Opinions on up cycle trend
- Thread starter Volvomom
- Start date
Upcycling is a creative expression. Once someone buys a commodity it is theirs to do with how they see fit. Designers don't get to dictate how someone wears their product. I think it's a fabulous way to update tired styles, too.
Second hand stores are selling upcycled bags? That I could see, as long as they state clearly that the item has been upcycled so the buyer doesn't think that they're buying an original design. I suspect a lot of people are buying preloved items and adding chains or whatever because of price increases. Or maybe they love the bag but one aspect of the design doesn't work for them. There are lots of threads here on TPM that describe how people shorten and lengthen chains, add or cut off monograms or charms on new bags. I think the only difference is how noticeable it is to others.
Let me see if i can find a picture......yes, they are cutting up an old LV making something small and now selling them for like $250 each.
This isn't just adding a chain or something very small, they are making these.
Several LV FB groups allow crafters to sell their re-purposed LV mono items ( pill cases, charms, keychains, mirrors, etc.). Although the original material is authentic, I personally don't like such frankenvuittons, but to each his own. I guess i'm a traditionalist and I like owning originals which are connected to the brand which have a history.
These are practically just fake Louis Vuitton bags made of (allegedly!) authentic Vuitton canvas. And selling these never-existing-at-Vuitton designs make it legally problematic. This is the point of a registered trademark symbol. If a second-hand shop sells used bags, those are still authentic Louis Vuitton pieces and designs, just used. And that is OK. But in this case they are turned into something completely alien to the brand, still bearing its protected trademark, hence giving the impression that they are Louis Vuitton. They are not.
There was a very sad thread on the forum this fall. A lovely lady posted that she bought some nice framed collages made from LV canvas. The webshop stated that they were made from authentic old Louis Vuitton canvas, and charged $300-500 for a picture. But the 'how was it made' pics on their website gave away the trick, they screamed that the canvas was sourced from Canal Street fakes. And it was heartbraking that they charged the price of an authentic new wallet for that cheap fake sh*t.
There was a very sad thread on the forum this fall. A lovely lady posted that she bought some nice framed collages made from LV canvas. The webshop stated that they were made from authentic old Louis Vuitton canvas, and charged $300-500 for a picture. But the 'how was it made' pics on their website gave away the trick, they screamed that the canvas was sourced from Canal Street fakes. And it was heartbraking that they charged the price of an authentic new wallet for that cheap fake sh*t.
I don't like this at all.....to me its strange. Just my opinion, i wouldn't buy it.
Thanks for the picture, I have a better understanding of what you are talking about. This seems less like upcycling and more like an outright fake. Perhaps this is an issue LV should take up through the courts.
I have noticed this a lot lately, and they are calling it "up-cycled." This just caught my eye.
I don't like it and it doesn't make sense to me. If you had an authentic bag that you could sell, why cut it up and make less money on the key chains, watch bands etc? All of that stuff screams fake to me.