Gouche Kahlo Bag Review

Bags have been part of my practical life from the day I started going school to now that I’m working. It is during these professional years that I realized the importance of having reliable bags. I’ve experienced so much hassle due to hard Manila weather and commute in which my bags broke on the worst possible time. That’s where Gouche bags come in as a solution to such problems of mine.

The Gouche Kahlo bag is one of my most used bags due to its durability and good style. It is a shoulder bag that is crossed between a messenger and tote bag.

I bought the one in brown as it can match a lot of my existing wardrobe. The bag is made of canvas which evokes a rugged feel with some smart look due to its silhouette. That means you can use it while in casual attire but it also wont look out of place in a professional environment.

In the quality department, I say it passed with flying colors. I’ve been using it (more like abusing it) for more than 2 years now. It has gone through heavy rains, scorching sun and cramped in train full of people. With all that, there are still no holes, broken zipper or cut-off handles. It just got more rugged which makes it look better as it added more character to the bag.

It’s not like I’m carrying light things in it. It’s almost always full when I use it. It can comfortably fit a 13-inch laptop with spaces for stuff I usually carry like a book, umbrella, chargers and other smaller stuff. I’m not sure though if it can fit a 15-inch laptop as it is not that large. The smallness and lightness though is practical specially if your commuting.

It is able to fit a lot of stuff even though it’s small because of good internal spacing and external pockets. It has two pockets in front and smaller pockets at the back that are good for non-critical items and for stuff that you need to immediately reach out like train cards. The inside is also minimal but with good padding to hold electronic items like laptops and even chargers.

The only issue I encountered is when I had to store the bag for a long time due to the quarantine protocols during this pandemic. I wrongly put it in a place that is near our bathroom instead of somewhere dry. White marks appeared and the bag became smelly. I was able to remove the white marks and smell with the combination of vinegar, hair dryer, drying in the sun and baking soda. It’s now as good at its previous condition.

The Gouche Kahlo bag is definitely a great value priced at PHP 2,950.00 with the amount of use I’m getting out of it. I used to buy cheaper bags less than PHP 2,000.00 that shows wear and tear after a few months then completely breaks down within a year.

Gouche bags are made in Marikina. It highlights what this site believes – high quality products at great value that are made in the Philippines. You might have to shell-out a little more but it will pay itself in the long run because it will last long and will only get better as you use it more. It also has the added bonus of being able to support local brands.

I definitely recommend Gouche Kahlo bags. As of writing this blog, these bags are currently sold out. Just check from time to time for restocks. There are also a lot of other great products by Gouche. In fact, I own four different Gouche bags which I’ll do future reviews.

Thank you for reading and please support Philippine brands 🙂