The Pearl from Lo & Sons Review: The Wardrobe Staple You’ve Been Looking For
Product Review Summary
Lo & Sons is known for their functional designs that combine eco-friendly materials with high-quality construction. After trying out their acclaimed purse called The Pearl, there’s no doubt it lives up to its high reputation and would make for a chic staple piece in any wardrobe.
Ratings
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★★★★★
Constructed from their plant-based Cactus Leather, this purse has a soft and buttery feel to it. It’s also made using zippers and clasps that are going to stand the test of time. The interior print reads “Lo & Sons” and the interior zipper even matches the light purple fabric.
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★★★★★
With a height of over 7 inches and a width of 9.5 inches, this purse can easily accommodate most necessities you use from day to day. They also give you the option to remove an additional strap that makes it even longer so you can comfortably wear it as a crossbody.
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★★★★★
The thing that drew me most to this bag was its versatility. It can be worn as a shoulder bag, crossbody bag, or wristlet. My favorite thing about this purse is the three main compartments. I especially like the middle pocket that closes with three clasps, instead of a zipper.
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★★★★★
The Pearl is priced at $298, but at the time of writing this post, has been marked down 35% and is now $193.70. This price seems much more reasonable - and when you factor in the high-quality materials and their overall sustainability efforts, the discounted price seems even more justifiable.
Pros:
Can be worn three ways: as a crossbody, shoulder bag, or wristlet
Made from soft and sustainable cactus leather
Includes three main organizational pockets that are roomy and spacious
Cons:
The outside doesn’t include the Lo & Sons logo (although the other leather options do)
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Lo & Sons is a family-owned business with a range of high-quality products that are perfect for work, travel, and nearly anything in between. If you’ve been on the lookout for a purse that can be worn several ways and is consciously made, then The Pearl from Lo & Sons is one of the best solutions for you. Read on for our full review and final thoughts about this purse.
Lo & Sons: What To Know About the Brand
Started back in 2010 by Helen Lo and her two sons, Lo & Sons has grown from a bootstrapped startup to a globally recognized and beloved brand, thanks in large part to the tremendous functionality of their bags, as well as their commitment to reversing environmental damage via innovative design solutions. Lo & Sons used to specialize just in weekender bags but has since moved on to designing and manufacturing high-quality backpacks, purses, wallets, tote bags, and more.
Lo & Sons The Pearl Review (in Cactus Leather)
If you’ve read some of our recent reviews, you know we’re no stranger to Lo & Sons. And whenever I have friends asking me for recommendations on travel gear, Lo & Sons is one of the first brands I mention. Why? Because of their high-quality and versatile products. That’s why I was so excited to get my hands on and review their highly-rated travel crossbody bag, The Pearl.
The following is a review of Lo & Sons’s The Pearl crossbody bag made from Cactus Leather in black with gold hardware and a lavender interior.
Unpacking and First Impressions
I’ve ordered several products from Lo & Sons in the past few years to know exactly the type of package I’d be receiving the purse in: a simple brown box with white tissue paper, a minimalist tag, and a shipping label inside. Lo & Sons has intentionally downsized their packaging materials over the years by using custom-made boxes that are constructed from 100% recycled materials, as well as nixing any marketing inserts. This helps to cut down on overall waste and has effectively reduced their overall carbon footprint as a company. Like other products from the brand, I also received a white mesh bag to store the purse in when I’m not using it. It’s these small details I so appreciate since I’m always striving to reduce my individual carbon footprint by only investing in products that are going to last me for years to come.
Quality of Materials
The Pearl comes in three types of leather: Saffiano Leather, Nappa Leather, and their environmentally-conscious option, Cactus Leather. Mine was constructed from their plant-based Cactus Leather, which I was super excited to touch and feel for myself since I haven’t ever seen a purse made from this type of material before. Once I unwrapped it out of the box and took it out on an afternoon stroll, I experienced just how soft and buttery the ‘leather’ actually is. And me being me, I ended up spilling coffee on the outside within the first hour of having it. But thankfully, I was able to wipe it off quickly and there wasn’t even a trace of a stain. What I appreciate most about this purse is the durable hardware. Like all of their designs, I can tell they only use zippers and clasps that are going to stand the test of time. The zippers felt sturdy and long-lasting and the light purple interior felt elegant and unique. The interior print reads “Lo & Sons” and the interior zipper even matches the light purple fabric.
Sizing and Fit
With a height of over 7 inches and a width of 9.5 inches, this purse can easily accommodate most necessities you use from day to day (it can even fit an Apple iPad Mini). On their website, you can see the scale of the bag on different body types - another gold star to Lo & Sons for even thinking to include this! Simply click on the “Size and Fit Guide” on the right of the product page and you’ll be shown the images with an overview chart of the dimensions.
I thought the purse fit me perfectly when I took it out of the box. Over the span of a week, I ended up tightening the strap a little bit since I like to wear mine as a shoulder bag vs. a crossbody. They also give you the option to remove an additional strap that makes it even longer, but thought that wasn’t necessary since I’m on the taller side and it hit my body right on the hip.
Overall Design
The thing that drew me most to this bag was its versatility. It can be worn as a shoulder bag, crossbody bag, or wristlet (and might I add a handbag, after I did some jiggering around with the straps to make it work for a wedding I had over the weekend). My favorite thing about this purse is the three main compartments. I love to compartmentalize things and this purse must have been made for me. In one pouch, I include my keys and sunglasses, the back pouch is home to my phone, and the middle fits my oversized wallet. I especially like the middle pocket that closes with three clasps, instead of a zipper. It makes for easy access but still allows for secureness by clamping them shut whenever I enter a busy and packed area.
I was surprised to see that there wasn’t a Lo & Sons logo on the outside - it seems as though the logo only appears on the other two types of leather. As a Lo & Sons groupie, I would have appreciated this small feature, but it’s by no means a deal breaker. Overall, the design of this purse is roomy and versatile but still gives off a chic and sophisticated look.
Value for Money
The Pearl is priced at $298, but at the time of writing this post, has been marked down 35% and is now $193.70. This price seems much more reasonable - and when you factor in the high-quality materials and their overall sustainability efforts, the discounted price seems even more justifiable. What I love about Lo & Sons products is that when I purchase something from them, I’m purchasing it to last me a lifetime. And based on their thoughtful approach to product development, I know they want this for their customers, too.
The Bottom Line
After spending considerable time with this purse, it’s hard to think of anything that I don’t like about it. The only change I’d make is adding the Lo & Sons logo to the outside, but every other feature - from the materials to the organizational compartments - proved to exceed my expectations (which I’m learning is starting to be a trend with Lo & Sons). You can tell their product development team is methodical about what they decide to include, and ensure its on-brand with their overall sophisticated look. If you’re looking for a new purse, then The Pearl from Lo & Sons is the wardrobe staple you’ve been looking for.