Alexander Wang rocco vs coco

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#31
I also have another theory on why AW might have used the two names. In my business for example, the brands bring product names to us for legal clearance. There are times we might be aware of a risk in the marketplace (so for example, AW might have known about Chanel's trademark registration for "Coco") - but they might proceed anyway because they feel the risk is low. For example, the product/handbag is only going to run for just one season and in very limited quantities. When Alexander Wang originally designed the bag - he probably had no idea it was going to be THE IT BAG. He was an up-and-coming designer, not vastly well-known as he is now. He could have very well said to himself "oh crap! This bag is really taking off! The whole world is talking about it! I better rename it soon before I get slapped with a lawsuit from Chanel!" If I was on his legal team, that's certainly what I would have told him to do! In fact, it's the kind of guidance I've given to my brands before "sure, take the risk and run the product name for a season and see how it goes. But if it's successful, you better be prepared to change the name."

I could theorize about this forever... ;)
 
#32
platinum_girly said:
You are genius, this explanation COMPLETELY makes the most sense to me, i mean WHY would he of chosen to change the name unless his arm was twisted to and perhaps he did keep both terms for his bags whilst they were battling things out (the 2 companies)

I thank you for your professional opinion and point of view, i feel settled with your view of things :D
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Yeah, I just have a hard time believing that AW would change the name of his bag willingly. To do so during the total height of his bag's popularity would be absolute brand suicide. As a marketer, I hate to say it, but you always market to the lowest common denominator. Consumers nowadays have incredibly short attention spans and patience. You could lose a customer in an instance if there's any confusion or "extra work" a customer has to do to try and understand what they're buying. The only time you would actually change a product name is if no one was buying! But if customers are flocking to stores and online looking for product XYZ - isn't that what you'd want to easily provide?
 
#33
Zoe Bradley said:
Yeah, I just have a hard time believing that AW would change the name of his bag willingly. To do so during the total height of his bag's popularity would be absolute brand suicide. As a marketer, I hate to say it, but you always market to the lowest common denominator. Consumers nowadays have incredibly short attention spans and patience. You could lose a customer in an instance if there's any confusion or "extra work" a customer has to do to try and understand what they're buying. The only time you would actually change a product name is if no one was buying! But if customers are flocking to stores and online looking for product XYZ - isn't that what you'd want to easily provide?
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Yes exactly! Every theory you have is so spot on, i guess working in the industry means you are speaking from experience which is real nice to read, things just seem more clear when i read your posts, i am so glad you posted on this thread :D

I quite imagine that he never did realise how big the "Alexander wang" brand was going to be let alone the "Coco/Rocco" becoming the IT bag for many seasons now, the funny thing is that the name change doesn't seem to of hurt the sales one bit, but then when you have X number of celebs toting the bag around frequently then i can guess that the sales would keep on up...

What always interests me is how designers come up with product names, i wonder sometimes if the bags themselves would be so popular if it weren't for the names of them, or if the name isn't a factor of product sales but just becomes iconic because of the bag itself? (if that makes sense, lol!)
 
#34
Thank you for clearing this up! I am interested in purchasing such bag and wanted to know what the difference was.....only to find out they are one and the same. Now I can buy with confidence! Thank you!!!
 
#37
betty.lee said:
the originals never had the two inside pockets. the inside pockets didn't happen until fall 2012.
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I'm new to Alexander Wang and certainly no expert, but isn't there another distinct difference between original Coco duffel and current Rocco: removable shoulder strap? Or was the strap added and it was still called Coco for awhile? What year did the name change?
 
#38
missmoimoi said:
I'm new to Alexander Wang and certainly no expert, but isn't there another distinct difference between original Coco duffel and current Rocco: removable shoulder strap? Or was the strap added and it was still called Coco for awhile? What year did the name change?
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Yes you are correct, the original did not have a detachable strap. I don't know exactly when the name changed. I discovered them sometime in 2010 and I think that's the year the strap was added. They also had black dust bags.

I'm no expert either and haven't bought a Rocco in a long while so perhaps cinna or swanky can chime in. In any case I was only answering the question of whether the two pockets were original in the design.
 
#39
betty.lee said:
Yes you are correct, the original did not have a detachable strap. I don't know exactly when the name changed. I discovered them sometime in 2010 and I think that's the year the strap was added. They also had black dust bags.

I'm no expert either and haven't bought a Rocco in a long while so perhaps cinna or swanky can chime in. In any case I was only answering the question of whether the two pockets were original in the design.
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I appreciate your input - thanks! It's not that I haven't noticed AW bags but my Wish List has been pretty long ever since my bag addiction started but now...better late than never!
:graucho::graucho::graucho:
What colour(s) is(are) your Rocco(s)?
 
#40
missmoimoi said:
I appreciate your input - thanks! It's not that I haven't noticed AW bags but my Wish List has been pretty long ever since my bag addiction started but now...better late than never!
:graucho::graucho::graucho:
What colour(s) is(are) your Rocco(s)?
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oh no problem. I love the bags and I love a wang, I think he's so great.

I paired down my collection quite a bit. I have currently a laser cute leather Jena which I love! I have a black with brass and strap and the original no strap black/black.

I sold a mercury, patent brick, and a mini black black rocco. I almost completely forgot about that one. it looked exactly like rocco but a bit smaller. not like rockie. oh and a parchment emile.

I am still looking for a smoke rocco (super rare and first came out in 2009 or 10, it was this gorgeous dark blue gray color) and a laser cut leather black rocco (original one). I really liked the riyal blue from last season too.

what do you have? and want?
 
#41
betty.lee said:
oh no problem. I love the bags and I love a wang, I think he's so great.

I paired down my collection quite a bit. I have currently a laser cute leather Jena which I love! I have a black with brass and strap and the original no strap black/black.

I sold a mercury, patent brick, and a mini black black rocco. I almost completely forgot about that one. it looked exactly like rocco but a bit smaller. not like rockie. oh and a parchment emile.

I am still looking for a smoke rocco (super rare and first came out in 2009 or 10, it was this gorgeous dark blue gray color) and a laser cut leather black rocco (original one). I really liked the riyal blue from last season too.

what do you have? and want?
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Ooh! What a collection :) Yes, I have to pair down my bag collection by consigning or selling on Craigslist - to make more space, get the overall inventory down and keep what I love to carry/use.


My first AW bag is the Beet Rocco which I found at Winners (Canada's TJ Maxx). Now I'm hooked. I'm looking at buying a pre-loved Cayenne Rocco w gunmetal hw right now. And in a perfect world, there are 2 black Rocco's that I want but I don't mind if one turns out to be the smaller Rockie. I don't like to import so I buy what our local Holt Renfrew has:



  1. pebbled lamb black Rocco with matte black hardware (Holts does not have the Rockie version in stock)
  2. soft black Rocco with original soft gold hardware
  3. eventually, the taupe-grey (I forget the official name) soft Rocco - it's the classic grey
 
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#42
missmoimoi said:
Ooh! What a collection :) Yes, I have to pair down my bag collection by consigning or selling on Craigslist - to make more space, get the overall inventory down and keep what I love to carry/use.


My first AW bag is the Beet Rocco which I found at Winners (Canada's TJ Maxx). Now I'm hooked. I'm looking at buying a pre-loved Cayenne Rocco w gunmetal hw right now. And in a perfect world, there are 2 black Rocco's that I want but I don't mind if one turns out to be the smaller Rockie. I don't like to import so I buy what our local Holt Renfrew has:



  1. pebbled lamb black Rocco with matte black hardware (Holts does not have the Rockie version in stock)
  2. soft black Rocco with original soft gold hardware
  3. eventually, the taupe-grey (I forget the official name) soft Rocco - it's the classic grey
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oh I love the beet color and the matte black is so gorgeous. good luck on getting that one.
 
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