Is this bag Chanel "inspired"?

[KW1]

So while shopping at a local boutique I spotted a Rebecca Minkoff envelope clutch in mint green that I just about took home with me. I thought I would do a little more research on tPF first to look at all the colors to choose from, then probably go back for it in person.

In the meantime, earlier this evening, a tpf'er posted a new reveal of a quite lovely bag that seems to me to be very reminiscent of a Chanel flap. At first I thought it was Chanel even. I asked her about it and while waiting for a response I found the bag on RM website. So, I'd like to get my fellow tPF Chanel lovers take on this. This may impact my decision whether or not to buy that clutch I had my eye on. No offense, but I love my Chanel's too much to buy a designer who may (cringe) copy their designs. Any insight? Am I worried for no reason?

The RM bag


Chanel bags that may have inspired the RM design??

 

[tutushopper]

.

Is it "inspired?" Absolutely. Is it a copy? Absolutely not. Often designers will be inspired by other designers in their creations (there is a horrible example of a Dior inspired bag that is selling at the stores; I forget the designer by it was soooo ugly). You found two bags that completely show the inspiration behind that RM bag. Great detective work!

The burgundy colored bag is certainly a handsome bag. I wonder if people would think that it was a bit too inspired by Chanel bags? That I can't say. But it is quite common for designers to be inspired by other designers and incorporate aspects into their own work. I guess it's up to you to decide how much is too much.

 

[LOVERofCHANEL]

I've also had this issue. I have a Chanel classic flap and I always see "inspired" bags that look similar to the classic flap such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs. To me it's fine if it just has some similar details, but it really bothers me when a designer makes a bag very similar to the designer bag (except they leave out the designer logo). Another example is the Hermes Birkin. I LOVE the style of that bag. It's very classy is suppose to be a very exclusive bag. However, now I see SO many "inspired" birkin bags and it makes me tired of the style.

 

[KW1]

Is it "inspired?" Absolutely. Is it a copy? Absolutely not. Often designers will be inspired by other designers in their creations (there is a horrible example of a Dior inspired bag that is selling at the stores; I forget the designer by it was soooo ugly). You found two bags that completely show the inspiration behind that RM bag. Great detective work!

The burgundy colored bag is certainly a handsome bag. I wonder if people would think that it was a bit too inspired by Chanel bags? That I can't say. But it is quite common for designers to be inspired by other designers and incorporate aspects into their own work. I guess it's up to you to decide how much is too much.

Thanks for the input Tutu (love your name btw)! I get what you're saying. How could a designer now not be inspired by the classics really? And I appreciate you pointing out that it's common.

 

[KW1]

I've also had this issue. I have a Chanel classic flap and I always see "inspired" bags that look similar to the classic flap such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs. To me it's fine if it just has some similar details, but it really bothers me when a designer makes a bag very similar to the designer bag (except they leave out the designer logo). Another example is the Hermes Birkin. I LOVE the style of that bag. It's very classy is suppose to be a very exclusive bag. However, now I see SO many "inspired" birkin bags and it makes me tired of the style.

I'm trying to be subjective but really I'm just getting frustrated by it, lol. Maybe if the quilting was done but not with the flap or leather woven chain??? I'm sure they talk about how far to go with it during the initial design meetings... and in this case they went pretty far IMHO.

I must have been living in a cave! I had bought several MK bags including the Hamilton that I just thought were pretty, and easy on the wallet, and just very recently it came to my attention they were extremely closely "inspired" bags too. Is the Hamilton known for being a derivative of a Birkin?

 

[prettycitygirl]

I echo TuTu's response. Many high end designers will have very similar styles; however, those iconic styes will always be iconic and tied to the designer.

MK does many bags that are inspired by the high end designer. Yes, the Hampton bag being one. But for many, a Hermes bag is just too pricey so why not go for the MK? Nothing wrong with that at all!

The problem is knockoff's. A bag claiming to be something it's not. That's a problem.

 

[balenciaga-boy]

There is one Chanel bag that looks kinda like the Stella McCartney falabella bag....so designers do inspire each other to do their own versions of the bag. The neverfull shape for example, is also quite common among designers.

Many designers are using the chain designs on their bags nowadays, and I think that the RM bag looks cute and not like a chanel knockoff, but that is just my opinion

 

[KW1]

There is one Chanel bag that looks kinda like the Stella McCartney falabella bag....so designers do inspire each other to do their own versions of the bag. The neverfull shape for example, is also quite common among designers.

Many designers are using the chain designs on their bags nowadays, and I think that the RM bag looks cute and not like a chanel knockoff, but that is just my opinion

So you're saying the Stella McCartney falabella bag came before the Chanel bag? What's the Chanel design called? Very curious?

 

[LOVERofCHANEL]

I'm trying to be subjective but really I'm just getting frustrated by it, lol. Maybe if the quilting was done but not with the flap or leather woven chain??? I'm sure they talk about how far to go with it during the initial design meetings... and in this case they went pretty far IMHO.

I must have been living in a cave! I had bought several MK bags including the Hamilton that I just thought were pretty, and easy on the wallet, and just very recently it came to my attention they were extremely closely "inspired" bags too. Is the Hamilton known for being a derivative of a Birkin?

The Hamilton does remind me of the Birkin, but it's not overly done. I know some companies that make bags that appear very similar to the Birkin (minus the logo- which isn't that visible anyways), but looks cheaply made, so it's not meant for people to think its the Birkin, but made just for the style, if that makes sense lol. I've seen "inspired" Balenciaga's, Celine's, Chanel Reissues (since it doesn't have a logo), and a few other designers that don't have a logo on them. Even though it is legal to copy the same exact style as long as it doesn't have the designers logo on it, I don't like that idea, because then more and more people will have the same style and that designer bag you paid so much for is too commonly seen.

 

[LOVERofCHANEL]

I echo TuTu's response. Many high end designers will have very similar styles; however, those iconic styes will always be iconic and tied to the designer.

MK does many bags that are inspired by the high end designer. Yes, the Hampton bag being one. But for many, a Hermes bag is just too pricey so why not go for the MK? Nothing wrong with that at all!

The problem is knockoff's. A bag claiming to be something it's not. That's a problem.

+1

I don't like knock offs or bags that are made very similar to the designer. For example, the company BagInc makes designer inspired bags legally, but it's not original.

However, I don't mind designers inspiring each other. For example, Michael Kors has bags similar to the speedy and neverfull.

 

[balenciaga-boy]

So you're saying the Stella McCartney falabella bag came before the Chanel bag? What's the Chanel design called? Very curious?

I'm not saying that the Stella McCartney bag came before the Chanel bag, I'm not sure which came first. And I'm also not saying that Chanel copied Stella McCartney or that Stella McCartney copied Chanel.

I'm just trying to say that sometimes designers may produce a bag that looks a little bit similar, and it is not necessarily the case that they copied another designer etc etc.

Here's the picture of the Chanel bag from the website and the falabella bag from the stella mccartney website.

 

[SimoneLove]

Yeah looks very similar

 

[vink]

Although, I love Chanel, in this case, Stella McCartney comes before Chanel. Karl clearly "get inspired" by Falabella in this case.

I'm not saying that the Stella McCartney bag came before the Chanel bag, I'm not sure which came first. And I'm also not saying that Chanel copied Stella McCartney or that Stella McCartney copied Chanel.

I'm just trying to say that sometimes designers may produce a bag that looks a little bit similar, and it is not necessarily the case that they copied another designer etc etc.

Here's the picture of the Chanel bag from the website and the falabella bag from the stella mccartney website.

 

[Love4H]

The only similarities between the Chanel bag and that RM bag are the chain and flap style. That's it. Flaps with a chain are a very popular styles and can be found with all the brands.
I personally love flap style bags, have many Chanel flaps and just got a Miss Dior flap which is veeeeeeery similar to Chanel.

Chanel flaps have always had a major influence on the bag industry because of the iconic position. So Chanel influenced the development of that flap bag with a chain segment. It's not the matter of inspiration anymore, it's an established style of bags already.

 

[MelissaT]

I'm trying to be subjective but really I'm just getting frustrated by it, lol. Maybe if the quilting was done but not with the flap or leather woven chain??? I'm sure they talk about how far to go with it during the initial design meetings... and in this case they went pretty far IMHO.

I must have been living in a cave! I had bought several MK bags including the Hamilton that I just thought were pretty, and easy on the wallet, and just very recently it came to my attention they were extremely closely "inspired" bags too. Is the Hamilton known for being a derivative of a Birkin?

So funny you mention MK. My SA at Hermes just pointed this out to me last week. Then yesterday I received an MK catalog in the mail, and there are new bags that in my opinion cross the "inspired by" line. They look just like Valentino, of course not the quality, but its pretty pathetic.