Bag Manufacturers in Europe: An Overview

This guide lists some of Europe’s leading bag manufacturers, for both textiles bags and leather bags. Further, we also explain what bag brand owners must know about product customisation, materials options, OEKO Tex Standard 100, and minimum order quantity requirements.

Supplier qualifications

Industry overview

Custom products

Most bag manufacturers in Europe can produce bags entirely based on your design files. Doing so requires that you provide a complete techpack, which should include the following:

Techpack

• Design drawings
• Bill of materials
• Measurements
• Artwork files
• Label files
• Hang tag file

Bill of materials

The BoM must include detailed information about all materials. This can include the following:

• YKK zippers
• Leather grade
• Outer fabric
• Lining fabrics
• Rivets
• Clasps

ODM parts

Creating a custom-designed bag does not necessarily mean that each part must be custom-made. Many bag brands list components that can be procured from existing stocks – but it is still recommended to provide images to give the factory a clear reference point.

Textile and leather

What primarily distinguishes bag manufacturers is the main materials they work with. Some factories primarily specialise in textile bags, while others exclusively make leather bags. As such, your factory options are limited to your bag materials.

The material options can also differ between countries. Bag manufacturers in Poland are more often specialised in textile bags, while bag manufacturers in Spain and Italy tend to manufacture leather bags.

Material	Product examples
Textile bags (Polyester, nylon, cotton)	Backpacks Sport bags Laptop bags Suitcases Tote bags
Leather bags	Travel bags Handbags

Sustainable materials

Some bag manufacturers procure eco-friendly and sustainable materials. Gentilelenco Lda in Portugal belongs to this category, as they offer their customers a range of more sustainable materials.

Examples

• Vegetable tanned leather
• Bioleather
• Pinatex
• Tencel
• Recycled leather
• Recycled fabrics
• Recycled cotton

OEKO Tex Standard 100

Bags sold in the EU, UK, and US are subject to substance regulations that restrict chemicals and heavy metals. This includes phthalates that can be found in plastics, such as PU leather. Lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury are also subject to restrictions – and can sometimes be found in zippers, clasps, buttons, and other bag components.

OEKO Tex Standard 100 covers compliance requirements in both the EU and the US and is therefore commonly known among bag manufacturers in Europe.

Country/market	Examples
EU	1. REACH 2. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation
USA	CPSIA (Total lead content)

MOQ requirements

The MOQ requirement for bags mainly depends on the materials and colours. As such, the total MOQ can differ between materials. Most suppliers can provide lower MOQs on the basis that you use standard materials – but the MOQ tends to increase if they are required to procure additional materials.

Italy

Loipell

Founded in 1993, Loipell is a leather goods manufacturer that produces handcrafted bags using leather. The company combines traditional crafting techniques with modern technology, such as CAD software, to create its leather bags.

It collaborates with customers to meet their requirements. and supports the whole production cycle. This means the company begins at the design stage with the customer and ends with the customer’s marketing, sales and branding campaigns for their products.

Loipell mentions on its website that it implements quality control for its products. It also offers customised packaging services and logistic solutions for its customers. The company also outlines its production process on its website and also has a page where potential customers can begin creating their projects with Loipell.

Main products

• Handbag
• Leather bags
• Leather handbags

Location: Scandicci FI, Italy

Niccoli Bags

Niccoli Bags has been operating since 1972 and manufactures leather bags for major global fashion brands. The company uses both traditional hand-drawn designs and CAD modelling programs, as well as machinery such as firming machines, press machines, and moulders, to create its products.

It emphasises that its products are made solely in Italy, and has control over the production process. It oversees the preparation, material quality control, cutting, assembly, finishing, packaging, and shipping.

Niccoli Bags has three main services – prototyping, Italian production, and realisation. The company helps customers develop a prototype, and then constructs and assembles the product at its factory. It offers a complete service that also includes the implementation of strict quality control on the product.

Main products

• Backpacks
• Work bags
• Clutch bag
• Beauty bag

Location: Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy

Spain

CIMA LEATHER GOODS

Founded in 1960, CIMA LEATHER GOODS manufactures leather bags as well as other products such as wallets and luggage cases.

The company adapts to its customer’s requirements for their bags but also assists customers in making better-informed decisions regarding their products. Per its website, the company uses centuries-old leather-making techniques and traditional handmade craftsmanship to manufacture leather bags and other products.

CIMA LEATHER GOODS outlines its three-step production process: evaluation, materials selection, and prototype fabrication. Step 1 necessitates that clients provide the company with detailed sketches. During Step 2, the company offers clients a wide range of quality leather skins and trimmings. Step 3 is where the company creates a prototype, accepts a budget based on the client’s requirements, and consequently, fabricates the leather bag.

Main products

• Leather bags
• Document holders

Location: Cádiz, Spain

Depacos

Depacos was founded in 1926 and is a design and manufacturing factory in Spain that produces leather bags and accessories. The company’s leather products include handbags, baggage, wallets, and jewellery boxes.

It provides private label prototyping services for leather products such as luxury bags, laptop bags, and belt bags. Depacos helps new brands start their own leather bag line. It has a 5-step process, which starts at the design stage and moves through making samples, producing, implementing quality control, and finally shipping the finished product to its customers.

The company states that it offers low minimum quantities for smaller brands and quick ordering times. It is also able to produce larger quantities as needed.

Main products

• Leather handbags
• Leather baggage
• Leather laptop bags
• Leather belt bags

Location: Cádiz, Spain

Naranjo Ubrique

Founded in 1993, Naranjo Ubrique is a Spanish factory with a few decades of experience in manufacturing leather goods such as bags, purses, and wallets. The company manufactures bags, such as bowling bags and backpacks, out of leather.

Its products, bags included, are handmade. The company’s website states that it has worked with global brands.

According to the company, it can guarantee that its products are made with the “highest standard” of quality, as its master craftsmen inspect the quality of each leather product before putting it on the market.

Naranjo Ubrique notes on its website that it can provide potential clients with details when they contact it to create a leather project.

Main products

• Leather backpack
• Leather bowling bag
• Leather bag

Location: Cádiz, Spain

Portugal

Gentilelenco Lda

GentilElenco is a Portuguese company that manufactures leather fashion accessories such as bags, briefcases, and travel bags. The company also makes other products such as wallets, purses, and card holders. In addition to using leather, the company also uses materials such as cork fabric, cotton, organic cotton, and recycled polyester to produce its bags.

Its development process and its production process are two different workflows. The six-step development workflow involves communicating with the client, a product study, designing patterns, constructing prototypes, making the final sample, and advancing to bulk production. Its five-step production workflow involves: cutting and preparing, assembling, stitching, finishing, quality control and packaging.

The company’s main export markets are in the European Union, the United States, and Canada.

Main products

• Bags
• Briefcases
• Travel bags

Location: Felgueiras, Portugal

Belcinto

Belcinto was founded in 1961 and began by producing leather belts using cow and calf leather. Over time, it expanded its scope to include handmade bags such as school bags, travel bags, tote bags, and backpacks in its lineup. The company uses leather to manufacture its products.

It manufactures products for private-label brands around the world. Its main export market is France, and produces for, leading designers.

According to its website, it aims to set itself apart by using and reusing surplus material from its previous production runs, thus avoiding having leftovers. Its first bag was produced in 1989 and is still in use today, indicating the longevity of the company’s leather bags.

Main products

• Backpacks
• Travel bags
• Tote bags
• Waist bag
• Shopper bag
• Pouch bag
• Beach bag
• Computer case bag

Location: São João da Madeira, Portugal

Poland

MAGNAT MANUFACTURING

Magnat Manufacturing is a Polish company that manufactures bags such as suitcases, backpacks, and special-need bags (e.g., emergency medical bags). Because the company has recently expanded its scope to also produce medical bags, it uses high-quality, non-hazardous, and durable materials to make those bags.

The company has a production plant in Poland and overlooks the whole process from the beginning to product assembly. The company can customise its bag products according to the customer’s preferences. The design of the bags can vary – from having one compartment to having many compartments, and clients can choose from various colour options.

The company has fast delivery terms regarding its products.

Main products

• Bags
• Suitcases
• Backpacks
• Washbags
• Emergency medical bags
• Sports bags
• Travel bags
• Laptop bags

Location: Zielona Góra

OKTIS

OKTIS is a Polish backpack and bag manufacturer that has been providing services for several decades. It manufactures various kinds of bags, such as cosmetic bags, waist bags, and backpacks. The company outlines its production process, as well as several processing methods, on its website.

The company uses materials such as nylon, classic cotton, and water-repellent cotton. It also uses recycled polyester to make its bags. Its products come in a range of different colours, including blue, pink, black, yellow, and green.

The company has worked with major brands such as ketchup companies, beer companies, shipping companies, and banks.

According to the company’s website, it uses materials that are REACH-certified, Global Recycled Standard, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified.

Main products

• Backpacks
• String bags
• Sachets
• Cosmetic bags
• Cooler bags
• Pencil cases
• Suitcases
• Waist bags

Location: Pruszcz Gdański, Poland