a little dry, but for a handbook that's fine. My main gripe is that the photos are all in black and white, which makes it hard to see the difference in finish quality between the brass and nickel examples they discuss. A bit of a let-down considering the price.