Five swaps for a Cuyana leather tote are Portland Leather Goods, Quince, Leatherology, DeMellier and Mansur Gavriel. Cuyana's Structured Tote is $358 and made in Turkey from Italian leather. We priced one standard leather tote per brand so you can see what each one gains or gives up on price, origin and laptop fit.
Cuyana's Structured Tote says "Made in Turkey from soft and supple Italian leather" and fits up to a 16" laptop. That gives us a fixed point to compare against. If you are also shopping beyond totes, our handbag roundup covers the wider field.
Prices below were read from the brands' own sites on October 16, 2026. They are list prices with no sale codes. DeMellier is priced in British pounds and WANT Les Essentiels in Canadian dollars, and we did not convert either one.
How we picked these brands
- A real leather tote in a standard size. Each brand has a tote with a list price on its own site.
- Material and origin, where the page gives them. We name the leather (full grain, top grain, calf, suede) and where the bag is made. If a page does not say, we leave that detail out of the entry.
- Laptop fit only where the brand states it. We did not guess from dimensions.
- Warranty and return terms from the brand's own pages. Where a page mentions a warranty without giving terms, we say so.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyana (reference) | The benchmark | $358 | Structured Tote, Italian leather, made in Turkey |
| Portland Leather Goods | Low price | $160 | Own workshop in León, Mexico |
| Quince | Laptop sleeve on a budget | $178 | 365-day returns, 14" sleeve |
| Leatherology | Monogramming | $265 | Personalization, 1-year limited warranty |
| DeMellier | Structured work tote | £550 GBP | 16" laptop, lifetime repairs |
| Polène | Sculptural shape | $620 | Made in Ubrique, Spain |
| WANT Les Essentiels | Large zip tote | CAD 695 | 28 L capacity, 1-year warranty |
| Manu Atelier | Roomy everyday tote | $850 | Made in Türkiye, 1-year warranty |
| Strathberry | Small top-handle tote | $875 | Music Bar closure |
| Mansur Gavriel | Soft Italian calf | $895 | Made in Italy, 16" laptop |
1. Portland Leather Goods
Portland Leather Goods makes its bags in its own workshop in León, Mexico. Curtis Matsko started the brand in 2016 in his Portland garage. The medium Classic Tote is $160, which is less than half of Cuyana's $358. Small is $132, large is $180, and oversized is $220.
The leather is full grain, and the product page shows a "Limited Lifetime Warranty" (the terms are not on that page). Take it if a low price matters most. Look elsewhere if you need a stated laptop size, since the page lists none.
2. Quince
Quince sells low-priced direct-to-consumer basics, and its Hudson Tote is $178. The page lists 100% top-grain leather, a cotton and polyester lining, and a 14" laptop sleeve. The bag is made in Cambodia, and returns run 365 days.
Among the totes with a stated laptop size, its $178 price is the lowest we listed. Do not expect Italian leather, since the page makes no such claim. The page we read states no repair warranty. The Penelope Tote is $158 in full-grain pebbled leather, but its page gives no laptop fit.
3. Leatherology
Leatherology is a Carrollton, Texas brand founded in 2008. It is known for personalization, including deboss monogramming, trapunto stitching and hand painting. The Large Zippered Downtown Tote is $265 in full grain leather, with "plenty of room to store a laptop" (no size given).
The about page promises a one-year limited warranty against defects. It also says production happens in its own and partner factories across Asia, Europe and the United States, so no single country applies. Pick it if you want a monogrammed tote. If you need a confirmed laptop size, the Alex Horizontal Work Tote ($400) fits most 16" laptops.
4. DeMellier
DeMellier designs structured bags in London and funds children's vaccines and medical treatment through SOS Children's Villages for every item sold. The New York in warm brown small grain is £550 GBP, with taxes and duties included. It uses Italian small grain cowhide, rated gold by the Leather Working Group.
It fits up to a 16" laptop, the same as Cuyana's Structured Tote. The brand's own page lists a 12-month guarantee, a lifetime repairs service and free returns within 28 days. It is handmade in Europe, with no single country named.
5. Polène
Polène is a Paris house founded in 2016 by three siblings. All production happens in Ubrique, Spain. The Cyme in Textured Root is $620 and uses certified textured Italian calf with a velvet microfiber lining. It measures 32 x 38 x 17 cm.
Returns are accepted within 30 days. The brand pages we checked mention no warranty, and the Cyme page makes no laptop claim. Choose it for a sculptural, soft-structured shape. For a bag that carries a laptop with a stated fit, go to DeMellier or Mansur Gavriel.
6. WANT Les Essentiels
WANT Les Essentiels is a Canadian leather goods and travel bag brand. The Zoe Report included it in a 2020 list of brands like Cuyana. The Palma Medium Tote is CAD 695 in Italian pebble-grained leather. It has a zip closure and a 28 L capacity (50 x 34 x 16.5 cm).
A one-year warranty applies. Exchanges are open for 30 days, and returns are accepted within 14 days of the shipping date. Free returns apply in Canada only, so US buyers should weigh that. The page states no country of manufacture and no laptop fit.
7. Manu Atelier
Manu Atelier is an Istanbul-based brand founded by two sisters, also named in that 2020 Zoe Report list. The Le Cambon 35 is $850 and comes in suede or calf. It is made in Türkiye, like Cuyana's tote, and the page says it fits a 13" laptop.
The footer badges show a one-year warranty and a 14-day return window. At 35 x 22.5 x 21.5 cm it is a roomy everyday bag. The Le Cambon 40 is $1,020 and its listing says it fits a 16" MacBook. The tobacco green suede colorway was out of stock when we checked.
8. Strathberry
Strathberry is an Edinburgh-founded brand known for its Music Bar closure. The Midi Tote in black is $875 and uses 100% calf leather, made in Italy, then handmade in Spain. US ground shipping is free, and the page lists free returns (the terms behind the asterisk were not on the page).
The bag is 29.5 cm wide, so this is a smaller top-handle tote. No laptop fit is stated. A product warranty link exists, but the terms were not on the page. Best for a polished work tote that carries the essentials, not a laptop.
9. Mansur Gavriel
Mansur Gavriel makes minimalist bags in Italy. Luxe Digital names its Everyday Soft Tote as an alternative to the Cuyana Easy Tote. The tote is $895, with 100% Italian soft calf leather, an Italian lambskin lining and "enough room to fit a 16" laptop".
It is the highest-priced tote in our US dollar listings, and it is soft and unstructured. The product page lists no warranty or return terms, only a footer link for returns. It suits a shopper who wants soft Italian calf and a laptop-ready interior and will pay for it.
How to choose a Cuyana alternative
- If price is the point, Portland Leather Goods ($160), Quince ($178) and Leatherology ($265) all come in under $300. Browsing for clothing and basics too? Our list of brands like Everlane covers that side.
- If you carry a laptop, DeMellier and Mansur Gavriel state a 16" fit. Quince states 14" and Manu Atelier's Le Cambon 35 states 13".
- If you want Italian leather like Cuyana's, DeMellier, Polène, WANT Les Essentiels and Mansur Gavriel name it on their pages.
- If you care where it is made, Portland Leather Goods builds in Mexico and Polène in Spain. Cuyana itself says Turkey.
- If you want a repair or warranty promise, DeMellier offers lifetime repairs. Leatherology, WANT Les Essentiels and Manu Atelier each state a one-year warranty.
Some reviewers on Trustpilot, where Cuyana holds a 2.2 out of 5 TrustScore across 33 reviews, mention difficulty reaching customer service and damaged packaging. One Luxe Digital reviewer noted that add-ons for organization are sold separately. Those are individual accounts, not a verdict on every order. If a return window matters to you, Quince lists 365-day returns. Pairing a tote with a new wallet? See our wallet picks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to a Cuyana tote?
It depends on what you want to change. Portland Leather Goods ($160) is a low-priced pick, DeMellier (£550) matches the 16" laptop fit with a repair promise, and Mansur Gavriel ($895) offers soft Italian calf.
Where is the Cuyana Structured Tote made?
Cuyana's product page says "Made in Turkey from soft and supple Italian leather". The tote is $358 and fits up to a 16" laptop.
What is the cheapest leather tote on this list?
Quince's Penelope Tote is $158, though its page does not state a laptop fit. Portland Leather Goods' medium Classic Tote is $160 and Quince's Hudson Tote, with a stated 14" laptop sleeve, is $178.
Which of these totes fit a laptop?
DeMellier and Mansur Gavriel state a 16" fit. Quince's Hudson has a 14" sleeve and Manu Atelier's Le Cambon 35 fits 13". Leatherology's Downtown Tote mentions room for a laptop without giving a size.
Which of these brands offer a warranty?
DeMellier gives a 12-month guarantee plus lifetime repairs, and Leatherology, WANT Les Essentiels and Manu Atelier each state one year. Portland Leather Goods names a Limited Lifetime Warranty, but the terms were not on the page we read.
Which of these are made in Italy or Spain?
Mansur Gavriel's tote is made in Italy. Polène produces in Ubrique, Spain, and Strathberry hand-makes its Midi Tote in Spain from Italian-made leather. DeMellier uses Italian small grain cowhide but names no single country of manufacture.
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