Cath Kidston 20th Birthday Backpack

Cath Kidston 20th birthday backpack

Got this as an early Christmas gift for Sharkteeth. I ordered it online around the end of October, and it was despatched a couple of days later.  Delivery took more than 7-10 days (as stated in their website), though I think the delay could be partly blamed on Yolanda. It's £65 in the UK, but I only paid £54.17 because they do not charge value-added tax (or whatever you call that tax) on non-UK purchases. I would have to shoulder any customs duties myself though, and horror stories of being charged exorbitant customs duties (sometimes amounting to the price of the item being shipped) left me jittery. Shipping fee is £20, which is a bit steep, but a friend ordered as well and we shared the shipping cost. Like I said, delivery was delayed, and we exchanged e-mails more than a couple of times -- my inquiries were always replied to courteously and professionally. It finally came around the third week of November. I was a bundle of nerves when I picked up the shipment at the Customs Office, fearing the worst. Would they charge me an arm and a leg? Only an arm? A leg? My legs are pretty sizable (#fact), I think one would be enough. Well, I'm happy to report that it didn't cost much, but I won't discuss the charges or amount here. E-mail me if you're curious. Needless to say, it's so VERY PRETTY. I love the patches and the pins. Of course, S was excited as well. I find it a bit expensive, given that it's made of polyester, but then again, it is VERY PRETTY. And oh, have I mentioned that it is VERY PRETTY? LOL! But wait, the proof of the pudding is in the eating (did I "hear" this phrase from you, Derdo?), and S immediately used the backpack the following day. Sadly, the edges of the patches frayed after a single use. I tried to burn off the edges to seal them and succeeded, but one is much too frayed to salvage and is already getting loose on one side. The embroidered flowers piled, but a bit of heat removed the piles. The fabric is holding up well though, despite the heavy school books. Oh, another thing, Stanley's (the dog in the keychain) tail is missing. I thought S, or perhaps I, broke it, but when I checked the unboxing picture (above), he has already lost his tail. Oh well. S doesn't seem to mind, so I didn't make any more fuss about it. He's now Stanley Stubbytail. S used the backpack for our Manila-Bulacan-Boracay-Iloilo-Bacolod  trip last December, filled with clothes, books, notebooks, and a couple of plushy toys, and it survived. And of course, VERY PRETTY. SO VERY PRETTY. So, there you have it. Ordering from Cath Kidston online is quite easy, but I cannot guarantee that your customs experience will be as breezy as mine.





Cath Kidston description

School. Work. Travel. In the bag. Don't be without one of our bestselling backpacks. Celebrate 20 years of Cath Kidston with this birthday version. 

My best bits

• grab handles and padded, adjustable strap
• zip fastening
• matt oilcloth
• 1 internal padded pocket for laptops up to 13"
• 1 external zip pocket

I'm this big

• 28 x 39 x 12 cm

Look after me

• wipe clean only

I'm made out of

• inner: polyester with PVC coating
• outer: polyester