Exotics

[ExoticsOnly]

Non-brand-specific…, the pure essence of me However, had I knew back in 2011 that this bag would be so wide spread, its shape so recognizeable and also in sale for more than 10 years I could have saved myself the trouble of doing a MTO just to have the brand name removed.

 

[Christofle]

Non-brand-specific…, the pure essence of me However, had I knew back in 2011 that this bag would be so wide spread, its shape so recognizeable and also in sale for more than 10 years I could have saved myself the trouble of doing a MTO just to have the brand name removed.

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It does look very clean like this though so worthwhile in my books.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Asprey bags are (almost) Hermes quality.

Where would Asprey fit into this conversation when they were Asprey & Garrard? Still about the same? *almost* Hermes quality, or was it different then.

I know about Garrard's jewelry, and suppose that their bags were fantastic, but I'm curious if you have thoughts on this.

 

[880]

You are correct that Mauro Governa made some of their bags, maybe all, I don't know. You are also correct that it is alligator, but I don't know how you can see that. I only know Mr. Suarez (Mario?) confirmed it. And yes, he said that that model, in the current version, was $6k.

i agree with Jelliedfeels, we could do with an exotic skin appreciation thread and I suspect many of us have questions about croc v alligator.

I had a number of their bags, and some exotics, and some Mauro governa, the last ones Matte alligator. . . I will see if I have a pic somewhere. Suarez was a family business, and the siblings Matt and Ramona took over from Mr. And Mrs. Suarez senior. The most recent location by bloomingdales closed. Their exotics were beautiful and Matt had an amazing eye. I was not always crazy about the finish on their hardware, but the manufacture of the bags was excellent. Also, they had wonderful sales. This is a pic of the bag, but it sadly doesn’t convey how fabulous the dark chocolate ebene alligator was. . . It was a very cool toned ebene, with almost blue undertones. And the tactile feel of the bag was unbelievable

 

[cecchetti]

I started carrying exotics when I was about 16 or 17 , although I don’t have a large collection atm like @ExoticsOnly as I spend on jewellery ..
I was a ballerina, and in Covent Garden market in London, a retired Asprey craftsman sold crocodile and lizard bags using leftover Asprey skins sewn together.
I already owned Chanel blouses in silk and loved beautiful things and became hooked -the bags were only £36-75( in the late 1980’s).
When I started working they were far more hardwearing than my first Chanel bag, and to me far more attractive.

My most expensive bag to date was bought new-my Jimmy Choo matte navy crocodile bag-bought when the quality there was good, I still use it..for years it was my only bag..when I lived in Paris I had a stunning black box and charcoal ostrich bag, also I love my Laurus Prussia ostrich Geneva bag although it’s not a practical size..

I have a wishlist of more exotic bags(I own more as well atm), and eventually would like an Hermes Horizons bespoke exotic bag-if I can bear not to spend it on high jewellery …I’m currently paying for a Cullinan diamond and pink diamond ring.

 

[cecchetti]

I remember Rene Mancini-i used to live in Paris, he made Chanel’s shoes, the company made small sizes(I’m 35.5), they had their boutique in rue de La Paix, I used to go there, as well as Lobb in Hermes FSH and JM Weston..

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Does anyone here know if Furla uses real lizard or lizard embossed calf? I've seen them described on the second hand market each way. Furla doesn't strike me as the kind of label that would use real exotics, but I don't know all that much about them so that could be a super ignorant point of view.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

I've done some digging and going to answer my own two questions:

Re: Suarez, they lost a lot of their partner companies in Italy during COVID so have closed their doors for now while they figure out their next steps.

Re: Furla, they do not and never have used exotic leathers. That's what I figured, but wanted to be clear for folks like me who scour the pre-loved market and get mixed messaged.