Yes, the closure is super easy to get I’m and out of. You just flip the tabs and slide it out. It’s a very functional design, and I like the hardware a lot.
Kwanpen bags?
- Thread starter Ariun
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Chance upon this thread, so decided to chip in a bit. Kwanpen is a Singapore brand founded circa 1930s. They were the supplier (OEM) of exotic leathers to many designer brands including Hermes. As OEM I think there are some non disclosure agreements. Their bags, their leathers is of Hermes’ quality bc they are the supplier. I cannot confirm if they are still supplying Hermes exotic leather now. And they still use gold plated hardware.
As for the Birkin lookalike bag, apparently the founder was involved in the designing of the birkin bag. Perhaps he had some agreement with the Hermes owner and was allowed to use the design sans the H logo. Otherwise, Hermes would have sue them long time ago. I think they have stop making the birkin design a year ago? and only their own design bag. So if u chance upon a Kwanpen birkin in the resell market, it’s also a limited edition but at a steal? I don’t own any exotic leather so I can’t tell. So if you only mind that the logo says Hermes then, u have to pay the premium. If u want Hermes quality but more affordable then this brand is probably for u.
As for the Birkin lookalike bag, apparently the founder was involved in the designing of the birkin bag. Perhaps he had some agreement with the Hermes owner and was allowed to use the design sans the H logo. Otherwise, Hermes would have sue them long time ago. I think they have stop making the birkin design a year ago? and only their own design bag. So if u chance upon a Kwanpen birkin in the resell market, it’s also a limited edition but at a steal? I don’t own any exotic leather so I can’t tell. So if you only mind that the logo says Hermes then, u have to pay the premium. If u want Hermes quality but more affordable then this brand is probably for u.
You can still order a birkin-alike bag from Kwanpen if you ask about it in the store. I went there once in Hong Kong three years ago. The staff showed me a Himalaya birkin ordered by another VIP customer. She told me that it took about 18 months to order one. She also told me that it was not called birkin, it's called 'doli' or something i forgot. The size of it was different from birkin and it's a special request from the customer, so perhaps they could allow to sell it discreetly.
I really like the bags and would be interested in bringing one home from our next trip to Singapore. But the color options for several of the bags are very limited. That's disappointing. Also, it seems like a few of the bags that they say can be worn cross body have straps that are too short for comfortable crossbody wear for someone who's on the tall side