Dooney & Bourke quality

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LVBagLady

LVBagLady

O.G.
Jan 19, 2006
2,620
126
#1
I have been on a Dooney binge this week because I totally fell in love with their new strawberry color. In the past week I bought the Dillen II satchel, cross body satchel and I am headed out to buy the mini barrel bag to use as a cosmetic bag.
I accidentally noticed this, this morning. The handle isn't sealed. You can look right down it at the stuffing. It's the same on the crossbody's handles too. I took pics of my LV Tivoli's handles, a vintage Dooney AWL's handle, Dooney Florentine Satchel to compare. I have to list them separately because there doesn't seem to be a clipboard option on this Droid, so I have to get the pics individually.

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#5
Not bashing Dooney. Just noticed some differences. I read some posts on here that some think Dooney's quality is up there with LV. I use to think that too, now not so much. I have heard the Alto line's quality is up there with Hermes. Just wondering what others think.
 
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#6
Interesting. I would not have thought to check the finishing on the handles. A little surprised at the shortcut there, I thought DB was attentive to details. I have to believe this is an extra step that needs to be done by hand?
 
#7
That's very interesting! Thanks for posting the pictures. I think stuffing poking out of handles is a bellweather of quality, or lack thereof. Several years back I posted a series of pictures illustrative of how Dooney's quality standards had shifted when all their manufacturing moved out of the United States. Poor stitching, lots of design shortcuts, less leather, cheap hardware, etc. Those AWL bags from the '80s and '90s are so classic and they do make one yearn for the days when the bags were made so very well with all the attention to details, when they made you feel like you really were carrying something very special. I too love the Florentine and Dillen bags, but the quality still isn't anything like it was in those older bags. Again...thanks for the pics!
 
#9
rainrowan said:
Interesting. I would not have thought to check the finishing on the handles. A little surprised at the shortcut there, I thought DB was attentive to details. I have to believe this is an extra step that needs to be done by hand?
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I always check the bag all over before I buy it, but I missed this detail. I had the bag sitting next to me in church and happened to look down and the white stuffing caught my eye. I contemplated returning both bags but I have been using one for a week already and I do love the color. I have received a lot of compliments on them.
 
#10
BigPurseSue said:
That's very interesting! Thanks for posting the pictures. I think stuffing poking out of handles is a bellweather of quality, or lack thereof. Several years back I posted a series of pictures illustrative of how Dooney's quality standards had shifted when all their manufacturing moved out of the United States. Poor stitching, lots of design shortcuts, less leather, cheap hardware, etc. Those AWL bags from the '80s and '90s are so classic and they do make one yearn for the days when the bags were made so very well with all the attention to details, when they made you feel like you really were carrying something very special. I too love the Florentine and Dillen bags, but the quality still isn't anything like it was in those older bags. Again...thanks for the pics!
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I remember how much I wanted a D&B backpack back in the early 90's. Dooney was my first favorite designer. My sister has a Dillen II. She's had it for a year. She doesn't baby her bags and it still looks great. I baby my bags, so I hope they will last a long time.
 
#12
Probably 90 percent of you gals here would be too young to remember when Dooney was a very fashionable high-end bag that sold for much more way back 20 years or so than it sells for today. Of course, the leather was extremely thick and the stitching was over-the-top in quality. That was then. This is now. I think they are still nice bags but I just can't bring myself to buying one because of how they used to be. If I saw that my bag had those handles, OP, I'd be going right back to where I purchased it and got a refund. Those handles should be sealed. It's the very least they could do, really.
 
#13
I am not familiar with this brand at all (is it more a US than a UK designer?)
But I would be really upset if I bought a new bag and the stuffing was coming out like that on the handles!!
 
#14
You may have gotten a bad bag. That can happen with any of the bags. I love my Dooneys better than my Louis Vuittons. I just bought the Louis Vuitton Epi Carnine Speedy about two weeks ago and the DB Smith Florentine in White. Equally quality bags. In my opinion, people associate status with quality. Everyone is wearing a LV because it is an expensive brand like Hermes but will turn their nose up on a DB because of the price. Personally, if I am spending $$$$ on a bag, I don't want to see everyone carrying it. I believe you buy what you like.
 
#15
I have dozens of DB old and totally new, I have no problems with any. I have 4 LV, no problems at all. That bag you have must have a rare problem. New LV, esp Neverfulls and even artsys and sarah wallets are having issues. I guess it happens. sad. I agree DB has been gorgeous lately, esp Florentine, Alto and a few other leather lines, love the Dillons too.... I have the urge too, and I love the lush colors.
 
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