Are BY FAR bags worth the investment?+
If you love a polished, 90s-revival shape, the answer is usually yes. BY FAR built its name on fresh takes on classic minimalist silhouettes, and the bags are made by hand in a family-run setup, which is where the price goes. The trade-off is practicality: the smaller styles really do hold just the essentials, so buy the size that fits your life rather than the one in the campaign photo. Treat it as a wardrobe staple you'll reach for often, not a one-season trend.
Is BY FAR good quality, and what is the brand known for?+
BY FAR is a Bulgarian luxury label known for sleek leather bags and shoes, and the make tends to back up the look. Each piece is crafted from premium leather and the brand leans on careful, hands-on production rather than mass output. The signature is a clean, retro-modern aesthetic — structured baguette and shoulder shapes that read expensive without obvious logos. It's a brand you buy for design and leather feel rather than flashy branding.
Which BY FAR bag should I buy first — the Rachel or the Baby Billy?+
For a first BY FAR, the croc-embossed Rachel baguette is the safest hero piece — it's the shape the brand is best known for and it works from day to night. The Baby Billy and other mini styles are charming but genuinely small, so if you carry more than a phone, lipstick and cards, size up or start with the Rachel. Think about whether you want an everyday shoulder bag or a going-out accessory before you commit.
Where can I buy BY FAR, and is it sold in stores?+
BY FAR primarily operates online through its own site, but it's stocked very widely. The brand sells through more than 300 retailers worldwide, including Selfridges, Harrods, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Farfetch. It also has flagship stores in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Beijing if you want to see the leather in person before buying.
Where are BY FAR bags made?+
BY FAR is rooted in Bulgaria — the brand was founded in Sofia and its origin story literally begins at a shoe factory in the Bulgarian town of Peshtera. The design work is spread across Sofia, Sydney and London, but the manufacturing heritage is firmly Bulgarian. That hands-on, factory-adjacent beginning is a big part of why the leatherwork feels considered.
What does the name BY FAR actually mean?+
It's a hidden family tribute rather than a slogan. BY FAR is an amalgamation of the initials of the three co-founders' sons — Filip, Alek and Roman. So the name that looks like a confident fashion phrase is really a personal, almost sentimental detail, which fits a brand that started among friends and family.
Who founded BY FAR and when?+
BY FAR was founded in 2016 in Sofia by three women: Valentina Ignatova, Denitsa Bumbarova and Sabina Gyosheva, who also serves as the company's CEO. The idea came together in 2015, when Bumbarova's spouse — working on a solar-panel install at a Bulgarian shoe factory — came back with the production costs for leather shoes. That spark turned into the brand.
Did BY FAR start with bags or shoes?+
Shoes came first. BY FAR began by selling footwear at a temporary pop-up store in London, and within a year its shoes were stocked by 35 high-end stores around the world. The leather bags that the brand is now famous for only arrived in 2018, with ready-to-wear clothing following later in 2023. So the accessories empire grew out of a shoe label.
Has BY FAR collaborated with anyone notable?+
Yes — and its collaborations lean thoughtful rather than hype-driven. In 2020 BY FAR released a circular collection of reworked pieces with the French second-hand platform Vestiaire Collective, and in 2021 it teamed up with American celebrity stylist Mimi Cuttrell on a capsule of nine handbag and shoe styles. The brand also launched its debut fragrance, Daydream, in 2022 with a short film starring Kendall Jenner.
How do I care for BY FAR leather so it lasts?+
Treat it like the premium leather it is. Keep bags stuffed and stored in their dust bag to hold the structured shape, and keep croc-embossed and smooth finishes away from prolonged damp and direct heat. Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth and condition occasionally with a product suited to fine leather. A little routine care keeps that clean, expensive-looking finish that's the whole point of the bag.
When is the best time to buy a BY FAR bag?+
Because BY FAR is carried by so many department stores and platforms, the widest selection and best value tend to land during the major mid-year and end-of-season sale windows at retailers like Selfridges, Net-a-Porter and Nordstrom. If you have your eye on a core shape like the Rachel, though, the classics sell through, so don't wait too long for a colour you love. Sign up for stock alerts on your preferred retailer rather than chasing a specific date.
