Leather Cases - Patina Proud Photos

[mikext]

We got some real trolls here. Buttons cutting people, Ryan London outsourcing to China. Come on with this mess. If you don’t like a case, you don’t like a case. No need to just keep pushing this nonsense. This is a patina thread after all.

I was curious and asked Ryan London and while they didn’t say where, they do outsource their cases. With that said, I still think it’s fair to say their shell case is still one of the best leather cases on the market.

Their response:

Thank you for reaching out to us. At RYAN London, we take pride in crafting high-quality products for our customers. While most of our items are made in our workshop in North Greenwich, I must inform you that our iPhone shell cases are outsourced to our trusted suppliers.

We understand the importance of providing our customers with the best products possible, and we have carefully selected suppliers who meet our quality standards. Rest assured that our iPhone cases are still made with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship that you would expect from RYAN London.

 

[bmac4]

I was curious and asked Ryan London and while they didn’t say where, they do outsource their cases. With that said, I still think it’s fair to say their shell case is still one of the best leather cases on the market.

Their response:

Thank you for reaching out to us. At RYAN London, we take pride in crafting high-quality products for our customers. While most of our items are made in our workshop in North Greenwich, I must inform you that our iPhone shell cases are outsourced to our trusted suppliers.

We understand the importance of providing our customers with the best products possible, and we have carefully selected suppliers who meet our quality standards. Rest assured that our iPhone cases are still made with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship that you would expect from RYAN London.

What is meant by shell?

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

What is meant by shell?

That’s what they call their open-bottom case.

I’m actually a bit shocked here. The shell was their OG case that got such high marks from a lot of folks, myself included. Their website definitely implies everything’s made in house.

 

[bmac4]

That’s what they call their open-bottom case.

I’m actually a bit shocked here. The shell was their OG case that got such high marks from a lot of folks, myself included. Their website definitely implies everything’s made in house.

So could it not be that the actual plastic piece is outsourced, but the leather could be done in house?

 

[mikext]

So could it not be that the actual plastic piece is outsourced, but the leather could be done in house?

That could be the case. However, if they did do their phone case leather in-house, I feel like they would explicitly say so.

Their closed-bottom case feels so similar to Andar/Keyway's, I'm assuming it's outsourced, too.

 

[bmac4]

It could be the case. However, if they did do their phone case leather in-house, I feel like they would explicitly say so.

True. Oh well though, if you like the case and it works well, no need to worry with where it comes from. All the big leather boys are outsourcing. It’s not as big of a deal as some users here want to make it out to be.

 

[JerryIII]

But, but, but… I thought someone here saw them cutting the leather and gluing it to the case. Lol.

 

[Jerichodanger]

My guess is the plastic casing and the leather wrapping process are outsourced.

Maybe they choose which plastic casing will be suitable in their OEM partner, then choose what kind of leather they would like to put on the case (maybe RL is providing their own leather?) then the OEM partner produces the cases, then RL doing the final touches like conditioning the leather, adding logo and custom lettering on the case.

Looking at the case quality, the case leather needs some heavy machinery in order to achieve the smooth tight leather around the casing, and I think those machinery are just too big and expensive to own in-house. If they are truly handmade, it’ll probably look like those funny looking Saddleback cases.

Again this is just my opinion.

 

[Jerichodanger]

But, but, but… I thought someone here saw them cutting the leather and gluing it to the case. Lol.

Maybe there’s a possibility that RL provides their in-house leather to their OEM partner? And what he/she saw is RL cutting out a template for them? Maybe.

 

[Bacong]

RL is a company of like 10 people lmfao, of course they're not making all the cases by hand, they have too much volume assuredly.

 

[s2k_ap1]

Who cares if RL and Bullstrap source their cases from china. Yes they’re probably making a killing from selling them at such a high price. I mean no one is being forced to buy them. I’m just happy we have decent alternatives especially since apple doesn’t make leather cases at all.

 

[Prospekt]

I want them to molt the plastic and skin the cow themselves

 

[Damo88]

I want them to molt the plastic and skin the cow themselves

I get skinning the cows but I think asking them to mould the plastic is a bit too far…

 

[EOB]

Did Bullstrap change their Sienna color? I received a replacement ( warranty for my dune) and the replacement is of lesser quality, even the camera bump seems like its two pieces now compared to my original Dune case purchased at launch.

 

[RRC]

But, but, but… I thought someone here saw them cutting the leather and gluing it to the case. Lol.

Correct, that someone was me… for an open bottom case, a year or so ago in their London store. The same place all their other leather goods are hand made.

Perhaps due to the increase in demand they switched to getting the cases outsourced.

Realistically, it doesn’t matter. Our iPhones themselves are outsourced, as are Apple cases etc… as long as the quality is there, that’s all that really matters.

 

[macher]

Who cares if RL and Bullstrap source their cases from china. Yes they’re probably making a killing from selling them at such a high price. I mean no one is being forced to buy them. I’m just happy we have decent alternatives especially since apple doesn’t make leather cases at all.

Well since it’s ez to order direct from China, you might be able to get the same case for $30 less.

I’ve heard good things about this one on AliExpress.

YMW Official Store

YMW Official Store

YMW Official Store

a.aliexpress.com

 

[iFone88]

Kinda backs up when I got a ‘shell’ case from YMW for my 14 pro last year, I had a RL to compare it to and it was literally identical bar the colour

 

[macher]

Kinda backs up when I got a ‘shell’ case from YMW for my 14 pro last year, I had a RL to compare it to and it was literally identical bar the colour

Good to know. I got my Lucky coin yesterday and sending it back. Not as good quality as RL.

However for $30 if I wanted less quality, it’s a great buy.

Lots think that stuff made in China is made cheaply. That’s not necessarily true. Factories in China you can specify and demand quality and better materials, of course you’ll pay more for that but will get a better quality leather case in this instance.

From your posts it seems like YMW is better quality than Lucky coin. Looks like YMW offers better quality leathers from good tannery’s. From reading looks like the construction is good too. The majority of their cases are in the $30 range. A 2-4 week from door to door to the US.

 

[RustyFox]

Who cares if RL and Bullstrap source their cases from china. Yes they’re probably making a killing from selling them at such a high price. I mean no one is being forced to buy them. I’m just happy we have decent alternatives especially since apple doesn’t make leather cases at all.

Absolutely this. I have no idea why certain people get het up about it. I literally don't care what goes on behind the scenes (abuse/malpractice aside) if the product in my hand is good and what I want.

Well since it’s ez to order direct from China, you might be able to get the same case for $30 less.

I’ve heard good things about this one on AliExpress.

YMW Official Store

YMW Official Store

YMW Official Store

a.aliexpress.com

Kinda backs up when I got a ‘shell’ case from YMW for my 14 pro last year, I had a RL to compare it to and it was literally identical bar the colour

This is interesting, because personally I'd disagree. TOTALLY respect everyone's entitled to their opinion, but this year I've tired Bullstrap, Andar, Ryan London, Bare, Lonli and Decoded.

I then later thought I'd try the YMW and ordered a few actually in different colours, and was really disappointed. I thought their quality was reasonable for the what you pay, but in terms of comparing them to some of the others mentioned, they weren't as good - the overall fit of the case was not quite as 'perfect', and the buttons weren't either - one or two were slightly misaligned etc. This is definitely nitpicking, and I'm not saying they were bad. I think the average consumer would actually be happy with them vs what they paid for them. But to a case geek like me (any many others here) I definitely wouldn't consider them ahead of some of those others. To me, I'd rather pay that bit more and aim for 'perfection.

My takeaway from YMW (and probably other AliExpress sellers) is that they're OK value for money, and some people seem to 'luck out' and get a perfect case from them, but my guess is that their quality control/standards aren't as high as some of the other brands, and therefore you may well get cases like I did.

 

[s2k_ap1]

Let’s all go back to sharing photos of patina. After all that is the title of this forum.

 

[walds11]

Let’s all go back to sharing photos of patina. After all that is the title of this forum.

💯 There are a lot of bare back d riders on here. Let’s get back to it…

 

[s2k_ap1]

💯 There are a lot of bare back d riders on here. Let’s get back to it…

here I’ll start again with my old 14 Pro max Sienna case used for an entire year can’t wait for my 15 pro max to reach this level of patina as well

 

[RustyFox]

Anyone got any of the Bare leather case in the blue?

 

[bmac4]

Who cares if RL and Bullstrap source their cases from china. Yes they’re probably making a killing from selling them at such a high price. I mean no one is being forced to buy them. I’m just happy we have decent alternatives especially since apple doesn’t make leather cases at all.

This!!! What leather company isn’t outsourcing? Apple was, BS, RL, Keyway, Andar, you name it. All the cases are outsourced. Who cares.

 

[Kimquat]

Absolutely this. I have no idea why certain people get het up about it. I literally don't care what goes on behind the scenes (abuse/malpractice aside) if the product in my hand is good and what I want.



This is interesting, because personally I'd disagree. TOTALLY respect everyone's entitled to their opinion, but this year I've tired Bullstrap, Andar, Ryan London, Bare, Lonli and Decoded.

I then later thought I'd try the YMW and ordered a few actually in different colours, and was really disappointed. I thought their quality was reasonable for the what you pay, but in terms of comparing them to some of the others mentioned, they weren't as good - the overall fit of the case was not quite as 'perfect', and the buttons weren't either - one or two were slightly misaligned etc. This is definitely nitpicking, and I'm not saying they were bad. I think the average consumer would actually be happy with them vs what they paid for them. But to a case geek like me (any many others here) I definitely wouldn't consider them ahead of some of those others. To me, I'd rather pay that bit more and aim for 'perfection.

My takeaway from YMW (and probably other AliExpress sellers) is that they're OK value for money, and some people seem to 'luck out' and get a perfect case from them, but my guess is that their quality control/standards aren't as high as some of the other brands, and therefore you may well get cases like I did.

I bought a YWM 2 weeks ago and it slipped out of my pocket from waist height. One of the corners popped out.

I have accidentally dropped both RL and BS before from near shoulder height and phone corners never popped out. I do believe the build and QC are better at RL and BS.