I've always played it safe with colour. Black bags, navy bags, the occasional dark brown. Anything that wouldn't draw attention, wouldn't clash, wouldn't make a statement I wasn't sure I could back up.
Then I bought the Sugarcube. And everything changed.
The Rut I Didn't Know I Was In
I work in marketing. I spend my days telling brands to be bolder, more distinctive, more themselves. And then I'd go home, open my wardrobe, and reach for the same safe black bag I'd owned for three years. The irony wasn't lost on me — I just wasn't ready to do anything about it.
What finally pushed me was a comment from a colleague. We were reviewing a mood board for a campaign and she said, almost offhandedly: “You always know what looks good on other people. What do you actually want for yourself?”
I thought about it on the train home. And I realised I'd been dressing for invisibility for years. Safe. Neutral. Forgettable. I wanted to change that — and I decided a bag was the place to start.
Finding the Sugarcube
I wasn't looking for anything specific — just something that felt like me, or at least the version of me I wanted to be. I'd been browsing for about twenty minutes when I found the Zatchels Handmade Leather Two Tone Sugarcube Handbag in Black & Burnt Orange.
I actually laughed when I saw it — not because it was funny, but because it was so exactly right. That boxy, architectural silhouette. The push-lock closure. The way the black and burnt orange played against each other — grounded and bold at the same time. It looked like confidence made physical.
Handmade in England by skilled leather artisans. Available in two sizes — Plus at £75, Grande at £105. I went for the Plus first, wanting to try the shape before committing to something larger. It felt like the right kind of risk.
When It Arrived
The Sugarcube arrived and I held it up in the light of my living room for a long moment. The burnt orange was richer than I'd expected — a deep, autumnal tone that shifted between amber and copper depending on the light. The black leather was smooth and precise. Together they were striking without being garish. Exactly the balance I'd hoped for.
The push-lock closure clicked open and shut with a satisfying firmness. Inside: one main compartment with slip pockets front and rear — more organised than it looks from the outside. The detachable crossbody strap clipped on easily, giving me the option to carry it three ways: by the top grab handle, over the shoulder, or crossbody.
I wore it to work the next morning. I felt, for the first time in a long time, like I'd made a decision about who I was.
The Reaction
My colleague — the one who'd asked what I actually wanted — spotted it the moment I walked in. “Now that’s a bag,” she said. And that was it. The rest of the office followed. By the end of the day I'd had more comments about that bag than I'd had about anything I'd worn in years.
But more than the compliments, it was how I felt carrying it. Taller, somehow. More deliberate. Like I'd made a choice and I was standing behind it.
Six Months Later
Six months of near-daily use and the Sugarcube is as sharp as the day it arrived. The leather has developed a subtle warmth — the burnt orange deepening slightly, the black gaining a gentle sheen. The structure hasn't softened or sagged. It holds its shape perfectly, which is exactly what you want from a bag with this kind of silhouette.
I've since ordered the Grande in a different colourway. Because once you give yourself permission to be bold, it turns out you don't want to go back.
My wardrobe has changed too. I reach for colour now — rust, terracotta, forest green, things I'd have walked past before. The bag didn't just change what I carry. It changed how I see myself.
Is It Worth It?
The Sugarcube Plus starts at £75, the Grande at £105 — both handmade to order in England by skilled artisans, both built to last, both available with custom engraving if you want to make it truly yours. For a bag that's this well made and this distinctive, it's exceptional value.
If you've been playing it safe for too long, this might be the bag that changes that.
Explore the full Handbags collection, browse Cross Body Bags, shop all Handbags, Wallets & Cases, discover Apparel & Accessories, or see what’s new in store.
0 commenti