Kwanpen bags?
- Thread starter Ariun
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Having recently returned from HK .. I had a chance to check out Kwanpen and while I'd never consider purchasing something that is a copy of an Hermes .. I would however think about buying their "non-copies" as some of their little accessories and small leather goods were quite cute.
Well, at the risk of being stoned, I will say that they are gorgeous and I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Not everyone can afford (or wants to afford!) an Hermes croc bag, and these are stunning bags that are clearly of a very high quality. Yes, an Hermes is a "Rolls Royce", but then I drive an Audi....
Bum up this thread. Been a while since Kwanpen was discussed so I thought that I would post up 3 of their NON-Hermes designs for discussion.
Personally, I feel that this apple green bag below is a unique design that does not scream copycat? What do you think?
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/casual/3505.jpg
The 2nd bag that I like is this emerald green bag with a wave design, again I don't think they copied any high end designer:
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/classic/1369.jpg
Finally this evening clutch bag is reminiscent of a Chinese fan, don't you think so, a one of a kind design:
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/clutch/8895.jpg
The full list of handbags is here
Handbags | Page 1
Personally, I feel that this apple green bag below is a unique design that does not scream copycat? What do you think?
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/casual/3505.jpg
The 2nd bag that I like is this emerald green bag with a wave design, again I don't think they copied any high end designer:
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/classic/1369.jpg
Finally this evening clutch bag is reminiscent of a Chinese fan, don't you think so, a one of a kind design:
http://www.kwanpen.com/images/clutch/8895.jpg
The full list of handbags is here
Handbags | Page 1
I was told by Hermes staff that Kwanpen croc is of good quality. Buy the other designs and SLGs but my advice is not get the Birkins and Kellys are they are H designs and Kwanpen's is too close for comfort.
I'll first say that I'd never buy a Hermes look-alike but I took a closer look at a brightly colored shiny Orange Birkin look-alike Kwanpen bag at Siam Paragon in Bangkok last week. The skin was very beautiful and high quality poro croc. The hardware had Kwanpen logo and the price was about $6000USD. One thing that not looked so good was when I looked behind the handles, where they are joined to the bag. The piping inside the handles were wisible there!! 
I wouldn't feel comfortable buying a Hermes look-alike bag, but looking at their website, I don't understand why people would choose those designs as their other handbag designs are just lovely. I would snap up one of their other designs (or, actually, several) in a heartbeat. Must ask my brother to check out the store for me the next time he is in HK!
I am in Bangkok at the moment and have just purchased an ostrich 35 birkin style Kwanden bag at Paragon in Siam and I have to say it is absolutely stunning. The smell of this bag is divine and the workmanship unfaulted.
They have a huge sale on at the moment and my ostrich 35 cm cost 37,150 baht, which equites to about $1200 aud. Sadly the crocodile ones are not on sale and are around $8,000 aud. If they had been half price also, I would have bought one of these. I have a birkin which I adore and a beautiful vintage kelly which is also stunning. When I saw the price of this Kwanden bag, I could not pass it by. I know I will love this Kwanden in it's own right and I won't feel the need to make excuses that it is not an Hermes (which I obviously also adore). It's colour is sapphire and I am happy to post a picture if it is allowed. They had another one at Gaysorn Plaza and also a magenta colour in a 30 cm.
I've just come back to my hotel room and did a tpf search and found this thread so I thought I'd add to it.
They have a huge sale on at the moment and my ostrich 35 cm cost 37,150 baht, which equites to about $1200 aud. Sadly the crocodile ones are not on sale and are around $8,000 aud. If they had been half price also, I would have bought one of these. I have a birkin which I adore and a beautiful vintage kelly which is also stunning. When I saw the price of this Kwanden bag, I could not pass it by. I know I will love this Kwanden in it's own right and I won't feel the need to make excuses that it is not an Hermes (which I obviously also adore). It's colour is sapphire and I am happy to post a picture if it is allowed. They had another one at Gaysorn Plaza and also a magenta colour in a 30 cm.
I've just come back to my hotel room and did a tpf search and found this thread so I thought I'd add to it.
I would get something from Kwanpen as long as it's not an Hermes kelly/birkin lookalike..
Kwanpen bags are not cheap.. and i want to be happy carrying something i spent so much money on. I don't think i can get past myself carrying a croc kelly lookalike and be comfortable with people scrutinising it and thinking i am a cheap showoff (cheap as in can't bear to spend money on the real thing, and get a copy) And the truth is.. i really can't afford a brandnew Hermes Kelly in croc skin.. not while i am saving to buy my own place..
Just speaking from my heart...
i like some of the house designs Kwanpen has come up with.. It's an established brand in Asia.. They are known for their skins and workmanship (though not designs)
As i get older, i start to wear more Asian brands and am proud of my heritage. If Kwanpen is Asian and i like its quality, i will wear it
haha.. how i have digressed
Kwanpen bags are not cheap.. and i want to be happy carrying something i spent so much money on. I don't think i can get past myself carrying a croc kelly lookalike and be comfortable with people scrutinising it and thinking i am a cheap showoff (cheap as in can't bear to spend money on the real thing, and get a copy) And the truth is.. i really can't afford a brandnew Hermes Kelly in croc skin.. not while i am saving to buy my own place..
Just speaking from my heart...
i like some of the house designs Kwanpen has come up with.. It's an established brand in Asia.. They are known for their skins and workmanship (though not designs)
As i get older, i start to wear more Asian brands and am proud of my heritage. If Kwanpen is Asian and i like its quality, i will wear it
haha.. how i have digressed
Kwanpen are very well made and for that I don't mind buying something made by them. However, if I wanted to go for a Kelly/Birkin design, I would rather get the real thing than an "inspired" one. You need to think of these situations as these might lead to awkward/embarassing situations in the future:
1) Friend/family/colleague approaches you and compliment the bag, then ask you, is this an Hermes Kelly/Birkin?
2) Would you carry this bag into an Hermes store? What if an SA ask you about the bag?
If you're comfortable to tell them there's this brand called Kwanpen that mades Hermes inpired bags in very good quality, and you really love the bag and will enjoy using it, then you have an answer already. On the other hand, if you think that might make you feel uncomfortable then perhaps it's better to get the real deal, be it exotic or leather.
1) Friend/family/colleague approaches you and compliment the bag, then ask you, is this an Hermes Kelly/Birkin?
2) Would you carry this bag into an Hermes store? What if an SA ask you about the bag?
If you're comfortable to tell them there's this brand called Kwanpen that mades Hermes inpired bags in very good quality, and you really love the bag and will enjoy using it, then you have an answer already. On the other hand, if you think that might make you feel uncomfortable then perhaps it's better to get the real deal, be it exotic or leather.
I don't have a Kwanpen bag, but I do have an "inspired-by Constance" from Lederer's in NYC. It's a lovely bag, lovely leather and very nicely made. I enjoy wearing it and yes, I have gone into Hermes wearing it. It is NOT a "fake"! I also bought my daughter a Lederer "inspired-by Birkin". She adores it and I could not possibly afford to buy her a Birkin, nor would she want the money spent that way - lots of others things she would need more. She carried it when she was with me in Paris at FSH last Jan and no sirens went off, nor were we asked to leave the store! Again, it is NOT a fake!
If it's what you can afford and you will enjoy it, then buy it! If people ask, tell them it's not a fake - it's an "inspired-by" made by Kwanpen. No shame in that....
If it's what you can afford and you will enjoy it, then buy it! If people ask, tell them it's not a fake - it's an "inspired-by" made by Kwanpen. No shame in that....
my mom told me kwanpen bags used to be a lot cheaper when she was younger,..in those days, Asian women want a kwanpen bag, like how now girls want a Chanel flap or an Hermes birkin..
haha.. but the prices are ridiculous now!
I saw this bag called the Raffles Bag (check out on website).. i thought it's really nice..
but the medium is close to USD4k!
Hmmm yes, i would rather buy an Hermes Kelly in non-exotic leather for a few k more from Paris.
and even if i want to buy a croc skin bag, i have seen cheaper ones than those at Kwanpen for very good quality.
haha.. but the prices are ridiculous now!
I saw this bag called the Raffles Bag (check out on website).. i thought it's really nice..
but the medium is close to USD4k!
Hmmm yes, i would rather buy an Hermes Kelly in non-exotic leather for a few k more from Paris.
and even if i want to buy a croc skin bag, i have seen cheaper ones than those at Kwanpen for very good quality.