Which designer bags are ACTUALLY handmade?

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#31
nathansgirl1908 said:
I think they DO all look alike personally. I don't see these variations that people mention. The stitching on my bags appears to be uniform.
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Well I notice lots of differences on my pieces which to me. Obviously the stitching will be virtually the same since they all need to be sewn together in the same areas to form the bag. I mean that there can sometimes be slight differences in length of stitches, tightness, etc.
One good example of the differences I'm referring to are with the Vernis line..some are stamped a lot deeper than others, some aren't as shiny, etc. I think you really have to take your time to examine them to see what I'm talking about.
My mom has bought LV since the early 1990's and I notice very slight differences in each and every piece she and I both have.
 
#32
CEC.LV4eva said:
I think both LV and Chanel use machines to put together the raw material (eg. zippers, hardware, LV's canvas has a vinyl coating done by a machine most likely...etc.). Once this step is done, the ASSEMBLY of these parts is handmade. They may use a sewing machine, but there is always a real person operating each individual one to make a common bag (eg. mono speedy).
As for LV's RTW, trunks, customized orders, and sunglasses they are all completely hand-made/assembled, ie I doubt they would weave the fabric from raw cotton or silk and cutting the wood is done by a machine but still operated by a real person:yes:
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:yes:
 
#33
Lvbabydoll said:
Well I notice lots of differences on my pieces which to me. One good example is with the Vernis line..some are stamped a lot deeper than others, some aren't as shiny, etc. I think you really have to take your time to examine them to see what I'm talking about.
My mom has bought LV since the early 1990's and I notice differences in each and every piece she and I both have.
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Maybe I don't pay that much attention. But on the other hand, I don't think those types of differences indicate handmade.



If someone is operating a machine to make a bag, I don't think that qualifies as handmade even though a person is operating it.
 
#34
If they weren't andmade it would've been harder to get the exact number of stitches etc that is so important to these bags. The use of machines = more randomness. How could a machine be sure that the canvas was cut so that the LVs woul come out in the middle and stuff like that?
 
#36
Lvbabydoll said:
Well I notice lots of differences on my pieces which to me. Obviously the stitching will be virtually the same since they all need to be sewn together in the same areas to form the bag. I mean that there can sometimes be slight differences in length of stitches, tightness, etc.
One good example of the differences I'm referring to are with the Vernis line..some are stamped a lot deeper than others, some aren't as shiny, etc. I think you really have to take your time to examine them to see what I'm talking about.
My mom has bought LV since the early 1990's and I notice differences in each and every piece she and I both have.
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True! I agree!
Also, LV's symmetry may be off, number of stitching is always the same, but the length of the stitches may differ, leather is definitely not the same (eg. some have really big pores while others are very small and smooth), and finally placement of hardware (rivets) may differ by 1mm on some bags

Although a person's operating the machine and may not count as 100% handmade, what OTHER brand in this entire world crafts luxury items completely FREE of machines??? Porsche? Hermès? I doubt they'd use a real blacksmith to hammer every metal piece...
 
#37
Liberté;1935648 said:
If they weren't andmade it would've been harder to get the exact number of stitches etc that is so important to these bags. The use of machines = more randomness. How could a machine be sure that the canvas was cut so that the LVs woul come out in the middle and stuff like that?
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The professional "artisans" who opereate the machines have training and years of experience (since that's their job)
 
#38
CEC.LV4eva said:
The professional "artisans" who opereate the machines have training and years of experience (since that's their job)
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SOrry, I wasen't being all clear. That was my point too, (you specified it though, thanks) it can't be just a machine doing it (the cut) of course it's not a person with scissor (IF scissors aren't too much mechanics to be considered Hand made :p ), then it would probably end up messy. Aain thanks for making it clearer. =) It's definetly not a full factory piece.
 
#39
CEC.LV4eva said:
Although a person's operating the machine and may not count as 100% handmade, what OTHER brand in this entire world crafts luxury items completely FREE of machines??? Porsche? Hermès? I doubt they'd use a real blacksmith to hammer every metal piece...
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As I said before, there is a difference between a few metal bits and zippers, and MOST of the bag being done by machine. And on the issue of cutting the leather properly, a person can do that by machine. That isn't something that has to be done by hand.
 
#40
Liberté;1935781 said:
SOrry, I wasen't being all clear. That was my point too, (you specified it though, thanks) it can't be just a machine doing it (the cut) of course it's not a person with scissor (IF scissors aren't too much mechanics to be considered Hand made :p ), then it would probably end up messy. Aain thanks for making it clearer. =) It's definetly not a full factory piece.
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no prob, and you made me laugh for the scissors! :roflmfao:
 
#41
Vuitton is getting into a different manufacturing model--here's a link to an apparel industry expert's blog that discusses an article in the WSJ from October:

Fashion-Incubator: Lean Louis Vuitton

From the article:
PARIS -- A year ago, it took 20 to 30 craftsmen to put together each Louis Vuitton "Reade" tote bag. Over the course of about eight days, separate workers would sew together leather panels, glue in linings and attach handles.
Then, inspired by car maker Toyota Motor Corp. and egged on by outside management consultants, the venerable French luxury-goods house discovered efficiency. Today, clusters of six to 12 workers, each of them performing several tasks, can assemble the $680 shiny, LV-logo bags in a single day.
 
#42
nathansgirl1908 said:
As I said before, there is a difference between a few metal bits and zippers, and MOST of the bag being done by machine. And on the issue of cutting the leather properly, a person can do that by machine. That isn't something that has to be done by hand.
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Hun, you seem to definitely THINK you know the answer, so why did you pose the question to begin with?
 
#43
Actually can I say something that goes against the grain of luxury goods? Why are people crazy about having things handmade when machine assistance makes it aesthetically better?

Look at my Hermès Kelly 25cm rigid Epsom, it's not symmetrical. BTW, before anyone goes any further, this is a real one and has passed the (supposedly) stringent QC but if handmade stuff comes out asymmetrical with imperfections like this and with so conspicuous a flaw as the top bit of the flap on the right hand side (as you look at it) then I do not want a handmade bag. I want a machine made bag that looks more like a proper trapeze. Handmade things are often not the best things in the world!

I do not care whether the artisan has been kissing it and putting a spell on it like the magazine said but let me say his/her craftsmanship is not that great if he/she does not care to make the bag more symmetrical. Concurrently if the company passes something this imperfect on to the customer, I do not think that company has a high QC. And no imperfection this bad has passed the threshold on what is acceptable. If it was not from my husband, I would have dumped it yonks ago because of its lousiness!

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#45
It doesn't really matter to me if it's handmade as long as it's well made. In the craftsmanship video on LV's web site, it does show what appear to handbag handles being stitched together by hand. However, most of the bag is probably done by machine. I know my wallet and cles appear to be machine stitched. Even so, it's easy to see that the bags are assembled with more thought and devotion to quality than, say, a Wal-Mart bag.

Oh, and the Fendi Selleria bags are handmade. I also think Carlos Falchi bags are handmade.
 
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