Real luxury items left...
- Thread starter SHHMOM
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Haute Couture is bespoke, and true luxury. They customize and tailor each look for the client, so the end result looks very different from what is presented on the runway. So clients genuinely own pieces that are one-of-a-kind, and hand-made to the last detail.
They also cost a fortune.
A lot of premium brands offer made-to-order products to attract clients seeking unique bespoke pieces, but the prices of these pieces are a lot higher. Some brands will only do made-to-order pieces with exotic skins to keep the profit margin high, and also their exclusivity.
They also cost a fortune.
A lot of premium brands offer made-to-order products to attract clients seeking unique bespoke pieces, but the prices of these pieces are a lot higher. Some brands will only do made-to-order pieces with exotic skins to keep the profit margin high, and also their exclusivity.
Thank you!
and I have to say, what you said is also VERY true.
I think it is very easy for people to equate a luxury brand with price or how difficult it is to get, which I think allows these companies to trade on a history that they no longer honor in most cases (with certain exceptions, of course). Most brands no longer manufacture by hand or in a particular artisan location with the highest quality materials. They simply remind us of their history while they no longer honor it in their manufacture or process.
Prada is a prime example, trading on their history as an Italian Brand, yet manufacturing their items in CHINA.
Due to this, I have a hard time viewing Prada as a luxury brand anymore.
In the last 10 years, Luxury Handbag prices have exploded.
It has actually become obscene how much they are charging for mass produced
crap, that is falling apart in less than a year.
I would not mind the price increases, if they actually put MORE effort
into better quality controls and after sales service.
But, that is just not the case, in fact, it is the opposite. They are increasing the
prices, and offering less and less.
They are no longer pricing for quality, they are pricing at what they think the market with bare. And sadly, by paying $3,000 for a bag that will not last and is not the best quality, we are proving that they can get away with this.
I find this thread very interesting. And yes. I agree that luxury these days get people so confused coz one may view it as a marketing term, but one may think of it as the idea of what it's supposed to meant for. Luxury doesn't have to be expensive. That's the point of company looking out on how many they should charge for their goods and services. But it has to be of quality and attention to great details which maybe best cater to the buyers's whim as they want it to be. Custom jewelry is luxury, but the Cartier love bracelet is not. And by this point, the same thing apply to Chanel flaps. As many as I have and love my flaps, I don't think it's any luxury more than Massaccesi bags. (I put the name here coz someone mention it here) But if you ask why then they charge more for the flap, I'd say that's the cost of the name you're paying for (Chanel company machinery) and the belief that your style of flap is original (history of the brand) and that it should be in style for a long time (resell price, regardless of the fact that you may want to sell you flaps or not). The material differences may factor in a bit (I don't have any Massaccesi to compare so I couldn't speak for them that much, but since I have many Chanel myself, both seasonal and classic pieces) but I don't think it justify such a wide price gap that's going on right now.
I thought this thread was worth bumping in the light of the news that Chanel has stopped refurbishing bags older than five years. I am following the thread in the Chanel sub forum and it has been very interesting to see the discussion there about the meaning of luxury e.g. notions about lifetime warranty and inheritance.
I love this thread! I get to know luxury brands that I'd never heard of before! And I've seen some bags that I really like with reasonable price, for luxury brands that is.
What?!? *checks to see if it´s April 1*
Not that I ever owned or ever will want to own anything Chanel, but that is a slap in the face of decades-loyal customers
They have been doing a lot of things that are shocking and sad. Like sending people letters banning them from ever buying bags from them again without any warning or reason given. I understand they want to drive out resellers but their methods stink and seem to have snared completely innocent customers.What?!? *checks to see if it´s April 1*
Not that I ever owned or ever will want to own anything Chanel, but that is a slap in the face of decades-loyal customers
I don't know how I can read this book, or it may cause me to go on strike with the many premier brand listed on the forum. 
I don't let price, exclusivity, or if it really hand made dictate that what I should have or connote luxury, like I used too. I just care if it look well made, does it look extravagant, elegant to where it can enter my attention, and most of all can it give me pleasure. For me, that the only way to justify to spend the $$$$ they demand. And to me, luxury brands are just smokes and mirrors, most of their products they sale are just exploited products of brand former past. And I can accept that.
I don't let price, exclusivity, or if it really hand made dictate that what I should have or connote luxury, like I used too. I just care if it look well made, does it look extravagant, elegant to where it can enter my attention, and most of all can it give me pleasure. For me, that the only way to justify to spend the $$$$ they demand. And to me, luxury brands are just smokes and mirrors, most of their products they sale are just exploited products of brand former past. And I can accept that.
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Wow, very eye opening thread. I have learned a lot just by reading all the contributions from other members 
Although price is not a definite factor to determine whether a brand is luxury or not, in my opinion handmade items would not be cheap as there is so much work and effort given to produce... Price is usually higher for better quality handmade items.
Although price is not a definite factor to determine whether a brand is luxury or not, in my opinion handmade items would not be cheap as there is so much work and effort given to produce... Price is usually higher for better quality handmade items.
Very true, definitely is correlated with the time spent making the item. Big houses have to hire people that can spend the time, and know the craft of making a one-off. If the bag is a true one-off, the design of it can very well take longer than the crafting of it - which shouldn't be taken lightly. Many saddle stitched bags take 45+ hours construction (assuming they have the material you have selected in stock, and don't have to source an exotic medium they don't use in day-to-day production.)
Completely bespoke, at an extremely conservative $10/hr, you're looking at about 1k in labor cost. Paying a livable wage, if the craftsman would like the luxury of providing for a child is about $3k.
I know it's been a while since you posted this but do you feel there is THAT big a difference between the ordinary John Lobb shoes you can just get in store and their made to measure shoes to justify the difference in price? Thanks