Kooba, Gustto, Bulga, Botkier, Treesje, Isabella Fiore, Lockheart, Junior Drake-disappeared brands

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RufikPufik

RufikPufik

O.G.
Apr 29, 2009
456
174
#1
What happened to all those great brands? Botkier is still in business but bags are not the same as when it first came out. Treesje is renamed and leather used is different as well. What happened to the rest of the bunch. Rough Roses, Junior Drake, Gustto, Bulga, Kooba - all seem to have disappeared into a thin air. Those were some great bags.
 
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#2
They were, also Hayden Harnett. I have a few of the older Botkiers and a great older Kooba. Also some Hayden Harnetts. I really do not see any of the present bags with that excellent leather and workmanship. I still use them everyday, today's bags just don't compare.
 
#3
Yes, HH too, forgot about them. They are making those ugly vegan bags now, at much lower price point , but who wants to carry heavy PU bag when you can have leather. Few years back when I joined and got into handbag craze, those were some great bags that I could not afford. Now that I want to buy the same great quality its no longer there :-(
 
#4
You can find them on ebay or Poshmark, the bags were so well made that they are still in great condition.
Oh also Linea Pelle!
 
#7
RufikPufik said:
I have Linea Pelle too :smile: . There was a time when i just purchased tons of purses on those sites like Gilt, HauteLook, etc. Bags were great, nice thick chewy leather with great details.
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Same here. Used to buy a lot of LP but the quality is just not the same anymore. Have sold some of my LPs and still have some left, but they haven't been getting much use. Have a couple of Treesje's and a Botkier as well.
 
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#8
Which brings me to my next question. What are the rules about either mentioning or posting a link to an EBay auction? I'm going to be selling some of my collection and wanted to know if I can offer it here on the PurseForum first to someone who's interested in a brand?
 
#11
That tier of the market just contracted so much after the recession, many of those great independents had to beg for new financing or just sell their brand outright. The investors, in turn, want to squeeze every penny they can from that investment, so quality gets cut somewhere. I see Koobas from time to time in off-price stores and it's just sad what has happened. Botkiers are somewhat better quality but no match for even five years ago.

I also still believe that the generational shift contributed greatly -- many of us Gen Xers have other financial obligations now like mortgages and kids' tuition payments and buy fewer bags, and many Millennials are either struggling financially and shop the lower tier, if they shop for handbags at all. They're far more minimalist in their tastes. Just my 2 cents.
 
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#12
Yeah, you are probably right. I am 47, I collected bags from different independent brands for few years now and as I am nearing 50 I start thinking when am I going to wear all those bags? I must have a bag for each week of the year. I went through my bag collection recently and I just could not believe low grade leather that is used today. I feel sad letting so many of my brand new beautiful color bags with that nice Italian leather go(not one black and maybe one or two tan, the rest are blues, purples, pinks, greens), but at the same time my tastes have changed, what I look for in a bag has changed and those I will not use will have to go :-(
 
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#14
RufikPufik said:
Yeah, you are probably right. I am 47, I collected bags from different independent brands for few years now and as I am nearing 50 I start thinking when am I going to wear all those bags? I must have a bag for each week of the year. I went through my bag collection recently and I just could not believe low grade leather that is used today. I feel sad letting so many of my brand new beautiful color bags with that nice Italian leather go(not one black and maybe one or two tan, the rest are blues, purples, pinks, greens), but at the same time my tastes have changed, what I look for in a bag has changed and those I will not use will have to go :sad:
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I agree, I have linea pelle bags in fun colors that have amazing leather, but they don't get used very often, partly because they are way heavier than my Balenciaga bags.
 
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#15
tickedoffchick said:
That tier of the market just contracted so much after the recession, many of those great independents had to beg for new financing or just sell their brand outright. The investors, in turn, want to squeeze every penny they can from that investment, so quality gets cut somewhere. I see Koobas from time to time in off-price stores and it's just sad what has happened. Botkiers are somewhat better quality but no match for even five years ago.

I also still believe that the generational shift contributed greatly -- many of us Gen Xers have other financial obligations now like mortgages and kids' tuition payments and buy fewer bags, and many Millennials are either struggling financially and shop the lower tier, if they shop for handbags at all. They're far more minimalist in their tastes. Just my 2 cents.
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You are exactly right! I hope that the Millenials will realize that fast fashion is a waste of money and resources and from that they will be the next wave of creative, quality bag designers.
 
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