Prada Bags: Now Made in China for Italian Made Prices."

JustAgUrL · Mar 27, 2015

Prada Psycho said:
Me, too. When I got my first Chanel, I made my SA bring me every single bag from the back in the style I was looking at until she found me one that was stamped Made in France (the others were made in Italy).

Same with my only LV. It too, it was Made in France.

All of this is to say, for me at least, that I'm buying the history of the company along with the handbag. That's why I was adamant that I did not want a Chanel bag that was made in Italy (or an LV made [wherever] ) Chanel is a French designer, as is Louis Vuitton, so I personally want them to be made in France.

THIS is exactly how I feel..

Thee companies are using the COUNTRIES Rich History as a means of marketing
their items
Prada Milano Italy

It is an OLD company with an old history connected to the country
Other designers, I don't care, because they don't have that kind of history to
tether their items to

when I buy Prada or Louis Vuitton, I want these items made in their home countries, that is why I am willing to pay that kind of money on their items
I am buying the History, as well as the Handbag.

starmegumi · Mar 29, 2015

This whole thread has been really enlightening. I was debating between the prada wallet on chain vs gucci betty leather chain wallet as my technically second luxury purchase. (the first one doesn't really count since I had no idea what I was doing besides oh it'll fit what I need, let alone check if it was actually authentic). After reading all of this, I decided to go with the gucci rather than risk quality issues and pay extra for something that might not be made in italy.

too bad since the prada seems better for me because of it's size and internal layout.

averagejoe · Mar 30, 2015

Prada reported a 28% drop in profits last year:

http://www.ft.com/intl/fastft/299913/prada-shares-jump-spite-of-tumbling-profits

According to the article,

To prop up margins, Prada said there has been "a major overhaul" in certain production processes, "the effects of which will be visible next year." It said management deemed it "essential" to implement measures to contain costs, given the slowdown in growth and costs associated with opening new stores.

I can't wait to see what this means to the already dwindling quality of their products. I'm certainly not buying Prada anymore. The "major overhaul" may mean more production in China, and probably faster assembly which may compromise quality.

Prada Psycho · Mar 30, 2015

averagejoe said:
Prada reported a 28% drop in profits last year:

http://www.ft.com/intl/fastft/299913/prada-shares-jump-spite-of-tumbling-profits

According to the article,

I can't wait to see what this means to the already dwindling quality of their products. I'm certainly not buying Prada anymore. The "major overhaul" may mean more production in China, and probably faster assembly which may compromise quality.

:true:

JustAgUrL · Mar 30, 2015

averagejoe said:
Prada reported a 28% drop in profits last year:

http://www.ft.com/intl/fastft/299913/prada-shares-jump-spite-of-tumbling-profits

According to the article,

I can't wait to see what this means to the already dwindling quality of their products. I'm certainly not buying Prada anymore. The "major overhaul" may mean more production in China, and probably faster assembly which may compromise quality.

and strangely, Hermes and Goyard and NOT having this same issues

Perhaps people want their Luxury items made in ITALY and FRANCE???

and come on, how many colors of Saffiano can they make?

Prada used to be innovative

I think they have FOOLED themselves into thinking that people are
just paying for the Prada name
Too bad they did not understand that it was their quality craftsmanship that we
were the BIG Bucks for. NOT just that Metal Logo

poopsie · Mar 31, 2015

JustAgUrL said:
and strangely, Hermes and Goyard and NOT having this same issues

Perhaps people want their Luxury items made in ITALY and FRANCE???

and come on, how many colors of Saffiano can they make?

Prada used to be innovative

I think they have FOOLED themselves into thinking that people are
just paying for the Prada name
Too bad they did not understand that it was their quality craftsmanship that we
were the BIG Bucks for. NOT just that Metal Logo

Well, it certainly isn't for their post sale customer service. LV has great CS. Not sure about the others.
I would be willing to wager that 90% of buyers purchase designer goods just for the name alone. They don't give a rats patoot about the history of the brand. If it wasn't for that metal logo those bags on a stand alone basis would not fetch a fraction of what Prada is selling them for. I can't tell you how many times I have heard or read where even purchasers of Coach like the logo bags over the nondescript leather bags so that everyone will know that they are carrying COACH. It would appear that no price point is immune from the snob appeal that is a feature of current culture.

JustAgUrL · Mar 31, 2015

poopsie said:
Well, it certainly isn't for their post sale customer service. LV has great CS. Not sure about the others.
I would be willing to wager that 90% of buyers purchase designer goods just for the name alone. They don't give a rats patoot about the history of the brand. If it wasn't for that metal logo those bags on a stand alone basis would not fetch a fraction of what Prada is selling them for. I can't tell you how many times I have heard or read where even purchasers of Coach like the logo bags over the nondescript leather bags so that everyone will know that they are carrying COACH. It would appear that no price point is immune from the snob appeal that is a feature of current culture.

That is TRUE

But, I do think that people are becoming hip to the idea that spending
$2,000 on a handbag made in China is silly, when you can spend
a bit more and get a real handmade bag from Hermes
or spend the same amount and buy from Louis Vuitton
and if you need to have your bag repaired in a few years,
you can do so with LV, not so with Prada

This would seem to me the logical reason behind why Prada is suffering a 10% decline, while the others
are still doing pretty well

Prada stopped focussing on quality, and now only cares about Profits..

Mansur Gavriel is BOOMING and selling out their stock as fast as they can get
their items in their bags are made in Italy, and the price point is fabulous

Prada is suffering a 10% loss, and has been making bags in China

Even the Chinese people don't want their Luxury Goods made in China,
they want them made in Italy and France etc.. etc

Too bad that Prada is not listening.

poopsie · Mar 31, 2015

JustAgUrL said:
That is TRUE

But, I do think that people are becoming hip to the idea that spending
$2,000 on a handbag made in China is silly, when you can spend
a bit more and get a real handmade bag from Hermes
or spend the same amount and buy from Louis Vuitton
and if you need to have your bag repaired in a few years,
you can do so with LV, not so with Prada

This would seem to me the logical reason behind why Prada is suffering a 10% decline, while the others
are still doing pretty well

Prada stopped focussing on quality, and now only cares about Profits..

Mansur Gavriel is BOOMING and selling out their stock as fast as they can get
their items in their bags are made in Italy, and the price point is fabulous

Prada is suffering a 10% loss, and has been making bags in China

Even the Chinese people don't want their Luxury Goods made in China,
they want them made in Italy and France etc.. etc

Too bad that Prada is not listening.

Never heard of Mansur Gavriel so I looked it up. I doubt that they will be taking off any time soon around here. Personally, I am getting away from leather. That is why I like the Prada nylon bags. No one does nylon like Prada. I went into the boutique Saturday fully ready to bite the bullet and buy a new one. Sadly there were only two styles of gaufre and they were both too small. The larger one retailed at $1750. If it wasn't for the middle compartment I probably would have still purchased it, but I am not about to lay out almost $2k for a bag I already have issues with right off the shelf.
As for LV I don't care where it is made $2k+ is ridiculous for coated canvas. And other than canvas, what Hermes bag is a little over $2k? That is another thing----I don't care whose hands made it no bag is worth more than a new car. IMVHO that is

You are paying for the name---period. Lesser brands have as good of CS as LV, Hermes, etc but they don't have the status.

JustAgUrL · Mar 31, 2015

poopsie said:
Never heard of Mansur Gavriel so I looked it up. I doubt that they will be taking off any time soon around here. Personally, I am getting away from leather. That is why I like the Prada nylon bags. No one does nylon like Prada. I went into the boutique Saturday fully ready to bite the bullet and buy a new one. Sadly there were only two styles of gaufre and they were both too small. The larger one retailed at $1750. If it wasn't for the middle compartment I probably would have still purchased it, but I am not about to lay out almost $2k for a bag I already have issues with right off the shelf.
As for LV I don't care where it is made $2k+ is ridiculous for coated canvas. And other than canvas, what Hermes bag is a little over $2k? That is another thing----I don't care whose hands made it no bag is worth more than a new car. IMVHO that is You are paying for the name---period. Lesser brands have as good of CS as LV, Hermes, etc but they don't have the status.

You make some VERY good points..

When I was in Italy last summer, I saw some of the most beautiful HANDMADE
handbags in some boutiques and the prices were INSANE low

some of the boutiques have their workshops in the back of the stores,
I was in AWE with how lovely these bags were
and of course , those bags, it was craftsmanship, as they had no
popular names attached to them

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a few of them

I totally agree about the Nylon, I wish Prada would go back to
focussing on their Nylon bags
I would LOVE to see the Nylon Gaufre's you saw in the boutique.. :graucho:

That is my next Prada purchase

I have the medium/ smallish East west style Nylon Gaufre, in bottle green
I LOVE that bag though, it is a bit small I want the larger size
in black

I have 2 Lambskin gaufre's a Domed Convertible Bowler in dark brown
and a Large Gaufre'en the large tote in Camello.

I also love the Crispy Nylon, I have the small camera style cross
body bag, in black nylon with black patent leather trim & strap
That is my go to Concert bag

I want to get a tote bag to match.

There was an Ivory Domed Convertible Nylon Gaufre
that came out about 8 years ago, I still pine after that bag.. :smile1:

poopsie · Mar 31, 2015

It is always nice to get in on a line of bags when they are new. That is when they are the best, IMO. I have bought bags from department stores by designers I had never heard of because I liked the style and craftsmanship. They ended up being great--------of course as the designer became more mainstream the quality and attention to detail tended to suffer.

JustAgUrL · Mar 31, 2015

poopsie said:
It is always nice to get in on a line of bags when they are new. That is when they are the best, IMO. I have bought bags from department stores by designers I had never heard of because I liked the style and craftsmanship. They ended up being great--------of course as the designer became more mainstream the quality and attention to detail tended to suffer.

I could not agree more.

That reminded me of a bag I bought a few years back
a few years ago, I was in Amsterdam, and I saw a few ladies carrying these
really COOL leather bags, after seeing a few of them, I stopped the next person on the street to see what the name of the bag was.
It was called the Cowboys Bag or Cowboysbelt Bag.

Made in Europe, All Leather, though, like you, I am trying to get away
from leather.
But, these bags are great. HUGE and a lot of pockets

They look more like a carry on type bag and come in many different colors,
They were only $150-$200

In Europe, many people don't drive, so, our handbags are our cars :smile1:

so, we need handbags that are durable for any weather, easy to carry, can be hand carried or cross body, and that have a LOT of room

Here is a photo of the bag, I have it in black and one in Hot Pink
So, yeah, I totally get it.. This is one of my favorite bags and it is not
a Premium Luxury Designer Yet, this bag is one of my favorites for all around use.

JustAgUrL · Mar 31, 2015

poopsie said:
It is always nice to get in on a line of bags when they are new. That is when they are the best, IMO. I have bought bags from department stores by designers I had never heard of because I liked the style and craftsmanship. They ended up being great--------of course as the designer became more mainstream the quality and attention to detail tended to suffer.

By the way, EVERY time, I read your Moniker,
It always makes me smile & giggle
I can be having the worst day, and seeing your name automatically
brightens it up :smile1:

averagejoe · Apr 2, 2015

JustAgUrL said:
and come on, how many colors of Saffiano can they make?

Prada used to be innovative

I think they have FOOLED themselves into thinking that people are
just paying for the Prada name
Too bad they did not understand that it was their quality craftsmanship that we
were the BIG Bucks for. NOT just that Metal Logo

I agree. With all this competition from other luxury brands, the Prada name is not enough to push the sale of its products. The leather goods have fallen far behind their ready-to-wear in terms of innovation. Continuously making a product that sells may work for some companies, but certainly doesn't work with fashion which is susceptible to changes in trends.

carebearz · Apr 3, 2015

Personally, I don't think Prada has ever been big on quality. 15years ago when I had their nylon bags, the seams would spilt every now and then and I have to bring them in for stitching. It cost me $30-50 each time!

Even their wallets would frequently 'buckle' up.
The leather would just popped out for no reason.

It took me a long while to buy their bags again and I bought the saffino tote last year and the leather rims are already cracking. Oh well, that's probably my last Prada until they get their act together.

Annie81 · Apr 3, 2015

I have wanted. Saffiano tote for so long but after reading these comments I think I will buy another brand . I'm too scared to take the chance. I have three LV bags and not one has had an issue thing none of their black leather bags are of interest to me at moment so might look elsewhere .

Prada Bags: Now Made in China for Italian Made Prices."

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