CONTACT us
Address
P.O. Box 2464
Red Lodge, MT 59068
Email us
michelle@bar3bags.com
Getting to know our customers is part of what makes what we do so rewarding and inspires us to keep creating. It’s also why we don’t wholesale our purses to high-end boutiques. We feel we just become too far removed from what customers are asking for. Feel free to contact us at any time with any questions you might have. We try to take sufficient photos of each of our new purses but we don’t always get all the angles. We’re happy to send additional photos if that would be helpful. Just let us know. By the way, the above photo was taken from our backyard.
Faq
Do you take custom orders?
We do not take custom orders at this time. We reserve the right to be the artists and create the most beautiful western purses that we can imagine. We hope you love the things we create. Our designs are tried and tested and the leather we use are hides we’ve selected and thus we can be confident of their quality.
Do you ship internationally?
We are happy to take international orders, however we will have to charge shipping on non-U.S. orders. Please contact me directly to place your order.
Is there anything special I need to do to take care of my purse?
The wonderful thing about leather is that most scratches or stains can be easily rubbed out of the leather. Personally, I think the leather we use looks best after it’s been used at least 6 months. The leather starts taking on a patina that can only be created over time. Much of the leather we use is pull-up leather meaning the leather lightens when pressure is applied due to waxes and oils in the hide. As you use your handbag, you’ll see wonderful colors emerge throughout which gives your handbag that coveted vintage look. These natural color variations are priceless. In fact, these color variations are a sign of very high quality leather.
Before we send your purse out, we make sure all edge are burnished with a saddle soap. Over time, you may want to clean up those edges with a little saddle soap yourself (entirely optional). Please test the saddle soap on the strap edges first to see how your handbag’s leather responds. Some leathers will permanently darken with the saddle soap so you want to make sure you’re happy with this look before applying it to other purse edges. I would not use saddle soap on anything but edges or the blood knot or fringe. Leave the main areas of your handbag alone.
how often do you post new purses?
That is hard to say. We try to post new inventory weekly but life sometimes gets in the way. If you follow our Instagram page (@bar3bags), you’ll be the first to know when something new has hit our site.
Do you line your handbags?
No, but for good reason. Typically, bags are lined to add structure to a bag that is too flimsy with thin leather alone. Linings are also used to reinforce a bag in areas that may stretch easily or get a lot of wear. Additionally, they can be a way to hide internal pockets so stitching is not visible on the outside of a purse. We have solved all of these “bag issues” without the need for adding a lining and covering beautiful leather. We never use flimsy leathers. Even our light-weight leathers have substantial body so that your purse never feels flimsy. Any areas that get heavier use such as the gusset (holds weight) and the back of the purse (supporting straps) are made with areas of the hide that are non-stretchy. We also often reinforce areas with additional leather. And finally, we only make our purses with full-size pockets so you will never see pocket stitching on the outside of your purse.
That being said, we encourage our customers to keep makeup in makeup bags and never throw open ink pens into the bottoms of their bags. That’s advice that should be followed whether your purse is lined or not.
I saw a purse I love, but someone else beat me to it. Will you make a second?
We’re asked this a lot unfortunately. Please follow us on Instagram so you’re aware the minute something new is posted on the site. We’d be happy to try to recreate a purse for you if it were actually possible. All of our leather hides are so different, it’s very difficult if not impossible to make the same purse twice. Our slotted conchos are all custom made by various artists in the area so these are also one-of-a-kind. If you have a particular size or type of leather (i.e. buffalo) you’re looking for, shoot me an email and I’ll make sure you’re aware if something comes up that might be of interest to you.
What is BAR3BAGS signature handbag?
Our favorite purses to make and probably our signature purse are our buffalo purses. This is our ultimate showstopper purse. You don’t find too many purses out there made from buffalo because it’s a very difficult leather to work with. These are heavy hides that really vary in thickness and texture. You have to really understand the leather well to know how to appropriately use the leather across the various parts of a handbag.
Does BAR3bags sell anything besides handbags?
Funny you should ask. We have a few western clothing pieces in the design phase right now that are set to make their debut later in the year. Stay tuned!
How do you compete with all the factory made purses out there?
The short answer is, we don’t even try. We don’t consider a factory made purse to be even remotely the same product that we are crafting. They may serve a similar function, but that’s where the similarities end. We know from our customer base that there’s a huge demand for products that are created with the care and time that we put into each of our handbags. The workmanship is incomparable. We don’t take shortcuts.