So far, we have not heard directly from major brands, either positive or negative. “Early on, 11 of my videos were flagged by the LVMH Group for allegedly promoting counterfeit products, which was not the case,” he says. His account was briefly suspended, but Instagram reinstated it after he posted a video explaining the misunderstanding. However, he has received a lot of positive feedback from smaller brands, who appreciate their craftsmanship and thank him for challenging the luxury sector’s influence on consumers. I am doing it.
In addition to simply making recommendations, Yilmaz also works as an educator, teaching his followers how to identify high-quality leather products. “Look for natural, untreated leather,” he says, advising buyers to look for distinctive grain patterns, solid stitching, and durable hardware. He also warns against vague labels. “If it just says ‘genuine leather,’ that usually means the brand has little to boast about the quality of the material.”
Given his background, it’s no surprise that Yilmaz is passionate about this subject. Raised in a family of leather craftsmen in Turkey, he learned the trade from an early age and made his first leather jacket at the age of 11. His brand Pegai, which he started on Etsy eight years ago, reflects his commitment to quality and is characterized by high quality. – End leather and hardware are sourced from Spanish artisans, which he calls “affordable luxury.”
Although Yilmaz’s growing fame may seem advantageous to Pegai, he rarely uses his channels to promote his brand. “Some viewers don’t even realize I have a brand because I rarely mention my brand in my reviews,” he says. “Sometimes, when I share updates or relevant stories, I mention Pegai, which drives direct sales. But otherwise, my audience appreciates my content and ultimately seeks out my brand. Trust is built over time.”
He has poured countless hours and resources into building his reputation, even hiring a Singaporean investigator to verify the brand’s claims that its bags are locally produced. “I’m willing to go as far as I need to go to get to the truth,” he says.
His passion for leather extends beyond the end product to the ethics and sustainability of the industry itself. Although leather has received attention for its environmental impact, Yilmaz believes that leather is a valuable by-product of the meat industry, preventing it from becoming waste. He argues that genuine leather is a better option than plastic, which is often marketed as “vegan leather”, because it is durable.
“There’s nothing vegan or leather on that plastic label,” he says, criticizing the trend as misleading. Still, he acknowledges the efforts of some brands to create true vegan alternatives from natural fibers such as mushrooms and cacti, but they still don’t reach the durability and quality of real leather. I believe.
Through his content, Yilmaz is helping to shape a new wave of savvy consumers who are less interested in status symbols and more focused on the values behind their purchases. Through pure curiosity and a willingness to spend his own money on research, Yilmaz was able to disrupt an industry that once seemed untouchable.
And while he may have started with a simple question of why Louis Vuitton bags are so expensive, his journey has led him to question the entire luxury goods ecosystem. In a world obsessed with brand names, the message he preaches to millions of Gen Zers via vertical video is refreshingly clear and (albeit whispered) decidedly old-fashioned. True luxury isn’t about the logo, it’s about the artistry, materials and values behind the brand.
