What handbag brands are in decline?

[BgaHolic]

Great thread and, I agree. Great observation. I was thinking the same and also I notice the styles of handbags have gone back to the classics (retro). Hence, the need for fewer bags. (I think.) I own a few premier Gucci's and a BV but have stopped spending. I can't justify the price adding up to the craftsmanship no matter what brand. I realize it's all about the marketing and marketing expenses not so much about the consumer's needs. I guess I am becoming frugal and wise in my latter years and now fit in with all my peers!

One designer that I have grown to respect more recently is the mass produced "Coach". I believe they haven't fallen in quality and have always maintained excellent customer service. I don't join the posters who feel they don't like the fact that the company mass produces the bags because so does LV. In the end what are you really buying?

Our bags are our arm candy and give us a sense of stature and comfort and I just respect everyones taste and love watching what others are wearing.

 

[Manelieht]

I personally find the prices often scary and it is what kept me buying contemporary designers for so long. The few times that I was thinking about buying a premier designer bag, the quality did not match the price and another brand had something great to offer where the price could be justified.

I think many women will do the same and just chose the more affordable bag that is also nice. Not everyone is set on a certain designer or IT bag.

I read that women are buying fewer bags now than just a few years back. It could be the economy, but it could also be bag fatigue. High end bags have been the it status symbol for the last decade, and after a while it becomes chic not to care about bags anymore. I have always loved bags, but I have to admit, it's a little exhausting. Prices constantly going up, quality going down, having to scout out and locate the next it bag... it can be refreshing to get out of the game. I also see women less interested in shoes than before, so who knows what the next great accessory will be. Scarves?

I just read an article in a fashion magazine that also said that bags aren't as trendy anymore. Many fashion bloggers chose to not carry bags at all.
I totally agree with everything you said.

While its selling well and is the darling of my local dept stores I can't help but feel Michael Kors has peaked.

I have seen so much Michael Kors here lately!! It is starting to compete with LV...and I live in a LV plastered city!

 

[catsinthebag]

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.

That's interesting. I don't know where you are but when I see younger women in my neck of the woods, they seem to either be carrying premier designer -- Chanel, Prada -- or go the opposite way and have a Longchamp Le Pliage or an inexpensive leather tote from Madewell or something like that. There is some Michael Kors, but I feel like I'm seeing less contemporary brands on the arms of younger women. Hadn't really thought about it until this thread!

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.

Longchamp was my gateway designer! You're right, they are in a unique place, right in between contemporary and premier. When I joined TPF, I was disappointed there was no designated Longchamp forum. They seem to be one of the few companies that isn't premier priced, but has managed to hold its own. I think their quality has been steady while others has declined, and the fact that continue to have good, clean classic designs may be holding them up.

Love Anya Hindmarch too -- once I had my Ebury, I sold my Prada Saf Lux tote -- the Anya is better quality and has the clever twist of a strap in a contrasting color.

Maybe both of these brands have continued to do OK because they have stayed true to their niche market and haven't tried to produce an "it" bag?

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.

Had I known the quality of RM was going to decline, I would never have sold my first MAMs. Same with Botkier -- I have kept an old Trigger bag and a few years ago, ordered another. The quality was so disappointing I sent the new one back. I rarely wear the old one, but now I'm afraid to sell it because I don't think I'll see that model with that kind of leather ever again.

I think one thing that happened when leather quality declined in recent yeas was, the Premier brands went from good to not as good, but the contemporary brands went from good to awful.

I read that women are buying fewer bags now than just a few years back. It could be the economy, but it could also be bag fatigue. High end bags have been the it status symbol for the last decade, and after a while it becomes chic not to care about bags anymore. I have always loved bags, but I have to admit, it's a little exhausting. Prices constantly going up, quality going down, having to scout out and locate the next it bag... it can be refreshing to get out of the game. I also see women less interested in shoes than before, so who knows what the next great accessory will be. Scarves?

Interesting theory! I do sense some "bag fatigue." I'll be curious to see if the bag market just changes, or if the whole bag craze is really on its way out.

 

[elbow]

I am definitely suffering from bag fatigue. The last major bag I bought was a Speedy B...last summer. I purchased a RM WOC from ebay a couple of weeks ago, but that's about it. Everything I see, I always think to myself...oh I have that color in a similar shaped bag..or I have something that's close enough to that bag.

My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up next month and I just can't find a single thing that I would want! Maybe I just have shopping fatigue!!!!

 

[missmoimoi]

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'm so tired of seeing yet another minimalist tote (ns or ew) or tossing studs on a bag - just for the sake of adding studs or a tote or satchel that suddenly sprouted little ears or wings! LOL Yes, it is actually getting rather boring.

 

[missmoimoi]

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.

Apparently, MK and Kate Spade have caused the greatest market share losses for Coach. This is what I read online and over on the Coach forum. We have a lot of MK boutiques here and I truly wonder if they are sustainable!?

It's interesting to see what happens next. I love reading all these responses!

 

[skybreaker]

In my area, I see a lot of young women carrying around Michael Kors. Just a bit over a year ago, I wouldn't have seen one, but now we're saturated with them. They enjoyed the popularity of Coach within the masses, for better or worse. I can't comment on the recent quality of Coach bags, but I've moved away from them due their designs. I catch myself eyeing a Michael Kors handbag every once in a while, but it never keeps my attention.

 

[QuelleFromage]

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. I used to care about "it bags" and now I just don't believe they are worth the money. I buy only very classic bags that I think will stand the test of time (meaning basically Hermès) and although I'm sad that I'm not adding fun new bags all the time, at the current prices its not worth it to be trendy.

 

[ahhgoo]

Apparently, MK and Kate Spade have caused the greatest market share losses for Coach. This is what I read online and over on the Coach forum. We have a lot of MK boutiques here and I truly wonder if they are sustainable!?

It's interesting to see what happens next. I love reading all these responses!

Agree that MK bags popularity is on the rise and Coach is declining worldwide. Just recently brought some relatives visiting from overseas shopping and they moved towards MK and totally ignored Coach! These same relatives bought Coach bags 2 years ago so it's a sign of the times.

 

[Silversun]

I agree. I used to care about "it bags" and now I just don't believe they are worth the money. I buy only very classic bags that I think will stand the test of time (meaning basically Hermès) and although I'm sad that I'm not adding fun new bags all the time, at the current prices its not worth it to be trendy.

+1! I had very similar thoughts, plus reading Dana Thomas' book "Deluxe" has further enforced my not wanting to buy into the big conglomerates' cynical frenzy of cutting costs in order to promote bottom line. Which basically rules out a massive stable of brands under LVMH and Kering. Think I'll stick to Hermès pretty exclusively from now on. Quality over quantity. I only have two arms to carry my bags anyway.

 

[Compass Rose]

I noticed Ellen Tracey being sold in Bealls' Outlet here in Florida the other day. Ellen Tracey used to have beautiful substantial leather. This one was vinyl. I couldn't believe my eyes. Another brand down the tubes is Cole Haan. Back in the day, their leather was heavy....like Cloe and now, I wouldn't give them a second look. Maybe it is just me, but from now on, I am going to concentrate on boutique, privately owned leather shops. At least they are putting in brass zippers and brass hardware as well.

 

[BrandSnob]

Prada is definitely in the decline which is a huge disappointment to me....moving manufacturing to china was a bad idea in terms of quality. Also, this may be personal for me, but MK is peaking and soon to decline to me. I just can't get over their Louis Vuitton-esque monogram and damier prints. Yes I know lv doesn't own assorted shades of brown but come on. Changed the way I look at the entire brand. I now see MK as becoming a new coach (which I have also never liked). Not tryna start a designer war! Just my personal likes and dislikes!

 

[bakeacookie]

The more unoriginal the designs, the faster they'll hit their peak and start declining. I see that in MK.
The more quality issues that arise and are not addressed, that also means decline. I see that in Prada as well.

It's sad. There used to be so many unique, well made bags out there.

 

[isabellam]

I read that women are buying fewer bags now than just a few years back. It could be the economy, but it could also be bag fatigue. High end bags have been the it status symbol for the last decade, and after a while it becomes chic not to care about bags anymore. I have always loved bags, but I have to admit, it's a little exhausting. Prices constantly going up, quality going down, having to scout out and locate the next it bag... it can be refreshing to get out of the game. I also see women less interested in shoes than before, so who knows what the next great accessory will be. Scarves?

I know I'm getting purse-out. My closet is full and my fashion fund is empty. Done!!! (or very close to it)

I would love it if silk scarves came back. Of course, for some, they never went out. (Like me!!!

I think necklaces are pretty big these days. Everybody seems to be buying these huge blingy 'statement' necklaces. Some necklaces are venturing into chestplate status, they are so big....

 

[GeorgiaGirl67]

I know I'm getting purse-out. My closet is full and my fashion fund is empty. Done!!! (or very close to it)

I would love it if silk scarves came back. Of course, for some, they never went out. (Like me!!!

I think necklaces are pretty big these days. Everybody seems to be buying these huge blingy 'statement' necklaces. Some necklaces are venturing into chestplate status, they are so big....

Ugh! Huge, blingy necklaces? Seriously? Hadn't noticed that trend, but ewwww! Would never get into those because they'd look so RIDICULOUS on me. Huge, blingy anything, really. Understated and small for me all the way.