I have found that the quality for hermes has suffered in the last few years. Attention to detail and quality, while still very much apparent, are just not the same. I believe the rather tired old, "They don't make 'em like they used to", adage rings true.
The 'Omnibus' bag is also different today in terms of quality. I have notice that the craftsmen have 'cut corners' in the production of the bag. My BH's Omnibus was a gift from his father. The bag is almost 30 years old.
My 2nd Birkin, I can tell even now, will not age as gracefully as my first. In fact, I think that by the time my new one reaches the current age of the 1st( years), it will not look nearly as good. There are already signs - the glue and sealant where the gussets fold are already starting to show signs of wear and tear. The goatskin lining of my new Birkin is thinner that that of my old one. I hav mentioned the problem of the gusset to the staff at Hermes and they have of course, asked me to send the bag back to them. But at the end of the day, I wonder to myself, "It isn't a question of whether I can send the bag back. It's a question of why I should even have to.".
In time to come, I believe that the quality shall fall to a level where I will stop using their products, cherish the few pieces I have invested in - an Hermes bag, after all, has 'time' in it. For now, that is. My mother has turned from a Chanel and Hermes fan into a 'No Brand' lady. She calls it reverse snobbery. But she also mentioned, the bags in her time, were truly beautiful and worth every cent. The same virtues in anything Hermes, we expound today. We are merely watching the commercialistion of a product for the mass market; and it's cost? Why, quality of course.
But ladies(and the rest of the guys in here!), I still love the brand.
Branding: The Promise of an Emotional Reward each and every instance the consumer comes in contact with the brand. It is the establishment of aspirational goals and allowing consumers to reach said goals through association with your product.
