What handbag brands are in decline?

[mrceral]

I used to love Kooba, but they've done nothing innovative lately and the delicious leather they used to use doesn't seem to be used anymore.

I've been impressed with Coach lately. Great leather and customer service... DH's wallet ripped recently, and they replaced it - no questions asked, so easy. I'm still not impressed with their sale/pricing structure, however.

 

[missmoimoi]

I think there are so many brands coming up with supposedly new "it" bags that the consumer starts hesitating
" Shall I buy the blue one from X or the black Z.....
Well let's have a look at the price...Expensive for what it is....
Oh my God, luckyly I have not bought the X because now there is this gorgeous bag from C.....New brand, nice too....
And the D, isn't it stunning too?"
It could go on and on.
With the Internet we have access to everything, we can compare models, prices , colours, zoom on leathers and in the end we turn off the computer, still wondering, counting our money.....until the next morning when the whole thing starts again.....

Yes! This describes the scenario perfectly. Personally, what had to "give" are the contemporary brands. I may be OCD addicted to handbags but I don't hoard so I consign or give away. As much as I loved a handbag, the ones that got consigned are all contemporary designers. This means that when I DO shop, I am VERY careful and cautious about getting anything new if it's a contemporary brand - which means my purchases in this category has diminished...

 

[missmoimoi]

I thought maybe the mods did that because there was little/no traffic in them but they didn't want to take them off completely?

I used to love LAMB and haven't seen any for sale in years (used to get mine at Holt Renfrew).

I haven't been buying as many bags recently, I have several contemporary brands plus an LV and feel like I have 'enough' since they are all still in good condition.

I did buy a MK aqua tote this year because all my bags were black or brown and I wanted something colourful for summer, but before that I think it's been at least a year and a half or two years since I bought one.

I only every had one LAMB - from Holt Renfrew! The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I had to have and I managed to get her on sale. It was the olive green Campbell Thomson...sigh, she was a great casual bag but I had to consign her when I let a lot of bags go. I had to be brutal. Each and every one of my consigned bags were in excellent condition, clean etc and it wasn't as if I no longer liked the style at all - I simply owned too many to use! There were bags that I had promised myself to never get rid of because I loved them so much but did they get much use? No - because I owned too many. Yea, so I've had to cut back on my shopping and be very cautious with what brand I do buy.

 

[missmoimoi]

I still love Kooba. I think, personally, they have come back from inferiority in workmanship. Others that used to love the old Koobas probably will notice the difference, too. But having the Kooba Subforum way down there in the cellar is contributing to its demise, I have no doubt. That minimizing thread with all those brands lumped in there has been there for at least 3 or 4 months that I know of and some of you are just noticing. The mods just might as well take all of them off the board.

I've never owned a Kooba. Nobody stocks them locally but they'd pop up once in a while at Winners. I have admired one or two but did not bring home.

 

[CornishMon]

I think the early 2000s was the last very exciting time for handbags.
Perhaps TPF in itself is the best indicator to this. Forums of many other brand were very 'festive' but now everyone is mostly in Chanel, LV or Hermes forum.

Chloe Paddington, Marc Jacobs Stam, YSL Muse and Downtown, Fendi Spy - those were the days!

I think brand saturation is the main problem for brands like MJ and Coach. Marc has too many different line and especially the very fun & affordable 'special line' bags are vastly available and people associated these 2 qualities as the main identity of the brand, making it hard to push the main line bags.

Coach has a separate collection for its outlet stores and this also led to saturation of the brand up to a point people buying bags from the outlets feel just as exclusive as buying in the main stores. Good thing is that both brands are restructuring and turning around so we'll see how this turn out.

As songofthesea mentioned, things go out and come around again which indeed is true. Let's not forget new brands like Victoria Beckham and Mansur Gavriel that is starting to grab attention of the market. As market evolves and demand changes, these brands need to adapt or else they fail.

I agree here.


Be Blessed MoNikki

 

[tickedoffchick]

Everyone is making great points. It's too bad that some of the smaller contemporary lines have been relegated to the bottom row of the forum page, but some of them really fell off in quality in the last couple of years. I had always admired Linea Pelle bags, then bought one last summer and was disappointed in the quality - the leather felt odd, it was thick but lighter than it should have been. I ended up returning it.

I've said this on other forums but I think a lot of younger women just aren't carrying handbags these days, or if they do, they use it during the workweek but just go with a wristlet on weekends. I think that's a factor.

 

[Antonia]

Great thread! I also agree with a lot of what has been said here. I remember when the RM forum was busy-back when, her bags had the best leathers! I recently purchased an old school MAB with the FDL lining and old brass hardware, and when this bag is empty, it's a complete puddle of leather! Her newer leathers are very stiff and plasticky and I hate the new linings! I remember the original Chloe Paddington (the one that started the bag craze for many) when the leather was super wrinkled and puddly, then by the 2nd and 3rd yr the front was wrinkled and the back was smoother like they used a cheaper leather on the back side, or so it seemed. I also noticed Chloe bags are so expensive now-I saw one new cross body bag on Barney's that was $2500-insane! I just don't think a lot of these high end bags are worth the $$. I think it was smart for Coach to do a re-vamp and get a new designer in there. The styles were just repeats of styles with a few tweaks here and there. Except for the Borough bag which was a step in a new direction. I can't wait to see these new bags in person. I think the leathers are going to be exceptional. It's all about the leather quality for me.

 

[Antonia]

I've been away from tpf for a while and when I came back, I noticed that the list of Contemporary Designers has really dwindled. I can only name two that are gone but can't remember all of them: Botkier & Treesje. Am I right about that? Anyway, just wanted to discuss what you've all noticed. Mulberry & Coach have been in the news recently due to plummeting sales and stock prices. If I'm not mistaken, dare I say that Marc Jacobs has had his day? I truly hope I don't offend anybody, but his bags don't sell like they used to - or is this my imagination? The MbMJ bags wind up in heaps on sale at Holts. What else? Is it the economy? Just too many choices out there?

I just wanted to say I totally agree here. I think MJ was my first designer obsession and now when I look at his bags, I don't see anything exciting. The Stam was nice and probably one of the most classic bags ever made but the new designs are lackluster. I did however see a picture in one of my magazines recently that had some interest but it was a croc bag and I'm sure in the 1000's-maybe he will make on in regular leather.

 

[bakeacookie]

I believe every major brand is in decline.

Premier brands like Chanel and LV are plagued with quality issues despite rising prices, and people are swearing to never buy again since CS can be lacking when these issues are brought up.

Burberry, Chloe, Marc Jacobs are seen on deep discounts, usually items that they heavily saturated the market with, and items without much innovation to the brand (no new styles). Coach and Mulberry are selling less and less due to very bad marketing strategies. Lots of brands are now just mimicking each other, rather than working on special designs that make them stand out (looking at Kate Spade and Michael Kors here). Granted not every brand can create an icon that lasts a few years, but it's getting a bit boring out there. Everyone is doing a simple tote, embellishments on their old icons, and quilted style bags. Or it's a rehash of a bag they've made for years, rotating the colors of the season every year, at least introduce a new color?

Smaller brands, brands gaining popularity seem to be doing well though. Hopefully it'll inspire major brands to have more fun designs and work better on their marketing strategies.

 

[petite_chic]

While its selling well and is the darling of my local dept stores I can't help but feel Michael Kors has peaked. Coach is fumbling around with its new marketing strategy but we'll see. I was surprised by the solid quality of their new turnlock hardware and disappointed with their thin logo linings. My personal interest these days are Longchamp and Anya Hindmarch which seem to fall just below the top premiere designs but above the contemporary set. I like their price points in relation to design quality more than LV for instance.

 

[Freckles1]

i believe every major brand is in decline.



Premier brands like chanel and lv are plagued with quality issues despite rising prices, and people are swearing to never buy again since cs can be lacking when these issues are brought up.



Burberry, chloe, marc jacobs are seen on deep discounts, usually items that they heavily saturated the market with, and items without much innovation to the brand (no new styles). Coach and mulberry are selling less and less due to very bad marketing strategies. Lots of brands are now just mimicking each other, rather than working on special designs that make them stand out (looking at kate spade and michael kors here). Granted not every brand can create an icon that lasts a few years, but it's getting a bit boring out there. Everyone is doing a simple tote, embellishments on their old icons, and quilted style bags. Or it's a rehash of a bag they've made for years, rotating the colors of the season every year, at least introduce a new color?



Smaller brands, brands gaining popularity seem to be doing well though. Hopefully it'll inspire major brands to have more fun designs and work better on their marketing strategies.

+1

 

[sdkitty]

I used to love Kooba, but they've done nothing innovative lately and the delicious leather they used to use doesn't seem to be used anymore.

I've been impressed with Coach lately. Great leather and customer service... DH's wallet ripped recently, and they replaced it - no questions asked, so easy. I'm still not impressed with their sale/pricing structure, however.

I'm sure Coach has some nice bags but I've been so turned off by all the outlet stores and all the people carry the bottom of the line signature bags that it really affected the way I think about Coach.

 

[sdkitty]

While its selling well and is the darling of my local dept stores I can't help but feel Michael Kors has peaked. Coach is fumbling around with its new marketing strategy but we'll see. I was surprised by the solid quality of their new turnlock hardware and disappointed with their thin logo linings. My personal interest these days are Longchamp and Anya Hindmarch which seem to fall just below the top premiere designs but above the contemporary set. I like their price points in relation to design quality more than LV for instance.

I see a lot of MK bags being carried in San Diego. I'd say they're more prevalent now than Coach or Dooney.

 

[Mariapia]

Lots of MK in France at the moment. In my place I see about 12 everyday. A few months ago... not even one!

 

[slowlikehoney]

I believe every major brand is in decline.



Premier brands like Chanel and LV are plagued with quality issues despite rising prices, and people are swearing to never buy again since CS can be lacking when these issues are brought up.



Burberry, Chloe, Marc Jacobs are seen on deep discounts, usually items that they heavily saturated the market with, and items without much innovation to the brand (no new styles). Coach and Mulberry are selling less and less due to very bad marketing strategies. Lots of brands are now just mimicking each other, rather than working on special designs that make them stand out (looking at Kate Spade and Michael Kors here). Granted not every brand can create an icon that lasts a few years, but it's getting a bit boring out there. Everyone is doing a simple tote, embellishments on their old icons, and quilted style bags. Or it's a rehash of a bag they've made for years, rotating the colors of the season every year, at least introduce a new color?



Smaller brands, brands gaining popularity seem to be doing well though. Hopefully it'll inspire major brands to have more fun designs and work better on their marketing strategies.

I agree with this. I think the gig is up for a lot of people. Fewer and fewer people are willing to pay so much for declining quality. I haven't bought a new bag in over a year. Part of it is that I'm happy with what I have but it's also that I'm just not willing to spend a lot on poor quality.