Everything You Need to Know Once You Decide to Have a Luxury Bag

Every outfit needs a statement piece, and a good quality handbag is the rule of the game. 

Luxury bags became the ultimate dream of every woman. These stylish bags are so desirable that almost impossible to say ‘no’.

Since 1950’s, designer bags have been woman’s favorite accessory globally. The most popular high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci are creating their most desired bags ever since. 

If you want to have a designer bag or simply want to understand more about this charming industry, you are in the right place.

We will discover why these bags are considered luxurious. We will peek into the unique history of the most iconic bags of all time. 

What makes a bag luxury? 

It is all about the brand and the statement style that it creates. Luxury brands represent a heritage and lifestyle. Those brands use the best materials and craftsmanship is flawless. So, when they design a handbag, they show their brand identity by their unique logo and aesthetic, they use the finest-quality materials delicately. 

It is a matter of high-end lifestyle and exclusivity.

When you own a luxury handbag, you will feel the quality and well-thought design. It is a fact that for some ‘It’ bags, wait lists are pretty popular, you can’t have them whenever you like. If you own a luxury bag, you will have a ‘bag with status’ for sure.

History of the luxury bags

Iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel made their debut in handbags in 1930’s. During post-war economic period, handbags become essential. More women become employed and built a life outside the home, so designers started creating different bag styles.

Today, the most popular bag styles are totes, messenger bags, shoulder bags, clutches, and backpacks. Every luxury designer has handbags for every occasion.

More importantly, today’s ‘It’ bags, meaning high-priced designer handbags which are best-sellers like Hermes Birkin Bag, Louis Vuitton Speedy, has become ‘IT’ in late 1990’s.

But first, ‘status’ bag concept started with Giuliana Camerino, a designer during 1940’s. Her handbags were recognizable with their artisan-made hardware for the fashion house Roberta di Camerino. In the meantime, other popular fashion houses were creating their iconic handbags.

In 1935, Hermès created a leather, bag and later on in 1956, this design was renamed the Kelly after being worn by Grace Kelly. 

Today’s iconic handbags have become ‘classic’ after the years that they have been created. New luxury bags are emerging from different brands every season, and some of them become the most desired items by celebrities and influencers. But remember, classic handbags are always the preferable ones for investment purposes.

Materials used in luxury handbags

Most luxury handbags are made of special leather or coated canvas.

The design and styles of luxury bags vary depending on the brand, but one thing is intact across the board, the ultimate craftsmanship and delicate manufacturing process. 

Hermes bags are made of calf leather, cowhide, and mountain goatskin with an additional process that enhances durability.  The production time required for one Hermes bag is around 24 hours; this is why they are so limited.

Chanel handbags are made of the finest lambskin, patent calfskin, python or alligator skin and other materials such as jersey and tweed. Those leather types give the bag an incredibly soft and supple texture.

Louis Vuitton and Gucci manufacture bags both in fine leather and coated canvas. Their canvas bags are generally designed with their unique logo patterns.

The classic canvas styles of Louis Vuitton bags, including the most popular  Neverfull, Speedy, Alma and NeoNoe,  all feature leather trims such as leather handles and straps. Additionally, Louis Vuitton uses different innovative leather materials such as Vachetta leather, EPI leather, Taurillon leather, and Empreinte leather. 

The current Gucci leather material is the ultra-luxurious Guccissima leather, meaning “the most Gucci” in Italian. It was introduced in 2006 by then Creative Director Frida Giannini.

How to know if a luxury bag is authentic? 

Designer bags are the most counterfeited items in the world. So, when you purchase a pre-owned luxury bag, you should always question its authenticity.

The methods used to authenticate a luxury item vary according to brand and style. Authentication experts consider styles, design details, material quality, and artisanship to validate an item's authentication. 

For high ticket items, it is always better to rely on a trusted authentication expert. On the other hand, some tips may help you detect counterfeit items. 

First of all, carefully check the construction of the bag. Luxury bags are so well-crafted so that no embellishment or stitch is overlooked. Issues like leather misalignments and stitching errors are big 'no' signals when it comes to authenticity.

The other important thing to check is the bag's brand stamp, it should be symmetric, and fonts should be correct and clear. Some luxury bags, such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton has a distinctive serial number or date code. The printing of the date code should be clear and without flaws.

When purchasing a pre-owned item, remember that the item's condition may not match the original condition. Because of that, colorations on the leather, scratches, or stains do not mean that your item is a counterfeit. They are simply signs of usage. 

 

Should you own a luxury bag?

After all, it is all about the unique quality, design, and your desire to live that experience. A thousand dollar handbag is a 'ridiculous' idea for some, but for others, having access to a high quality utility item that reflects their taste is well worth the money. 

There is no doubt that this level of quality and augmented style may be counted as an "investment", considering the resell value of the item.

You will need a handbag no matter what, and why not have a luxury bag. By this way, you will have a chance to carry a qualified handbag for a long time. Also, you won’t have to change your handbag every season, because you would already own a statement bag that suits with your style. Once you purchase a luxury bag, it often becomes the item you will rely on for years, even a lifetime.  

If you can’t decide what to buy, don’t forget that a designer bag really suits you, whatever your taste may be. First, you must determine why you need a handbag. Is it for daily use, or evenings? Maybe you need a tote bag to put everything in it, or a chic clutch for the night. For example, Louis Vuitton Neverfull is a perfect tote bag for daily use.  

If you feel like it, maybe it is better to own a vintage piece, so that you contribute to sustainability and enjoy it at a great price.

We wouldn’t mind owning a good quality vintage Louis Vuitton or vintage Hermes bag with a great deal. You can have a pre-loved luxury with great deals at Jebwa. 

Discover our Editor’s Pick from Jebwa.com: 

GUCCI CROSSBODY BAG MULTI COLOR

 

 

Let us know what styles are your favorite and why you like them? Connect with us on Instagram.