Do you feel like the For Target line cheapens your bags?

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#61
jchiara said:
But if you didn't have a name on some of those "designer" Target bags they'd be just perceived as cheap bags. I think they stick a label on them and people go in and say "oooh" and just buy them to say they have a bag made by that person. Am I wrong?
:rolleyes:
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I basically stated this same thing in the other thread on this subject. I think this is dead on. The GO lines sell extremely well and the merchandise goes quickly. The only real difference is the name. Let's face it, whether people want to admit it or not, the name is important. There wouldn't be a market for those lines if it weren't.
 
#62
At the moment I don't care about what designers are selling their clothes, accessories, etc at target...however...if it was a designer i used...like LV...then I would probably be upset
 
#63
I guess I understand both sides of the discussion...

I think it's nice if you have limited funds to be able to purchase a bag you consider to be fancy shmancy...

On the other and I understand what the OP is saying as well...

If you purchase a condo with a view... and then another condo is built that blocks your view... you don't begrudge the new home owners their view... you just don't feel like you ended up getting what you paid for...

Likewise...

If you've paid for an exclusive handbag... you aren't upset that someone else get's to feel good about their handbag... it's disappointing to find out you're not getting what you thought you were getting after all...
 
#64
It does bother me a little bit because I don't like things that look cheap (by which I mean, things that are trying to look more posh than they are). The Target lines are cute and look good from a distance and you're just looking a for a bag that you won't want in two weeks then I guess it's okay. I personally don't like spending money on anything I don't REALLY want, regardless of whether it's $5 or $500. So I guess the Target stuff irks the snob in me, which is probably class-related, or so my husband observes.

But, as someone stated earlier in the thread, the For Target stuff does give exposure to lesser known designers, and some of the girls buying that at Target may grow into women who develop an appreciation for luxury goods.
 
#66
I'm sooooo conflicted about the issue. I love the GO lines (well, at least some of things) and I adore the champion sportswear. However, when it comes to bags and shoes, I prefer the real leather. I have both Gryson and Botkier bags and they are gorgeous and I love them for the leather and design. I'm curious to see the Target versions but I know they won't "live" up to the real thing. On one hand I think it's great they are reaching a wider audience and on the other I think it will be come "too" mass market, if that makes sense.
 
#67
I can see why the designers are doing it in this economy. And I think people on a limited budget, should have the chance to have nice things.

I just feel that if the bags look TOO similar to the real deal, that it does sort of take away from it. There are many people who choose to carry the all leather, non-logo expensive bags because they like the quality and mystic.

Almost anyone, even someone not into bags, will recognize a LV logo for example. But not many can recognize a Gryson all leather bag parading down the street. If target starts to make the Gryson bags really plentiful and popular, people will start to recognize them as "look there is one of those Target bags". They won't appreciate that it is spawned from a high quality designer because they were not familiar with the original designs.

Bag addicts and the rich might already be familiar with Gryson and Botkier but the average person isn't. I think it is a risk to take to really introduce yourself to the masses as a non-leather bag. Yes, it is a marketing ploy and yes they will make money...but will their original fans still be around? Or will some new designer come along and steal away their exclusive market? Will people run back to old favorites like Chanel and Gucci? I think only time will tell.
 
#68
jchiara said:
I feel like a little bit of a hypocrite here - but I love non-bag designers that have gotten into the Target line. I love love love Sonia Kashuk's makeup line - and I have plenty of Michael Graves stuff. Same goes for that new Janovich/Hawk line.....very cute! And those new Converse dresses? Oh my gosh - they're soooo cute! And for $29, they're so adorable and well made. I bought several! :shame:
I've peaked at their Loeffler Randall bags...oh they're just not well made. I read some review on the Target website and there are usually complaints about the quality for some reason. There were problems with the inside dye LEAKING out onto the pleather on the outside (the LR satchel bag in ivory in particular).....so it's a pass for me.

I'm a snob / I'm not a snob. I can't figure myself out! :wlae: But if you didn't have a name on some of those "designer" Target bags they'd be just perceived as cheap bags. I think they stick a label on them and people go in and say "oooh" and just buy them to say they have a bag made by that person. Am I wrong?

I don't take any of this too seriously. To each his own. I love bags but in the grand scheme of things, it's never so important to get my undies in a bundle.....:rolleyes:
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I agree with you completely! I think a lot of people look way too much into this kind of stuff. I feel like I am a snob / not a snob too. :shame: I will buy a bag if it is well made and cute for the price offered. TO EACH HIS OWN! :p
 
#69
I've bought Target bags. They're cute and cheap, but they fall apart in two weeks. I'm too old to have purses that fall apart in two weeks. So what Target makes really holds no interest for me.
 
#71
BigPurseSue said:
I've bought Target bags. They're cute and cheap, but they fall apart in two weeks. I'm too old to have purses that fall apart in two weeks. So what Target makes really holds no interest for me.
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This is exactly my point about it being a bad move for the designers. I understand that the motive is to get your name out there and recognized, but do you want to be recognized for something that is bad quality? Another poster pointed out that the people who already buy the more expensive versions probably won't buy these, so they're trying to hit another market. So, a person who is not familiar with the brand name buys a Target bag, and it's not made that well. What's their opinion of the brand name going to be? Say they walk into Macy's or Nordstrom's and see the a bag by the same designer. They'll pick it up, say "I saw this at Target, but it wasn't anywhere near this much! This is crazy!", and they'll put it down. They may not notice the superiority of the higher priced bag.

I personally can't vouch for just about anything made for Target, because I don't shop there. Well, I did buy some birthday cards recently. I just don't care for the store, I think it may be all the red in the decor. I just don't like the feeling the whole store gives me. That and the fact that every time I had been there in the past, they would try to overcharge me for at least one item.

I actually don't understand how it helps a company to make lesser quality versions of it's products. Levi's did it for Wal-Mart, as have many other companies. If you buy a pair of jeans at Wal-Mart and they fall apart, does the consumer really know that not all Levi's will do that? Probably not.

Brand recognition is all about perception. It doesn't help to put a fancy name on something that is substandard, because then everything that has that name on it will be suspect.
 
#72
This is how I feel. Hasn't affected me yet. But if Chanel or LV or Hermes goes Target, which they probably never would, that would be the end of my love for those brands. I don't know why, but that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Designers can stay out of Target and still target a lower demographic/entry level customer. (LV and Tiffany & Co. do this brilliantly for example.) But to actully deisgn for Target, no offense to anyone who loves Tar-jay, brings the brand out of the designer realm. Plus, I kinda feel like it's selling out in the fashion aspect. And, hey do what you gotta do to feed your family, but I wouldn't carry a designer that goes Target. :tdown:
 
#73
I'm just sort of thinking out loud here, but...

I wonder if higher end designers making a line (with their name on it) for Target will impact the fake markets? When I've seen fake bags in Tijuana or on Canal Street, they're $100 - $400 for a bag whose authentic is $1,000 +. They're lesser quality, and generally have major differences from the real thing, that bag experts can spot from a mile away. Now think of this: a designer who sells $500+ bags in retail shops decides to sell $30 - $50 bags (obviously of lesser quality) at Target. This opens that designer up to a WHOLE lot of people they wouldn't have otherwise reached; people who would have only had the opportunity to own a fake designer bag (if anything).

I don't know - I guess I can see both sides that have been posted here. If they had asked me, I would have said that these designers would be better off to develop a lower price-point line that sells mid-end, instead of going all the way to cheap, like Michael by Michael Kors or MBMJ or something.

BUT I'm guessing that Isaac Mizrahi must have been successful in his work with Target, or these other designers wouldn't be doing it. It's not only bags though - have you seen the Tacori line on QVC?

Personally, if these designers were making leather bags for Target, I'd probably buy them.
 
#74
No. Not everyone can afford umpteen $$$ for a bag. I think it's great that one can find stylish bags at many different price points.

I have bought a few of these (not this exact line) Target bags, and enjoy them, along with my Chanel, LV, Balenciaga, etc.
 
#75
No, I don't. I see it as a way for a small, indie designer to get their name out to the masses. Ultimately, the amount of people buying these high end bags is considerably smaller than those who buy bags at Target. Maybe in certain areas of the country where most people carry HE bags this would be an issue, but for most people it will just be perceived as being able to get a designer look for less money.
 
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