If the girl sitting next to you may be some indication, it seems that Michael Kors bags have become common - fake or real. Browsing the Internet also leads to more brands on sale such as Kate Spade, Coach, Prada, and of course, Michael Kors.
Even the higher end brands like Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and others can be acquired at less than the retail price. A small Givenchy Nightingale bag was spotted at a major mall in the country's business district being sold for a negotiable price of approximately P48,000 (around USD 1,000).
Of course, fakes abound. During one instance, an online buyer was presented with a Php10,000 Givenchy bag that the seller said were overruns from a Hong Kong factory. Upon further inspection, the bag turned out to be a complete fake since the bag handle design did not even match the original version.
Major brands usually offer their sale bags through accredited dealers or their own websites. Keep that in mind when dealing with an online seller. Trust is paramount when transacting online.
In a 2016 Forbes article,“US Handbag Wars: Who Will Survive?” the author cited the slowing growth rate of the premium handbags market and reported a few details:
“Coach is in the midst of a rebranding and transformation plan, prompted by the continuously slowing sales numbers, and Michael Kors is losing its “cool” factor. Kate Spade, on the other hand, reported impressive earnings in the third quarter of 2015.”
The trend was attributed to the shift from bigger to smaller bags that Kate Spade successfully managed.
Considering that these branded bags are slowly turning themselves into a commodity just by the sheer volume of sale bags available, the question arises as to whether they are still worth the extra money that you pay for. After all, exclusivity is a function of limited availability. The reality is that these bags have become practically regular fare, especially if you include the “Class A” copycats.
Aside from value for money considerations, it is also quality that counts. With or without a brand name, buyers must be able to discern whether what they are buying is made of good material and craftsmanship and if the much sought after bag truly reflects a personal style that can last for years to come.
Fads come and go. But elegant choices are timeless and will always speak for themselves.
