I believe the bag originally was designed in mono for cocoo chanel. I did not think very much of the mono alma until we went and shopped for my mom and stumbled upon the redesigned alma in the store. It is actually very nice and if we had not bought it foor her, I would have bought it for me. But, the damier alma is also very nice. If I buy an alma though it will be when lv rerelases it w gold hw