I set designer bags on fire to determine true worth: ‘Do not attempt’

Think you’ve bagged some fire leather goods?

A leather expert on TikTok is putting designer handbags to the ultimate test – with fire, acetone and scissors.

Performing scrupulous surgery on luxe leather sacks, “Tanner Leatherstein,” who boasts more than 757,000 followers on TikTok, brings the shock factor to the world of animal hide-based accessories.

Determining the quality of leather, craftsmanship and more, the TikToker, whose real name is Volkan Yilmaz, told The Post that his “life purpose is to help people understand and experience leather better.”

“I was born into a family-owned tannery and grew up tanning leather and having so much fun,” the 37-year-old Turkish tanner said. “No matter what I did I couldn’t get away from the leather.”

The passionate pursuit to educate others about quality leather birthed his online moniker and social media presence, launching his TikTok series about a year and a half ago. His videos now score thousands to millions of views as he horrifies shopaholics by dissecting top-notch bags from Prada, Tory Burch, Gucci and more.

But there’s a method to his madness, which entails dismembering the satchels at their seams, using acetone to remove the leather finish and setting fire to the remnants to determine how the leather was processed, or tanned, based on the ashes.

Despite it being a crime against brand-name fanatics, the meticulous multi-step process helps Yilmaz determine the true value of the piece.

“I roughly calculate the cost of leather and craftsmanship to assemble a bag of that sort in the country that says it is made to provide a barebones cost estimate for the viewers so they can decide if the price is worth it,” the Dallas-based craftsman explained.

“I use my industry knowledge to develop my estimates to make similar bags in comparable quality standards.”

His ultimate goal is to “demystify leather luxury space” for the common shopper, he said, noting that he found the opulence “forced and engineered.”

While he “always imagined” people might take an interest in the true cost of producing leather goods, he “wasn’t expecting audience growth that quick.”

But he pays the price for captivated viewers – Yilmaz often buys the luxe pouches himself, save for the gifts he receives from brands who want his honest review.

“Most of them I buy myself, especially the most expensive ones from the brand’s stores or websites,” revealed the founder of Pegai LLC, a leather goods brand. “Sometimes my audience sends their used bags for exchange with one of my products under a program I came up with called LBI (Leather Bureau of Investigation).”

In one clip with 1.8 million views, Yilmaz dismantles a Louis Vutton Felicie Pochette in gray Epi leather, which retails for a whopping $1,620, and determines the baseline cost of production is roughly $110. In another, he analyzes the Bottega Veneta Mini Acro, retailing at $2,900, taking a pair of scissors into the body of the tote which he concluded is “top of the line” due to the stunning leather choice and engineering.

A more reasonably priced fan-favorite is the Coach Pillow Tabby, which retails for a mere $395, was also scrutinized by the leather expert. The puffy shoulder bag, Yilmaz determined, probably only cost about $65 to make.

Comments range from dismay to disgust, as viewers learn the true cost of a bag – which tends to vary significantly from its price tag.

“Watching these videos I’m quickly losing interest in designer anything,” one user wrote.

“Hurts to see,” commented one alarmed viewer.

“Cries,” anguished someone else, “don’t kill any Bottega.”

“That kinda hurt my soul,” lamented another.

Yilmaz said he regularly sees betrayed fashionistas leave comments under his clips like, “I literally cried/screamed as you cut my dream bag,” a stark contrast from those appreciative of the educational content.

But for those still looking to get their (designer) bag, Yilmaz’s content serves as a decision-making tool to make luxe pieces less daunting.

“I am here to provide one additional data point for the leather shopper since leather has been a mystery for most, leading many people to be confused when shopping for leather goods,” he said.