What handbag brands are in decline?

[isabellam]

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.....

I 'know' a woman on another forum I frequent who is really into perfume. I admire her because she only buys from local stores and never buys unsniffed (ie, never makes blind purchases online). Now, she lives in a fabulous city and has loads of top quality stuff at her doorstep. However there is so much that she will never smell or wear because it is so niche or rare. I admire the contentedness and peace that she has shopping locally only. No wild grasping, no frantic transcontinental calls to other shops. Just peace.

She inspires me to consider doing the same with handbags. I ask myself, what would my purse life be like if I stayed offline and simply went to the store. If they have something that I like and I have the $$ in my wallet and the room in my closet, bingo. If the above criteria aren't met, fuggedaboutit. How much money I'd save!! (Even if I bought bags full price!) How much time I'd save!!!!

 

[isabellam]

+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.

Include Hermes in your prayers. I hope that they never sell out to LVMH or whoever else would want to by them out and then ruin them.

 

[Mariapia]

I 'know' a woman on another forum I frequent who is really into perfume. I admire her because she only buys from local stores and never buys unsniffed (ie, never makes blind purchases online). Now, she lives in a fabulous city and has loads of top quality stuff at her doorstep. However there is so much that she will never smell or wear because it is so niche or rare. I admire the contentedness and peace that she has shopping locally only. No wild grasping, no frantic transcontinental calls to other shops. Just peace.

She inspires me to consider doing the same with handbags. I ask myself, what would my purse life be like if I stayed offline and simply went to the store. If they have something that I like and I have the $$ in my wallet and the room in my closet, bingo. If the above criteria aren't met, fuggedaboutit. How much money I'd save!! (Even if I bought bags full price!) How much time I'd save!!!!

Isabellam, you are absolutely right.
I personally don't buy bags on line, there are so many that I am lost......
I buy from local boutiques as well and there are not a lot in my place.
Or abroad when I am on holiday.
Fortunately....because it would be total bankrupcy!

 

[Silversun]

Include Hermes in your prayers. I hope that they never sell out to LVMH or whoever else would want to by them out and then ruin them.

Well, judging by the recent LVMH court battle, they still have some fight in them. Long may it continue.

 

[dhfwu]

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.

ITA about the decline in Cole Haan. I loved the brand 5-6 years ago, and I used a satchel with thick, black pebbled leather for years. The work tote that I bought from them last year had somewhat flimsy leather, and I was pretty unhappy with how worn and unpolished it looked within a few months. That drove me to consider higher end designers (a whole other problem...).

When I learned that the company was sold to a private equity firm in 2012, the decline made more sense. It's sad when a quality line gets purchased by someone who just wants the brand, and they trade on goodwill while running the products into the ground.

With that in mind, I recently bought a Speedy 30 made before Bernard Arnault pushed the Vuitton family out of the company. It's 24 years old and in great condition, and I hope it will last for a while to come.

 

[missmoimoi]

Not sure where exactly to post this little update: Coach boutique in The Bay downtown has just shrunk by about 40% in terms of floor size between Saturday and today, Monday morning. Apparently, MbMJ is moving in. This does not bode well for MbMJ brand - I think it's a downgrade from Holts. When Holts stopped carrying Coach, that's when Coach moved into The Bay. Will wait and see.

 

[gnomixa78]

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....

I love silk scarves! I have been collecting them for years, don't care about the brand; I am after unique prints! I have about 30 now and wear them quite often. I think they are a classic. Nothing spruces up a neutral outfit like a silk scarf. It's gotta be 100% silk though.

 

[Metrowestmama]

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.

 

[Hanakimi]

When I was in college I purchased a Coach coated canvas wallet. It was white with a cute stippled monogram and had lavender leather on the inside. I still use it today although it's starting to fall apart.

Yesterday though, I noticed a really...trashy (for lack of a better word) coworker of mine had some Coach item (can't remember what). I did a quick look around the office and realized that most of the women owned some Coach piece (real or fake). That's when I realized the extent of the market's oversaturation, and the decline in the brand's name. (I live in an underserved area, so most people around here aren't very educated--think of a less eloquent but poor Duck Dynasty combined with Honey Boo Boo.) But I guess there is a difference between being able to purchase something and being able to afford it.)

I recently purchased an MJ nomad bag and thought, "Oh, but perhaps it doesn't look good that I'm carrying a falling-apart Coach wallet. Now I need a designer wallet, don't I..." And I looked and looked and blanched at some prices and styles and looked some more and finally just got tired. The other day my mother purchased a cute little fabric wallet for me from Papyrus with a little hedgehog stitched on and an encouraging message. It was 25 bucks. I'm in the process of transitioning over. That she thought of me and wanted to get me something that would make me smile means more than having a "good enough" designer wallet. Otherwise, where does it end, you know?

 

[BagSwag]

Add another to the list who thinks most brands are in the decline. After my most recent Givenchy bag lost a stud on the strap within a month, I think I'll be taking a break from buying Premier designer bags for awhile.

Trying to keep up with all the new "it" bags can be exhausting. You get the new bag everyone is going crazy for, then in a few months, it's onto another bag and the one you have is no longer "in". If I'm paying thousands of dollars for a bag, it has to be something classic that will stand the test of time. I've learned that the hard way, unfortunately.

I can try to tell myself I'm paying for quality and craftsmanship, but really, I'm paying for the name and the image. The image that I can afford such an expensive bag. It's taken me some time to come to terms with it, but it's the truth. In a city where most girls/women carry Premier designers, it's hard to not want to fit it with the crowd.

I recently purchased a beautiful croc embossed faux leather tote for less than $50, the quality is great and I love how it looks. Classic, edgy, modern. Sure, there's no designer logo on it, but I need to stop letting designer brands change how I feel about myself. I'm still the same person, I still have the same family and friends,I still have the same amount of money in my bank account, I still drive the same car and live in the same house. A bag doesn't change that.

Stepping away from designer brands once in awhile is actually proving to be quite a relief, for me.

* I apologize for the rambling, just needed to get that off my chest! *

 

[Fimpagebag]

Add another to the list who thinks most brands are in the decline. After my most recent Givenchy bag lost a stud on the strap within a month, I think I'll be taking a break from buying Premier designer bags for awhile.

Trying to keep up with all the new "it" bags can be exhausting. You get the new bag everyone is going crazy for, then in a few months, it's onto another bag and the one you have is no longer "in". If I'm paying thousands of dollars for a bag, it has to be something classic that will stand the test of time. I've learned that the hard way, unfortunately.

I can try to tell myself I'm paying for quality and craftsmanship, but really, I'm paying for the name and the image. The image that I can afford such an expensive bag. It's taken me some time to come to terms with it, but it's the truth. In a city where most girls/women carry Premier designers, it's hard to not want to fit it with the crowd.

I recently purchased a beautiful croc embossed faux leather tote for less than $50, the quality is great and I love how it looks. Classic, edgy, modern. Sure, there's no designer logo on it, but I need to stop letting designer brands change how I feel about myself. I'm still the same person, I still have the same family and friends,I still have the same amount of money in my bank account, I still drive the same car and live in the same house. A bag doesn't change that.

Stepping away from designer brands once in awhile is actually proving to be quite a relief, for me.

* I apologize for the rambling, just needed to get that off my chest! *

+10.

I couldn't agree more. I, too, have stepped back from Premier Designer bags and concentrated instead on a brand that has always been my lodestar. It's actually a relief not to be on the Premier Designer merry go round. I can admire from afar without envy or regret.

 

[NikkiS.]

Comes a time when you do not want to be seen with "the it" bag. I love being in that place

 

[magienoire]

Not sure where exactly to post this little update: Coach boutique in The Bay downtown has just shrunk by about 40% in terms of floor size between Saturday and today, Monday morning. Apparently, MbMJ is moving in. This does not bode well for MbMJ brand - I think it's a downgrade from Holts. When Holts stopped carrying Coach, that's when Coach moved into The Bay. Will wait and see.

This all just gave me a flashback! I remember when Coach was a really cool brand, only carried at Holts in Canada. Now, it's everywhere....

 

[Catash]

ITA about the decline in Cole Haan. I loved the brand 5-6 years ago, and I used a satchel with thick, black pebbled leather for years. The work tote that I bought from them last year had somewhat flimsy leather, and I was pretty unhappy with how worn and unpolished it looked within a few months. That drove me to consider higher end designers (a whole other problem...).

When I learned that the company was sold to a private equity firm in 2012, the decline made more sense. It's sad when a quality line gets purchased by someone who just wants the brand, and they trade on goodwill while running the products into the ground.

With that in mind, I recently bought a Speedy 30 made before Bernard Arnault pushed the Vuitton family out of the company. It's 24 years old and in great condition, and I hope it will last for a while to come.

I still owned a Cole Hann Village Lunch tote from 7-8 years ago when I was still a poor student. The leather is thick, moist and beautiful, just as good as my designer-brand bags. I don't shop at Cole Haan anymore because their leather goods no longer appeal to me.

 

[Crystalina]

Add another to the list who thinks most brands are in the decline. After my most recent Givenchy bag lost a stud on the strap within a month, I think I'll be taking a break from buying Premier designer bags for awhile.

Trying to keep up with all the new "it" bags can be exhausting. You get the new bag everyone is going crazy for, then in a few months, it's onto another bag and the one you have is no longer "in". If I'm paying thousands of dollars for a bag, it has to be something classic that will stand the test of time. I've learned that the hard way, unfortunately.

I can try to tell myself I'm paying for quality and craftsmanship, but really, I'm paying for the name and the image. The image that I can afford such an expensive bag. It's taken me some time to come to terms with it, but it's the truth. In a city where most girls/women carry Premier designers, it's hard to not want to fit it with the crowd.

I recently purchased a beautiful croc embossed faux leather tote for less than $50, the quality is great and I love how it looks. Classic, edgy, modern. Sure, there's no designer logo on it, but I need to stop letting designer brands change how I feel about myself. I'm still the same person, I still have the same family and friends,I still have the same amount of money in my bank account, I still drive the same car and live in the same house. A bag doesn't change that.

Stepping away from designer brands once in awhile is actually proving to be quite a relief, for me.

* I apologize for the rambling, just needed to get that off my chest! *

This is a wonderfully written post and I agree 100%.

I admire your honesty and attitude about how we are not the sum total of our possessions.

Thanks again for your lovely sentiments!!!