Quilted Calfskin Leather
Quilted calfskin has become one of the most popular types of leather among the Chanel Boy Bags, and despite its smooth appearance, is very durable. There are a plethora of calfskin leathers to choose from, including cracked patent calfskin, aged calfskin, glazed calfskin, and metallic calfskin, just to name a couple.
Goatskin Leather
Withstanding lots of wear and tear, goat hide is one of the strongest and most durable types of leather among luxury handbags, and is often seen in the Chanel Flap 19 Bag. Despite its toughness, goatskin is very soft to the touch. Only thing to keep in mind is that after a few weeks of use, the top of the bag will “slouch” or “look dented.”
Caviar Leather
Closely behind calfskin, caviar is a fan favorite. Known for its geometric diamond quilt design, it has a puffy, and bumpy-like three-dimensional type of leather. Made from pebbled calfskin, the visible grains make it heavier and tougher than lambskin, and has become a popular choice among people who carry their Chanel bag more often. Keep in mind that caviar leather, like patent leather, is prone to color transfer, so be careful of not placing it against dark fabrics!
Lambskin Leather
Being the most popular and sophisticated type of leather that Chanel makes, lambskin leather is infamous for being on the Chanel flap bags. Since it’s tanned with the wool remaining on the skin, the Chanel lambskin leather is silky smooth, with an added layer of protection, helping it age gracefully with time.
Patent Leather
Giving any bag a vintage feel, Chanel’s patent leather is made from calf hide. Because of its nature, it’s very durable and scratch resistant. However, its prone to color transfer and stains, so make sure to keep it away from any dark fabrics (like denim!).
Tweed Fabric
There aren’t many things that are more iconic than Chanel’s tweed suits. Chanel Tweed is a woolen fabric, that’s rough to the touch but very flexible; it even resembles a cheviot within a closer weave. It’s most popularly seen in the Chanel Boy Bag, Classic Flap Bag, and Flap 19 Bag. Just be careful to not get it caught on anything – holes are hard to repair!
Canvas Fabric
Canvas has a delightfully casual everyday style, a great option for students who want to double their bag as a book carrier and a cute purse for everyday use. It’s commonly seen in the Chanel Tote Bags as well as the Flap 19 bag. However, because canvas is a fabric instead of a leather, it must be handled with extreme care. A touch of dirt will show up quickly on this material and is tough to get off, and canvas won’t offer as much structure as most leathers.