Ampere Creations Vegan Leather Convertible Backpack - Stylish & Eco-Friendly Shoulder Bag or Handbag for Women | Perfect for Work, Travel & Daily Use

NOTE: I received a free sample of this product for review purposes.This handbag is made from vegan "leather" (i.e., non-animal materials). I would actually say that it feels even BETTER than real leather--it is buttery soft and extremely supple. The bag also appears to be of very high quality overall, with even, tight stitches and sturdy hardware. As you can see from the photos, this is a very roomy handbag--in fact, I would describe it as more of a tote. Their two small snapped compartments on the one side, although these are not very functional, as they wouldn't really hold more than a small set of keys (most of today's smart phones would not fit here). The other side of the bag has a zippered outer compartment, still relatively small. The handbag has two large, roomy main compartments that run parallel to each other; one of this contains a small inner zipper compartment. All compartments are lined with a bright pink fabric (see photos).One of the advantages of this bag is that is convertible. In its "default" position--i.e., with hooks attached on either side--it is a regular shoulder bag. (See both item description as well as my first attached photo.) The straps can also be pulled towards each other towards the back to create a backpack, as there is a space for the arms between the hooks on the bottom side of the bag and the little loop on the top sides of the bag. Finally, if you unhook the hooks, this lengthens the straps (note that the hooks are NOT meant to go through the hoops at the top of the bag), allow the handbag to be used crossbody. This last function seemed a little unnecessary to me, as simply lengthening the straps (i.e., without having to unclip the hooks) would have served the same purpose.I do have a few issues with this handbag. The main problem is that even without anything in it, it is quite heavy! I could see using this on for special outings, but certainly not as an everyday bag. Second, the bag is VERY unstructured. Some may like this, but given the bag's large size, my items tend to get lost in all that fabric. I certainly would not hesitate to recommend this company for the quality of their products, but I personally think I would prefer a different one of their designs.I just got this bag, and I have been looking for a convertible purse/backpack for a while. This is perfect for me. The material is super soft. I got the black bag, which has a beige/brown striped inner lining. I'm pretty short, and all of the bags I've tried have straps that are too long for me and cause the backpack function to hang too low. This bag has excellent, adjustable straps that make the backpack function comfortable.The size of this bag is perfect. I can fit a lot, but isn't as big as a tote, so you're not going to be able to place a laptop in it. This is actually a good thing for me, as I want to be able to travel and walk around with it, but also be able to use it as a purse at a restaurant. A great multi purpose bag for the price. I'm actually thinking of getting this in brown.I love this brand of purse. I got one from the swap meet years ago and it held up great. So great that I wanted another one, but the swap meet was closed during the pandemic, so I went onto the company website and purchased one through Amazon. It was identical as my original one except for divided deep pockets which I would rather have one big pocket. A couple months after I started using it, the edges are fraying and peeling. This purse is definitely not as well made as my last one.Love this purse. Only problem is it holds too much, so I carry way more than I need. Kind of makes the purse heavy. Just don’t over stuff and you will be fine. But it holds so much, stuff can get buried deep inside and never found again. So be disciplined and don’t stuff it with everything including the kitchen sink!!I love this bag. I like the large compartments and versatility. My only problem with it is that the description says that the two outer pockets offer easy access to your wallet and phone, when in fact they are too small to fit a standard phone or wallet. My cell phone is not an oversized thing either. I can't close the pocket if I put my phone in it. Other than that, it's a great bag. Nice and soft!Comfortable to wear (I love convertible purses) but I notice that within five days of usual use, the color of the "vegan" leather - erm, I mean polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, both of which are plastic-based materials - on the seams at the sites of the metal handle guides is already wearing off (flaking off?). Looking elsewhere now. Do not recommend unless you want an unsightly wear-and-tear within a week.this bag is very soft and I like the way it converts from shoulder bag to backpack, but the interior lining is irritating. It is too soft and gets caught in the zippers, my stuff gets lost underneath it and I'm generally having to dig through the cloying lining to find anything.I'm hopeful that with use the lining will get less unruly and I'll like the bag even more.I thought this purse was a great idea at first. Two drawbacks surfaced with use: (1) It has 2 main zipper compartments. I am constantly putting things away and then not remembering which one I put them in; and this leads to more problems of having to search in both main compartments trying to find something! A better idea would have been to have ONE main zipped compartment with a divider(s) inside the bag. (2) The way the shoulder/backpack strap part is configured, one has to be very careful how you grab the straps, otherwise they get out of position and you have to readjust them back to the place you wanted them at the time. That being said, although it is a well made bag for the price, I would not purchase this type of handbag again.