Would you also say the same for example, Nike Jordan's $110 versus Prada Downtown Sneakers $1070? Have you seen both and compared both? The quality is vastly different. $1070 for a athletic sneaker is absolutely absurd. But where can a consumer go to get a sneaker like Prada. Prada is overpriced, but the sneakers they craft are so nice. I don't know what brand compares. Help! LOL.
Homemade problem, and it will get worse. Prices here higher in winter, but remain the same as always in summer: very affordable, even cheap. Greetings from Bavaria (southern Germany 🇪🇺)
The fashion industry basically did the equivalent of switching out diamond jewelry for cubic zirconia while still charging diamond jewelry prices and nobody cared 😂 I’m super glad that I figured this out at a young enough age to not get scammed out of too much money.
Many many pple doesn't knows that they buying zirconia with switched name instead of real diamond, many many pple who likes "lux" doesn't knows that these "diamonds lol" it's a piece of glass that grows in lab and then getting cut type as diamond
At least zircons and farmed diamonds have comparable hardness and colour with the natural ones. Brand name shoes and bags are even shoddier than cheap Chinese or Turkish knock offs.
It is just the novelty of owning a brand name. I feel like I see them all the time on the reality tv show stars, where they try to outdo each other in name brands and giant letters so we know its LV or CC (with the c's linked) or DIOR. I do think that reality tv has cheapened the products because they are so common. I don't see them around here at all really. Don't see them when I travel either but apparently there is still a huge market for spending money on something most cannot afford to impress people they don't know.
The irony is that diamonds are also a scam. They’re neither rare nor expensive. Induced scarcity by the De Beers company and extremely good marketing made diamonds become artificially rare because they’ve stockpiled them in very large amounts in vaults. There’s a good reason why even the most natural real diamonds only have a resale value of one third of the original price.
Tbh I would rather support smaller high quality brands then old big ones. There is literally no point in supporting them. U can find something similar to these brands in smaller, more focused on quality brands especially for a cheaper price
I totally agree. Then add some local family owned businesses, who basically roll out the red carpet for you, while in contrast you have to stand in line to enter a friggin LV or Chanel store, where you have to beg to be able to buy the item of your desire.
If a brand isn’t independent or the designer that the brand is named after is no longer there, then who are you really supporting? 🤔 Bernard doesn’t need any more of my money. Lol.
Chanel does NO longer make quality bags. They now charge the price of a Birkin for a large flap bag, but Chanel doesn’t unlike Hermes make it by hand. Chanel no longer gold plate their hardware, the leather is of lesser quality, the stitchings are a joke and on top of charging their clients more for a lesser product, they cut out the commission of their sale associates, some now earning up to -30% less, no wonder their staff is leaving, meaning the service will end like the products, down in the dump.
You can’t beat the knitwear though. When I can, I buy pre-loved Chanel knitwear and they are transformative articles of clothing. The bags are too ubiquitous for my taste.
When I started thrifting/reselling I learned a lot about different clothing brands. You can literally feel and see the difference in quality between the vintage fashions vs the newer pieces. The pieces of the past felt good on the skin, they were fitted nicely and there was a sort of weightiness to them that the clothing of today doesn't have.
vintage Pendleton vs new Pendleton is like night and day. This goes for both their men and women clothes. Since they use to be everywhere it's pretty easy to compare the quality.
Prada and Burberry are the worst offenders charging astronomical, bespoke prices for goods made in Vietnam/Turkey/Bulgaria/etc. Vuitton, for instance, has been completely bastardized as a brand and Balenciaga is just revolting.
@@gabybrik5525 the worst part is they keep some thing very high end. This way if you call them out, they can point to the other stuff and claim otherwise.
@@karlenglewood8940 yep, it’s all just a con. I have a few high end bags and shoes, but I am done wasting money on sub par stuff just because it carries a fancy logo. 9 years ago I bought a pair of patent leather, burgundy, “horse-bit” loafers from Oxford Street’s Russell & Bromley, they have literally been around the world with me, I still get compliments for them, they are pure craftsmanship and just a fraction of the cost of Gucci’s sub par product.
So true. I bought a 20 year old Dior wool skirt. I just couldn’t get over the difference in fabric and stitching. I am not even in to sewing but it was so interesting to see something like that. Now I am hooked
Luxury items that are a waste of money: 1.) designer bags that cost in the thousands that are made of CANVAS and NOT leather. 2.) Designer t shirts and hoodies that cost $500 + 3.) Mass produced products 4.) products slathered with Logos but not quality or craftsmanship. 5.) products that will not be wearable 3-5 years from now.
I have a Blondie T-shirt I got for like $12 about 14 years ago and I still have it. No holes or anything 😂 expensive doesn’t always guarantee great quality. And cheaper stuff doesn’t always mean it’s going to fall apart.
Absolutely, and you have the short list here, let's not talk about shoes, coats, suits and formal wear. Buying an outfit is like spending your rent money.
I really tried to vibe with the "luxury" brands and couldn't. I looked at LV, Prada, Chanel, and Dooney. Dooney obviously lower cost. But as I looked side-by-side and felt the material and handles, Dooney out did all of them. LV canvas so cheap and thin. Prada stitching and material had me baffled. And Chanel was a question mark. Dooney has an upper mid-grade name, but their handbags are so extremely well made. It's all I will buy now even though the designs don't offer a creative spread except only in colors. But even Dooney's prices have gone up recently.
One thing that really struck me was seeing that those brands DESTROYS their extra production or previous collections for no one to access them on sale or second hand so the value does not go down. There you know, it is not as exclusive in reality as they make it to be, they just make it scarce by eliminating what they don’t sell full price.
While luxury brands are manufacturing their clothes and accessories in Asia then shipping them to Italy or France where "Made in Italy/France" labels are sewn in, they're also doing other shady things like hiring workers from those same countries, bringing them to Europe, and placing them in sweatshops in cities like Naples to work. The days of the atelier are gone for a lot of these brands. They still get to claim their items are made in their respective country, but leave out who is working on them and the environment in which they're being manufactured.
“Why would you want a shirt with someone else’s name on it?” - asked by a family friend when my friend and I asked to order one when we were kids. I never forgot it. Even now, designer monograms would embarrass me if I wore them, even if my initials were the same. The monogram would generally have to be small/subtle, and appear only once on the item.
I've got some Calvin Klein clothes...the fit is good & the quality is higher than fast fashion so I don't mind paying more as it'll last longer 👍. As long as it's small & subtle branding then I'm ok with it.
On the other hand we drive cars that are logo'd and don't bother with that free advertising. I have monogrammed bags and they are so durable and light. That's coated canvas and I have a bag I wear almost daily that's not logos but has a paisley pattern woven into it, it's so beautiful a vintage Etro. But people rarely comment on either the logo or non logo bags, they're just work horses but so durable and light to carry...
An Ethiopian friend of mine told me that the components of Gucci bags were assembled there (Ethiopia) and stitched in Italy to be sold as “made in Italy”. That was 20 years ago. I imagine it is as you say : Frankensteined luxury with no clear provenance of production
@@lvbadboy No it's not. Very minimal standard to have the Made in Italy label. They could slap a buckle on it and it's "made in Italy" even though it was really made in a China, Indonesia,etc.
I worked in "High End" retail for years ( Neiman Marcus and Saks ). In years past, the companies ( I will use Italy as an example ), generations of family members lovingly hand crafted goods. This has become obsolete because the sellers have become greedy and did not want to pay the wages previously earned. Because of the negative connotation of "made in China", these companies have imported Chinese laborers, housing them in "dormitory -like situations" and now have them making " designer goods" in Italy, so they can be stamped "Made in Italy".. I have totally lost my previous attraction for these items.
Japan is a shining beacon of hope for fashion quality. Yohji, Issey Miyake, Visvim, Kapital, Facetasm. The list goes on. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is in a league of its own.
I still an outfit I purchased by Issey Miyake over 20 yrs ago and still love it. Fabric, quality, attention to detail is the best and worth every dime I paid. Also, I’ve found quite luxury stores that used better fabrics back then.
Japanese designs suck completely and these small brands are so expensive that they are totally impossible to buy. IsseyMiyake is the definition of ugly.
I really appreciate the care and research you brought to this conversation. I used to buy a ton of luxury brands when I was young so I accumulated a big collection. Then I went off of luxury for a Loooooong time. I had other priorities. I finally decided to buy an LV bag a few month ago. I thought it was classic with a twist and wore it every day. It is starting to peel on the edges of the bag😢 whereas my large LV cosmetic case which I use for travel and as a clutch sometimes, that I bought 30 years ago, that I throw around like it’s from Zara, is in pristine condition. I also bought a Chanel bag where the chain broke after 3 month yet my mothers Chanel bag that she bought 50 years ago, which I wear religiously is also in pristine condition. I am done. Seriously I am disappointed. Thank you once again you seriously opened my eyes to what I already knew but ignored.
Wow. That speaks volumes. Pay more for less. I always check out thrift stores for vintage bags. I do find they made bags to last back then. Today, it's just to appease the masses. Chanel bags are way over the top in price. LV, my goodness, they are made of coated canvas! I could seriously make a canvas bag myself for the cost of the material. They are really taking the piss out of people.
@@karolinakuc4783 do you possibly have a link to share? I would love to know what some of the smaller artisan businesses are that are worth purchasing from. Thank you!
I remember when buying luxury was almost synonymous with quality. It's really not the case anymore. You really need to inspect the items and understand fabrics and seams, tailoring to buy something of a great quality that will last you for years.
Thank you for this awesome video. You’ve articulated so well how I’ve felt about luxury brands for a while now. I am that upper middle class 30s woman who use to covet the latest designer goods. Prices keep rising, quality is dropping and we’re now living in a culture so over obsessed with luxury and lifestyle that we are not aware we are sold mass produced stuff to fill whatever voids we have.
What you say makes sense and has happened in so many industries. I don’t buy luxury goods, but I’ve been buying clothing for nearly 40 years and I’ve seen so many brands that I used to rely on for quality go down the tubes after the original owner/designer died or that brand was sold. Jones New York, Liz Clairborne are a couple of examples. Those brands are still out there, but the clothing they produce now is hot garbage compared to what those brands produced 20 years ago.
Absolutely true. When I compare my old Jones New York suiting separates even to what I purchase ten years go, there is a huge difference! The quality of the older pieces of clothing is much better. In fact the difference in clothing manufacturing has change so much that I find it extremely difficult to teach my grandchildren what quality clothing is when shopping. All they can find is trendy, over priced, fast fashion. I pay more for a single item of clothing sown off grain, with irregular, lose stitching than I once paid for a week of my own children's school clothing which would last years.
Another point, clothes back when these fashion houses started, even regular people’s clothes were made to last. I still have some of my great grandmother’s clothes that have been passed down for generations in great condition. The fact that luxury items can’t even do the bare minimum of that now for the price of what they cost is simply laughable and shameless.
You spoke truth. Most of these "designer" fashions are lackluster for the price. It's a wallet assault. Give me the new start young designer, I'd rather they get the money.
We used to make our own clothes. Now everything is made in China. I can tell the difference between a pair of Levis jeans that I owned as a kid, versus the jeans I see now in stores. Levi's used to mean quality. Now it just means expensive jeans that feel the same as a cheap pair of jeans found at Kmart.
@@nerychristian You can still get quality garments like the ones you mention. Most people are not willing to pay upwards of 200$ for a pair of jeans though.
@@teekue There is NO reason under the sky why a pair of cattle farmer pants should cost $200. If you're paying more than $20 for it, make sure to bring a condom. Cause you are getting fucked. And if you're paying just for the brand be prepared to wear them horns and be ground into a burger - cause brands are for steers.
I’ll never forget striking up a conversation with a girl on a Eurostar ride back from Paris just after fashion week. She worked in the business and I’ll never forget when she told me, ‘never pay retail, it’s a scam’. If you really want it, go to sample sales. That conversation changed my perspective.
@@dressydress9726 I think there are pages you can follow that post where and when sample sales are happening. But I can’t lie, most times I bought from sample sales I just happened to be in the area, saw a queue, jumped in line, and copped a bargain!
@@dressydress9726 Yes but the samples are nearly all in a UK size 10 US size 8 it's pretty tiny stuff. At the end of the day you can have a few nice things and then it becomes a disease.
This is very true! This is why we are currently curating a website to do just that! A discount Luxury Department Site! Nobody should have to pay full price anymore! AND WE LOVE FASHION! 🤍
Thank you for an astute and thoughtful conversation! Dana Thomas’ book is great, I bought it in hardback, and read it back when it was a new release. What Karl did at Chanel, and Tom at Gucci used to be seen as novel re-inventions of moribund brands. It was exciting to see new life and excitement injected into these dusty brands as they were resuscitated, and brought back from the brink of total irrelevance. Now, however, it’s nothing but “musical chairs“, and creative directors, coming and going before a so-called heritage brand even has time to develop a solid identity. Luxury fashion is quickly becoing irrelevant and exhausting.
Honestly, people are paying for the name, and not quality. My money will not go to LV anymore. The quality isn't worth the money, but the vintage items are worth it, and less expensive. Love the video.
Yes! I used to be massively into luxury goods as a 20 something. Back then, things were worth their price. When I see someone now with a bag or shoes that are mainstream luxury it makes me sad for them. They don’t know quality. And you’re right about Japan - my favourite pair of leather loafers that have lasted me years and and years cost me $250 and are so well made. Identifying quality needs to be taught more broadly. Otherwise people just get duped.
@roden70 this! I think luxury brands today are just worn as a status symbol so people think you have a lot of money as opposed to people wearing them because of their quality
i grew up in a time when you told on yourself if you went into a store and asked the prices of items - in short, it meant you couldn't afford it. Now I ask the same question when shopping because I want to know if the item is worth the price - and 9 times out of 10, it isn't. My dad made garments in addition to his regualr job to make extra income for our family. He was a master tailor. I didn't know or understand the intrinsic value of having something custom-made for my body in the finest fabric and craftsmanship (I was a kid, so choke me already.) I learned about quality fabric, seams, buttons' zippers, etc. and I learned to sew. This was the best self taught skill I ever acquired as my clothing was most often one of a kind, that fit my body perfectly and I didn't look 'mass produced'. Most of these cheap, flimsy, one-season garments (if that long) of today look so off the rack that I find myself not bothering to purchase anything. I live in NY, and there are enough close out, and discount stores where you can purchase these 'designer' garments at a fraction of the cost. It's all the same junk no matter where the hanger hangs. Vanity sizing is the most insane thing that ever happened to fashion. The stupid reasoning that a woman wouldn't feel embarrassed about her size and could wear the same garment in a so-called smaller size is gaslighting at its finest. You end up taking 5 sizes of the same garment in the fitting room trying to figure out which one fits you well. It's exhausting. It's all a racket and a psychological scam mind game. I wouldn't give these designers change for a quarter let alone my hard-earned money for their overpriced, poorly made merchandize/garments. Why would I want a plastic Louis Vuitton handbag with his initials on it and not my own? Why would I advertise his products for free? Who is the dummy here? This was a very informative video, I hope more people will realize what they are throwing their money away on. If you have quality 'back in the day' items, keep them in excellent condition and hold on to them, you will be far ahead of the game on two levels fashion and finance in addition to looking well put together.
In the past few years, i purchased a Burberry and YSL handbag costing around 3.5k for each. I returned them instantly due to poor craftsmanship. Uneven stitching and cheap leather. I stay away from labels and go for the true boutique designers who are quietly sophisticated. Great video!
I agree. The best leather goods come from independent hand craftsmen in Italy and France for a more affordable price. It was also confirmed that thse luxury houses do not even use high grade leather for their purses. Incidentally, another trend is emerging: quiet luxury. Hope you make a vid about this.
Greetings from Mexico! I just subbed! I told my wife like 3 weeks ago that most people don't understand luxury and that luxury items no longer seem to exist. I arrived at this conclusion after years of self reflection, but to see an entire book validating my intuitions is kind of based. Interesting stuff.
@@teekue I’m not sure what you mean by “worse”, and for whom ? It’s not worse for Karl when he was alive because it brought him tons of money with little effort on his part, and not really worse for the consumers at the mall who wants a bit of Karl but could not afford Chanel nor Fendi.
This video was brilliant and true. Thank you for the explanation. ♥ I remember buying a once transcendent perfume, Comme des Garcons 2Man. All the critics raved about it and I loved it too. Then a year later I went to buy 2Man again. It was awful, not the same formulation. I sent my purchase receipt from Barney's to Comme des Garcons and they kindly sent me another bottle. It was the same awful fragrance. It blew my mind that a perfumer would concoct a totally different perfume and pass it off as the same perfume as before. I understand why the French are loyal to Guerlain. Don't mess with perfection.
Pretty much its just a big scam for people who think they are rich. They made there stuff in India where its cheaper to mass produce and just limit the product to have artificial scarcity.
I grew up in a country and at times when fast fashion wasn't a thing. Shops had a limited selection of styles and the only way to have something unique was to have it custom made. And it didn't break a bank. Many women could sew and for those who couldn't, in almost every other village was a seamstress. I have had a few items made for myself and nobody had the same. This is a luxury nowadays. As I got older I stopped looking up to a style and got more practical. And frugal. I don't mind buying clothes in charity shops or in discount stores, clothes for every day use. The problem is that the fashion tends to follow the majority body shape and often things don't fit me. Even jogging trousers got narrower on the legs that they either fit me on the hips but I barely can bend my knees, or they are too baggy around my hips. I have difficulties finding comfortable lounge wear. I see no sense in buying a hand bag for like £2000 when I can have one for £10 or £20 and that lasts me for a decade or two. I don't need a collection of 30, buying one every year. A lot of young people get into a massive debt just to keep up with a fashion. And at the end of the season the luxury brands destroy tons of leftover unsold stuff - for which the customers paid extortionate price already for the items they purchased. What a strange world we are living in.
Well, yes and no, honestly we as consumers are at fault. The current generation does not care about quality, they care about how much it costs, who made it and if there is any clout connected to it and they will gladly pay a ton of money for clothing that is subpar in quality. The few that do care about quality get left behind in this world
If Polo Ralph Lauren can produce and sell at retail a large unlined Italian leather shoulder bag for US$798.00, then why can’t LVMH? Corporate greed, plain and simple!
@ I remember how years ago they’ve band a few of the elements used in perfume industry for environmental reasons. At least in EU where I live That was when I’ve noticed that perfumes changed a lot
I think getting a tailored suit or a bespoke suit can be luxurious if you buy the right materials and get any good tailor. The brand and all that marketing that goes into it doesn’t matter. Sure, one can buy a branded product if they want just to see if it’s worth and for the value associated with it as a brand. But aiming for everything from a luxury brand isn’t worth it. Most celebrities that wear luxury brands are gifted the items. Also, I am sure the cost of producing them is a fraction of the cost.
I had leather purse, wallet, and dopp kit made last year from a small business on Etsy for maybe $150. I use them every day and the quality has proven itself. My initials were also branded into all three, which feels special.
Three brands I genuinely believe make quality goods which justify the high price tag are Maison Margiela, Loewe and Acne Studios. I'm always impressed with the materials they use and design. Plus the staff is always friendly and welcome you to touch everything unlike the big conglomerate brands like Prada, LV and Dior.
Not to be that guy, but Margiela is owned by H&M and Loewe is owned by LVMH. Which is to say you kinda can't even use the ownership as a metric these days. Feels like you have to constantly re-inspect every new release these days since quality is so inconsistent within a single brand, and across the industry as a whole. I think channels like Tanner Leatherstein does a good job of helping the public become better quality inspectors, but it's nuts that all the pieces are "in beta" and we're paying to be the testers if we're buying
@@iwannaseethereceipts true it’s hard to escape the reach of a big conglomerate, but I’ll also add not every brand brand under their ownership is the same. I know how to tell what’s quality made and what’s not, it depends on construction/ complexity of design/ quality of materials( even then it’s still hard to tell if it was made in Asia or Europe). Loewe leather is comparable to Hermes at a much “cheaper” price if your in the market for a leather bag. They’re also not as popular as some of the brands I mentioned at the end of my original post which might also help ensure better made good’s since they’re not as globalized. I know not every shopper knows what to look for to determine if a luxury item is worth the cash. My advice is avoid the big mass produced brands and support the lesser known brands.
@@iwannaseethereceipts Margiela and HM did a collab years ago once, but Margiela is not owned by HM. I think if you want to get better at finding items built to last, it’s important to learn what goes into producing a quality item first and understand what makes one material better over another . Once you know what to look for and what to avoid, shopping is easier.
It’s always painful when my favorite perfume brands get gobbled up by corporate greed. Parfums de Marly was recently acquired. I’m sure the quality will go to shit in no time.
Advent International yep it will go down the drain. True luxury buyers are retail refugees going designer to designer hoping corporations don’t buy them out and completely ruin the brands
I came across this ... Listening along must say - this young man speaks so pleasantly. If he were a talking audiobook, I would listen to him analyze the shoes and clothing etc for hours. Really great job how you began with technical info and book excerpting..but instead of your opinion on someone else's book for your whole video... You pivoted and start sharing what you know. Brilliant job. You are great in your area of expertise and speak perfectly. Thank you. Corey from Florida.
Of the top luxury brands, the few that at least try to make high quality products are Chanel, Hermes & Louboutin Edit - some people are misunderstanding me saying they make quality products as me saying it’s “just as good as it used to be” - the whole point of the video was explaining why the quality of all major luxury brands have dwindled with time across the board. I also emphasised “top luxury brands” so I’m comparing them to the other brands that are the most famous names. The brands I’ve mentioned here still go to a certain extent to try and use real leathers, some are partially hand stitched etc. didn’t think I’d have to re-explain what has already been said in the video.
Even these brands, I would argue, the quality has taken a downward spiral. Major houses now worship the Dollar and their 'marketing image', more than they ever respected the craft of creating well made clothes and accessories. They trade on past reputations, solely to increase their profits. How long do they think this will last?
Chanel no longer. After the last two years, the quality is infamous in luxury circles. Even the girls that still keep buying classic flaps and minis have been complaining about leather quality and cheap hardware. Chanel ditched real gold plating back in 2018 and it's only been downhill from there.
I definitely agree that luxury shouldn't be just a feeling and quality is not part of that feeling, because if I bought a so called luxury item, paid a lot of money, for it to fall apart, or have bad craftsmanship the feeling I'd get is of having been conned!
I am so glad someone is finally saying it as it is. I hope people who waste there money on these fashions will stop these astronomical amounts. Most of us do not even know how to recognise quality. Most of us do not know anything about construction, materials etc…
I read this book years ago and it totally changed my luxury buying perspective. Pieces just aren’t made with the same integrity anymore. I’ve halted my indulgence and I’m so glad this book was introduced to me at the time that it was. Highly recommended book!
Great video. My mom once walked into a Gucci store where she spotted a shoe with a price of her one month salary, little did she know that the quality is horribly bad.
I live in the U.S. and prefer to support smaller local brands that are made here. I find their items are more well made and last longer than so called luxury items. Unfortunately many of these folks businesses don’t last for some reason. Also, as soon as a big brand buys them they turn into garbage sadly. My most recent fav was a brand called Moop. They were a canvas bag company that sourced their materials from here in the states and made all their bags at their shop in Seattle. They are not currently making any more bags however and I think the owner is selling her shop so another one bites the dust. I think I’m going to check out that book. I’m not a big fashion person, but I was when I was younger so would probably find it interesting.
I have always loved designer handbags, but only now can afford them. Someone hipped me to the pre loved Japanese market. I literally have 40 year old vintage handbags that are way better quality than the same ones new, but for a fraction of the cost.
OMG! About a year ago, my best friend said the same thing you said about Air Jordan being higher quality shoes than the mock sports shoes made by fancy fashion brands. As an example, the Versace trainers are awful. Keep up the good work. ⚜
Air Jordan’s but not high quality they are made in sweatshops I have trainers from Nike and Versace. Nike quality is garbage for the most part. It doesn’t wash well shrinks the shoes lose form it’s just a mass market brand. Versace trainers have lasted longer they aren’t made for sport use by quality and materials are higher
The whole point of fashion is to create constant new material desires in a world already overflooded with waste and superficiality. This fact is buried under clever branding and hype over the "newest thing" with an echo of a promise to make you special, relevant and desireable.
I remember a SUDDEN drop off in quality from the 'good' brands. I'd get my nicer clothes secondhand or discounted on clearance, and the sumptuous wool and silk, fully-fashioned, structured garments, and attention to detail seem crazy now. I can't even get a 100% wool winter coat from some of my formerly favorite brands. I used to look for the good brands to make sure I was getting good fabric and workmanship. There's absolutely no point in it any more. EDIT - YES, also perfumes! I am desperately clinging to vintage bottles of things!
Thanks for this video. I read this book and was surprised it didn't slow down the luxury brands' relevance. Aspiration is a scary thing. I saw some of the $1,000, $2,000 shirts at Holt Renfrew, and could tell the fabric was cheap, the stitching was nothing special, and the designs were hideous and gaudy. But people will pretend not to see it.
My choice is small independent brands. Their quality is outstanding because they try very hard to compete on the market with the big tycoons. Im a big perfume lover and try to go back to my old brands I use to buy 35 years ago. O well , as you said , unfortunately they last nowhere close they use to. And not to say that “ logo mania” these days has turned me off toward the big brands . Discretion is completely lost . Video is spot on.
It depends on how well you buy timeless pieces. I’ve had these D&G black cropped slacks since high school, they’ve “come in” and “gone out” but they’ve lasted is my thing
My parents used to shop a lot of luxury fashion in Italy back in the 90s. My father still wears jeans and other trousers from Gianfranco Ferré from that time, extremely good quality and still looks fantastic. Buy a pair of trousers from any easily available luxury brand and you‘ll end up with pilling after three months. Heck, I even own a ridiculous sweater from H&M from 2003 still. Washed it countless times, wore it extremely often - still beautiful color, still in perfect shape. Unthinkable with H&M products nowadays. The quality of everything, no matter fast fashion or luxury items, has decreased so much in just a bit over a decade. It‘s sad. Btw, I used to live in Japan in 2016 and 2017, my best friend spent that time in South Korea. We both experienced how shallow and superficial these societies are. It‘s all about your appearance. You don’t talk about your feelings there, you hide your personality in order to fit in. What else would be left to show people aside from your appearance? That‘s why the consumers of luxury items are relatively younger in East Asia than in Europe. They don’t even land a job there unless they appear perfectly groomed, well dressed, overall put together and seemingly somewhat well off moneywise.
This was a really insightful video . I think that a lot of folks in the United States are not aware of what goes into a garment - because sewing is not as popular nowadays so you can go to a store and purchase a dress at a considerable price and it won’t have a lining in it - which is crazy. If you a consumer that is not knowledgeable then you can get away with so much - a shoe that is glue together and not stitched Should be super cheap . Knowledge is power
A refreshing commentary on the quality of luxury fashion. I have and continue to appreciate well made garments/beautifully constructed footwear and have learned over time from conversation and observing the process engaging with craftspeople what one can expect in terms of longevity - I rarely throw out a garment - a dressmaker will repurpose it if the fabric is high quality and I myself have re-lined fur garments with deconstructed silk dresses past their fashion allure. There is a great deal of literature available on the industry behind the corruption of quality in production of luxury products - organised crime syndicates have been known to play a significant role - and then there are 'knock-off' products made along side the luxury brands for sale in the designer stores. It's an amusing scenario where now knockoffs are barely discernible from the 'originals' if you could call them that .
For me, as someone who doesn’t shop for high end designer brands but thought I’d like to given the chance, this has been a real eye-opener! (no pun intended with regard to your poorly eye). I assumed that with a high end piece, whether clothing, footwear or handbags etc the quality would be there and you’d have it forever… but not anymore 🤔 Thank you for this.
Hi Anne, luxury definitely has some beautiful quality pieces that are much higher than most small brands but I think he’s referring more to T-shirts and hoodies and things like that. It’s not a one size fit all
Love this conversation!!! Thank you for saying this. The modern luxury brands are destroying themselves and they dont even know it. I dont know where these legacy brands will be in 50 years. Way too many variables.
As a seamstress the so-called luxury brand garments were sewn in china. I have seen so many productions when i worked in Asia! The garments are made cheap! As you stated not much is made in Europe! Thanks God i make my own design! 😂 i would advise to everyone, buy a sewing machine, learn to sew and make your own unique fashion!
Wow, EXCELLENT discussion. Two points: 1. Making luxury accessible is code for making luxury enviable, thereby selling the fantasy of wealth which really has nothing to do with the clothes even when they are well made. 2. Related to the previous point, if you can afford to spend the money, then I’m not sure how much it matters if the money is going to prestige alone versus prestige coupled with craftsmanship. It’s called disposable income for a reason. I would have given anything to have some of the clothes that belong in this discussion before 2020. But quarantine broke the spell and made me realize how important and “accessible” a frugal life can be.
The wealth association comes from where the brands heritage. Most of these designer brands were sold to royalty and the ultra wealthy when the original designers were alive
I went to a local boot maker and spend 800 bucks on custom boots. I picked out the leather and designs. They are hand made and wonderful quality. I will be doing the same for a luxury purse. I am going to find a small local leather artist and have a bag created for me for a fraction of the plastic canvas pieces. I want the quality of a kelly but actually functional for getting in and out of.
Wow this was good and as a person who worked in fashion before and likes fashion I think your right on. In buying a car recently your right it’s not just in fashion but everything sadly
Brother, you are so knowledgeable and articulate the struggle to find well made/high end products that have not been watered down. I was looking for a weekender bag for the longest and almost got sucked in to LV, however I decided to do more searching online and found out many luxury brands take short cuts in production. Especially in bags you find, hollow brass-wear, uneven stitching, or non leathers (which are best). Then I found Frank Clegg, solid construction, heavy duty superior brass-wear and amazing leathers ( I decided on a chocolate soft but durable goat leather). It turned out amazing! For bodywash and hard bath soaps I more than recommend Saponificio Varesino products. Other worldly.
I have a pair of Virbam sole horsebit loafers from Blackstock and Weber. Amazing quality and price point! Black-owned business from NYC area too. Brands like that are so much better to support
All these brands commercialized what luxury once meant. Balenciaga, ysl, and chanel were never meant to be a brand logo on sneakers and handbags. They were luxury when they catered high end clientele looking for cuture. All brands made in Italy are a scam, and even chanel and Hermès make products in Italy which is the same as made in China. For a product to be legally have the made in Italy stamp, onlh two steps of the process have to be made in Italy. The design can be one, and the assembly can be the other one. All raw materials can come from Asia, parts can be done in Asia and simply assembled in Italy. This is why Hermes, ysl, and chanel, which are all French brands, produce in Italy. Some products like hermes lesther is still made in France, and some classic bags from chanel are also made in France. But most accessories like shoes and clothing are not.
But now the trick is to say "the workers were trained by our staff", I saw a zenga interview where they said something like that. So, if my Italian workers train staff in india, its still technically Italian.
That’s only partially true, and it also depends on the brand Hermes does not do that either does Chanel but I do know Burberry openly makes things in Asia and I’ve seen the same with Balenciaga. It says actually made in China on their shoes.
Lv, Gucci and others is just a Designer Label not luxury, especially with those poor quality.. their "craftmanship" marketing is just a mind game to make people think all their product are by "artisan"..
Really great video!! I had also read The End of Luxury years ago - truly eye-opening and distressing really. Our human herd mentality is very strong, even if we consider ourselves intelligent and strong-minded. We dress for others as much - or more - as we dress for ourselves. That means it can be very difficult to choose Trickers shoes over Gucci, for instance. Who would recognize or appreciate Trickers? Who would be impressed - at least amongst our peers or even amongst the well-heeled Gucci lovers? That mentality - and aim - is what one needs to change. In any case, I agree with your points totally, and I’ll look at your feed to see other videos. I hope to find one where you discuss true quality clothing brands, including vintage - and in some depth - or hope you will produce one which does that.
Well, if you’re shopping for other people, then that’s an issue some people actually genuinely love fashion and as for trigger boots, maybe people don’t like them because they’re not that interesting looking. And there are some people who enjoy that look, and that’s fine for them but why the judgment of people who like certain designs?
Hey, just wanted to say I like your insight on fashion definitely, I agree, luxury brands are over hyped but if there’s something you like based on the shape or look you should definitely get it if you love it. Whether it’s $30 or $3000. Just be responsible with your funds
Everything in luxury has gotten so astronomically overpriced these days. Those who love luxury know that the price will exceed labor+materials regardless, but it's so far removed that it's starting to feel like these brands are just sort of forwarding the cost of their own existence onto the customer outside of the products, or even the marketing/trappings. Feels like they're not even charging for the "artisinal heritage," they're charging based on some algorithm that'll calculate how many times you'll say the brand name while wearing it. And then with the Cosette drama with bags, we can't even tell if the bags are real a lot of the time.
Though secondarily, I don't think that the price gouging going on means that we need to submit to the quiet luxury hyper-trendy "tastemakers" and revert these brands back to inaccessible and boring. They just need to make less and make better.
People are buying and inhabiting a fantasy. I love good quality but we don't need to slavishly buy new stuff each season, just get a few things and make them last. This is the true philosophy of sustainability.
My biggest fashion lesson last year was ‘It’s not where to shop It’s how to shop’ because there’s bad and good quality everywhere the high street and luxury.
This is a great video! I’d love to see a video where u get very specific about which products, brands, or clothing items are high quality. I know you touched on this in the video, but a list of 10 to 20 items would be cool. Some of us are so clueless & of course brands take advantage of our lack of knowledge. For example, as u mentioned, it’s nice to know that if I purchase a Rick Owens piece I can take comfort in the fact that it’s actually well made
Thanks for this video. I read Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Lustre when it first came out. It was eye-opening and quite shocking. I never looked at a luxury brand in the same way again.
I never bought anything from these brands, except perfume and a few cosmetics. The perfumes are so watered down now it is ridiculous. I will never buy from these brands.
I know enough about fashion to know, never get into retail. But there are times where I would love to open one of those big ass old school department stores in a handful of cities and stock them with small cool designers from the US, Japan, China, and Asia that nobody has ever heard about.
I agree that not all products in luxury stores are high quality, but some are. Once you know how to judge the quality of items, you can find great things there. Luxury clothes have access to better fabrics that you won't find in cheap stores. Regarding perfumes, the reformulations are usually done because of IFRA regulation changes that ban certain compounds or limit their concentration, not necessarily because of trying to make it cheaper.
I agreed with all these points with the sole exception of a handful of mid priced luxury watch brands such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre. They're for the main worth the cost and are quite easy to sell on for close to what you paid.
This is why you need to ask for details. Sorting "luxury" and quality becomes harder. If they're not using primo hardware like riri then the rest of it will be crap too. Always source the goods before buying.
I absolutely agree with you. Having learned to sew and make things from a young age, I'm very picky about what I buy. Luxury for me would be buying or ordering from an artisan workshop or unknown designer. There were sumptuary laws everywhere, not just in Europe, which started around the Middle Ages. Sumptuary laws in China and Japan were particularly strict and complex, every level of society had materials and items they could or couldn't wear.
Can't agree more, I bought my very first and last wallet from Prada many years ago and it lasted for only about 5 years before i transitioned to another local brand in Japan that have their leather products fully hand crafted by leather craftsmen. I have been using it for almost 10 years and not only it's still in good condition, it aged beautifully. The Prada wallet showed wear and tear in just less that one year of use, it was really terribly made.
What type of material was it finished? And that also makes a difference and items are always going to wear and tear. If you don’t take care of them well
@@lvbadboy That's the problem, it was leather. I take good care of things i own, even if it's not luxury item. A good quality product especially leather goods should able to last and age beautifully with time even with wear and tear, not to mention this is actually a leather goods coming from a prestige brand. Todays, all luxury brands are just selling the luxury fantasies and dreams to the middle class, they are just another cheap off from the shelf mass produced products. The luxury and prestige die the moment these brands are sold to giant corporate companies, which are looking to milk these brands for highest possible profits.
@@Touyoujin I love the elitism as if middle class is unwashed dumb masses. What income is middle class to you? Middle class is 38k to 85k trust me these people do not have swathes of disposable income to support these brands truly perhaps one or twice small leather goods, fragrances, makeup , sunglasses. They core items clothes, shoes , bags they rarely purchase. As for the wallet I ask because of the treatment of leather changes some are more prone to starching with the finish if you know what you’re purchasing. People on here don’t even care about dressing well it’s more about bashing. How would you know if luxury designers quality has changed if you only bought a wallet? leave that to people who regularly purchase them. Prada clothes are quite luxurious. Luxury clothing is not like fast fashion the quality it night and day. I do agree about them being bought by corporate giants because we know it’s just a matter of time with some not all till they start cutting corners for more profit
Thank you for this. It randomly popped up in my page and I really enjoyed it and got a shed load of info/insight from you about things I thought I knew about, but actually didn't! I think you've done a great job!
Very interesting point of view! I work in automotive and I've been invited in a business university in France to give a masterclass about luxury automotive. Even there there is a big change happening. Consumerism and affordability, as well as more general wealth, with poorer people buying luxury goods they can barely afford have affected the luxury markets have we have known them so far.
Absolutely waste of money,the worst part that their items often are ugly,I would never wear/use, even for free around the house. Just my honest opinion.
These luxury brands nowadays are simply glorified fast fashion, but people aren't ready for this conversation yet.
I'm NOT... Balenciaga. I AM... H&M.
especially Gucci omdz the quality of these luxury brands these days aren't great
Id like to know what you mean by that because i think your definition of fast fashion is wrong lol
Cheap junk
They out price themselves but it made for the rich so I can see why the clothes are for the rich only. 😮
The biggest scam is turning athletic wear into “luxury” items. $1000 for a hoodie is insane smh lol.
Would you also say the same for example, Nike Jordan's $110 versus Prada Downtown Sneakers $1070? Have you seen both and compared both? The quality is vastly different. $1070 for a athletic sneaker is absolutely absurd. But where can a consumer go to get a sneaker like Prada. Prada is overpriced, but the sneakers they craft are so nice. I don't know what brand compares. Help! LOL.
@@dapperlygrungy3189that’s still not worth thousands dollars when the cost of one pair isn’t really worth that
@@dapperlygrungy3189I dont know whats going on with Prada, the America cup sneaker has sky rocketed in price.
tip, i buy apparels based on cost/manufacturing price and not over inflated retail price
@@dapperlygrungy3189 A sneaker brand that is far superior to Prada or any fashion house is Crown Northampton.
Nowadays it’s a luxury just to afford fresh veggies 😅
Extremely true, the cost of living crisis is killing us in the UK.
I'm waiting for luxury veggie to make an appearance. LOL For just $400 you too can buy a pear. LOL
😂😂😂😂
Homemade problem, and it will get worse.
Prices here higher in winter, but remain the same as always in summer: very affordable, even cheap.
Greetings from Bavaria (southern Germany 🇪🇺)
@@FashionRoadmanUS inflation is Insane , trust us
The fashion industry basically did the equivalent of switching out diamond jewelry for cubic zirconia while still charging diamond jewelry prices and nobody cared 😂 I’m super glad that I figured this out at a young enough age to not get scammed out of too much money.
Many many pple doesn't knows that they buying zirconia with switched name instead of real diamond, many many pple who likes "lux" doesn't knows that these "diamonds lol" it's a piece of glass that grows in lab and then getting cut type as diamond
At least zircons and farmed diamonds have comparable hardness and colour with the natural ones. Brand name shoes and bags are even shoddier than cheap Chinese or Turkish knock offs.
Svarvosky
It is just the novelty of owning a brand name. I feel like I see them all the time on the reality tv show stars, where they try to outdo each other in name brands and giant letters so we know its LV or CC (with the c's linked) or DIOR. I do think that reality tv has cheapened the products because they are so common. I don't see them around here at all really. Don't see them when I travel either but apparently there is still a huge market for spending money on something most cannot afford to impress people they don't know.
The irony is that diamonds are also a scam. They’re neither rare nor expensive. Induced scarcity by the De Beers company and extremely good marketing made diamonds become artificially rare because they’ve stockpiled them in very large amounts in vaults. There’s a good reason why even the most natural real diamonds only have a resale value of one third of the original price.
Tbh I would rather support smaller high quality brands then old big ones. There is literally no point in supporting them. U can find something similar to these brands in smaller, more focused on quality brands especially for a cheaper price
I agree. A lot of the these boutique, independent designers put effort and time into their designs
@@andreu09876And it’s more likely you can get things customised and made just for you!
I totally agree. Then add some local family owned businesses, who basically roll out the red carpet for you, while in contrast you have to stand in line to enter a friggin LV or Chanel store, where you have to beg to be able to buy the item of your desire.
If a brand isn’t independent or the designer that the brand is named after is no longer there, then who are you really supporting? 🤔 Bernard doesn’t need any more of my money. Lol.
Like what? And how do you know it’s quality? Test for 5 years?
Chanel does NO longer make quality bags. They now charge the price of a Birkin for a large flap bag, but Chanel doesn’t unlike Hermes make it by hand.
Chanel no longer gold plate their hardware, the leather is of lesser quality, the stitchings are a joke and on top of charging their clients more for a lesser product, they cut out the commission of their sale associates, some now earning up to -30% less, no wonder their staff is leaving, meaning the service will end like the products, down in the dump.
Chanel is CRAP. If I buy any more Chanel bags, they'll be preloved. I prefer Hermes anyway.
@@mizzmolly7649 If it's not a Birkin, bring a brown paper bag.
@@davidhunternyc1 What do you mean?
You can’t beat the knitwear though. When I can, I buy pre-loved Chanel knitwear and they are transformative articles of clothing. The bags are too ubiquitous for my taste.
@@sararichardson737 I buy Chanel preloved blazers. Love them.
When I started thrifting/reselling I learned a lot about different clothing brands. You can literally feel and see the difference in quality between the vintage fashions vs the newer pieces. The pieces of the past felt good on the skin, they were fitted nicely and there was a sort of weightiness to them that the clothing of today doesn't have.
vintage Pendleton vs new Pendleton is like night and day. This goes for both their men and women clothes. Since they use to be everywhere it's pretty easy to compare the quality.
Prada and Burberry are the worst offenders charging astronomical, bespoke prices for goods made in Vietnam/Turkey/Bulgaria/etc.
Vuitton, for instance, has been completely bastardized as a brand and Balenciaga is just revolting.
@@gabybrik5525 the worst part is they keep some thing very high end. This way if you call them out, they can point to the other stuff and claim otherwise.
@@karlenglewood8940 yep, it’s all just a con. I have a few high end bags and shoes, but I am done wasting money on sub par stuff just because it carries a fancy logo. 9 years ago I bought a pair of patent leather, burgundy, “horse-bit” loafers from Oxford Street’s Russell & Bromley, they have literally been around the world with me, I still get compliments for them, they are pure craftsmanship and just a fraction of the cost of Gucci’s sub par product.
So true. I bought a 20 year old Dior wool skirt. I just couldn’t get over the difference in fabric and stitching. I am not even in to sewing but it was so interesting to see something like that. Now I am hooked
Luxury items that are a waste of money:
1.) designer bags that cost in the thousands that are made of CANVAS and NOT leather.
2.) Designer t shirts and hoodies that cost $500 +
3.) Mass produced products
4.) products slathered with Logos but not quality or craftsmanship.
5.) products that will not be wearable 3-5 years from now.
OMG, the $400 dollar t shirt and with that $500 balenciaga cap, headwear at that price should be milliner made.
I have a Blondie T-shirt I got for like $12 about 14 years ago and I still have it. No holes or anything 😂 expensive doesn’t always guarantee great quality. And cheaper stuff doesn’t always mean it’s going to fall apart.
Absolutely, and you have the short list here, let's not talk about shoes, coats, suits and formal wear. Buying an outfit is like spending your rent money.
One of the biggest scams ever!
I really tried to vibe with the "luxury" brands and couldn't. I looked at LV, Prada, Chanel, and Dooney. Dooney obviously lower cost. But as I looked side-by-side and felt the material and handles, Dooney out did all of them. LV canvas so cheap and thin. Prada stitching and material had me baffled. And Chanel was a question mark. Dooney has an upper mid-grade name, but their handbags are so extremely well made. It's all I will buy now even though the designs don't offer a creative spread except only in colors. But even Dooney's prices have gone up recently.
One thing that really struck me was seeing that those brands DESTROYS their extra production or previous collections for no one to access them on sale or second hand so the value does not go down. There you know, it is not as exclusive in reality as they make it to be, they just make it scarce by eliminating what they don’t sell full price.
Wicked people !
While luxury brands are manufacturing their clothes and accessories in Asia then shipping them to Italy or France where "Made in Italy/France" labels are sewn in, they're also doing other shady things like hiring workers from those same countries, bringing them to Europe, and placing them in sweatshops in cities like Naples to work. The days of the atelier are gone for a lot of these brands. They still get to claim their items are made in their respective country, but leave out who is working on them and the environment in which they're being manufactured.
Wow you are correct !!..
Very true...
EXACTLY!
So true..the Italian movie "Gommorah" dealt with this issue
So what's the point of this comment
“Why would you want a shirt with someone else’s name on it?”
- asked by a family friend when my friend and I asked to order one when we were kids. I never forgot it. Even now, designer monograms would embarrass me if I wore them, even if my initials were the same. The monogram would generally have to be small/subtle, and appear only once on the item.
Well. Having your initials on your stuff protects it from thieves. But having name of someone else makes no sense
I've got some Calvin Klein clothes...the fit is good & the quality is higher than fast fashion so I don't mind paying more as it'll last longer 👍.
As long as it's small & subtle branding then I'm ok with it.
On the other hand we drive cars that are logo'd and don't bother with that free advertising.
I have monogrammed bags and they are so durable and light. That's coated canvas and I have a bag I wear almost daily that's not logos but has a paisley pattern woven into it, it's so beautiful a vintage Etro. But people rarely comment on either the logo or non logo bags, they're just work horses but so durable and light to carry...
Well said. As a grown woman, I'd be embarrassed to wear anything that had my own name or initials plastered on it, as if I was a three year old.
An Ethiopian friend of mine told me that the components of Gucci bags were assembled there (Ethiopia) and stitched in Italy to be sold as “made in Italy”. That was 20 years ago. I imagine it is as you say : Frankensteined luxury with no clear provenance of production
That’s a lie
@@lvbadboy could be, but they are still made in sweatshops, not by artisans...
Not true at all
No surprise. Legally something can be assembled as long the “finishing touches “ are in Italy it can get the “made in Italy “ label.
@@lvbadboy No it's not. Very minimal standard to have the Made in Italy label. They could slap a buckle on it and it's "made in Italy" even though it was really made in a China, Indonesia,etc.
I worked in "High End" retail for years ( Neiman Marcus and Saks ). In years past, the companies ( I will use Italy as an example ), generations of family members lovingly hand crafted goods. This has become obsolete because the sellers have become greedy and did not want to pay the wages previously earned. Because of the negative connotation of "made in China", these companies have imported Chinese laborers, housing them in "dormitory -like situations" and now have them making " designer goods" in Italy, so they can be stamped "Made in Italy".. I have totally lost my previous attraction for these items.
Japan is a shining beacon of hope for fashion quality. Yohji, Issey Miyake, Visvim, Kapital, Facetasm. The list goes on. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is in a league of its own.
No, they suck too and aren’t innovative in fashion sense
I still an outfit I purchased by Issey Miyake over 20 yrs ago and still love it. Fabric, quality, attention to detail is the best and worth every dime I paid. Also, I’ve found quite luxury stores that used better fabrics back then.
Japanese designs suck completely and these small brands are so expensive that they are totally impossible to buy. IsseyMiyake is the definition of ugly.
undercover
Nope ....shitter fashion products. U need to understand....if its mass produced then its a shitter product. Its that easy.
I really appreciate the care and research you brought to this conversation.
I used to buy a ton of luxury brands when I was young so I accumulated a big collection. Then I went off of luxury for a Loooooong time. I had other priorities. I finally decided to buy an LV bag a few month ago. I thought it was classic with a twist and wore it every day. It is starting to peel on the edges of the bag😢 whereas my large LV cosmetic case which I use for travel and as a clutch sometimes, that I bought 30 years ago, that I throw around like it’s from Zara, is in pristine condition. I also bought a Chanel bag where the chain broke after 3 month yet my mothers Chanel bag that she bought 50 years ago, which I wear religiously is also in pristine condition. I am done. Seriously I am disappointed. Thank you once again you seriously opened my eyes to what I already knew but ignored.
❤
Wow. That speaks volumes. Pay more for less. I always check out thrift stores for vintage bags. I do find they made bags to last back then. Today, it's just to appease the masses. Chanel bags are way over the top in price. LV, my goodness, they are made of coated canvas! I could seriously make a canvas bag myself for the cost of the material. They are really taking the piss out of people.
Bussiness Insider talks about some small artisan bussinesses worth to buy from
@@karolinakuc4783 do you possibly have a link to share? I would love to know what some of the smaller artisan businesses are that are worth purchasing from. Thank you!
Interesting how buying into the brand gives you the appearance of living a luxury life but in reality it's keeping you in debt.
Well depends on your finances a lot of their clients can truly afford to ship their other can not
I remember when buying luxury was almost synonymous with quality. It's really not the case anymore. You really need to inspect the items and understand fabrics and seams, tailoring to buy something of a great quality that will last you for years.
Any good brand suggestions?
You have too!
Thank you for this awesome video. You’ve articulated so well how I’ve felt about luxury brands for a while now. I am that upper middle class 30s woman who use to covet the latest designer goods. Prices keep rising, quality is dropping and we’re now living in a culture so over obsessed with luxury and lifestyle that we are not aware we are sold mass produced stuff to fill whatever voids we have.
Being physically fit is the new luxury brand. Proof of work. Buying luxury brand is easier and a lower hanging fruit.
How about a series on what IS high quality? Like the purses of this brand and shoes of this brand?
I was about to look this up. I wondered who makes quality garments, shoes and bags.
What you say makes sense and has happened in so many industries. I don’t buy luxury goods, but I’ve been buying clothing for nearly 40 years and I’ve seen so many brands that I used to rely on for quality go down the tubes after the original owner/designer died or that brand was sold. Jones New York, Liz Clairborne are a couple of examples. Those brands are still out there, but the clothing they produce now is hot garbage compared to what those brands produced 20 years ago.
Halston is another example 😢
Yes I have a jones new york blouse and definitely see the quality in the clothing.
Absolutely true. When I compare my old Jones New York suiting separates even to what I purchase ten years go, there is a huge difference! The quality of the older pieces of clothing is much better. In fact the difference in clothing manufacturing has change so much that I find it extremely difficult to teach my grandchildren what quality clothing is when shopping. All they can find is trendy, over priced, fast fashion. I pay more for a single item of clothing sown off grain, with irregular, lose stitching than I once paid for a week of my own children's school clothing which would last years.
DKNY is one of the casualties😂…i suspect the brand source some of their clothes from ‘oem’ factories in asia and label them as their own.
All item that you buy are only worth what your willing to pay for them BUT some items are made better then others .
Another point, clothes back when these fashion houses started, even regular people’s clothes were made to last. I still have some of my great grandmother’s clothes that have been passed down for generations in great condition. The fact that luxury items can’t even do the bare minimum of that now for the price of what they cost is simply laughable and shameless.
So true! I have a silk slip my mom had from the 1960’s. Still looks amazing!
You spoke truth. Most of these "designer" fashions are lackluster for the price. It's a wallet assault. Give me the new start young designer, I'd rather they get the money.
We used to make our own clothes. Now everything is made in China. I can tell the difference between a pair of Levis jeans that I owned as a kid, versus the jeans I see now in stores. Levi's used to mean quality. Now it just means expensive jeans that feel the same as a cheap pair of jeans found at Kmart.
@@nerychristian You can still get quality garments like the ones you mention. Most people are not willing to pay upwards of 200$ for a pair of jeans though.
@@teekue There is NO reason under the sky why a pair of cattle farmer pants should cost $200. If you're paying more than $20 for it, make sure to bring a condom. Cause you are getting fucked.
And if you're paying just for the brand be prepared to wear them horns and be ground into a burger - cause brands are for steers.
I’ll never forget striking up a conversation with a girl on a Eurostar ride back from Paris just after fashion week. She worked in the business and I’ll never forget when she told me, ‘never pay retail, it’s a scam’. If you really want it, go to sample sales. That conversation changed my perspective.
Where are sample sales happening? Let’s explore.
Or buy directly from the manufacturer, as the retailer will always add a mark-up; usually 20 to 50 percent!
@@dressydress9726 I think there are pages you can follow that post where and when sample sales are happening. But I can’t lie, most times I bought from sample sales I just happened to be in the area, saw a queue, jumped in line, and copped a bargain!
@@dressydress9726 Yes but the samples are nearly all in a UK size 10 US size 8 it's pretty tiny stuff.
At the end of the day you can have a few nice things and then it becomes a disease.
This is very true! This is why we are currently curating a website to do just that! A discount Luxury Department Site! Nobody should have to pay full price anymore! AND WE LOVE FASHION! 🤍
Lowkey feel like these designers are rolling in their graves knowing what their brand has become.
Thank you for an astute and thoughtful conversation!
Dana Thomas’ book is great, I bought it in hardback, and read it back when it was a new release.
What Karl did at Chanel, and Tom at Gucci used to be seen as novel re-inventions of moribund brands.
It was exciting to see new life and excitement injected into these dusty brands as they were resuscitated, and brought back from the brink of total irrelevance. Now, however, it’s nothing but “musical chairs“, and creative directors, coming and going before a so-called heritage brand even has time to develop a solid identity.
Luxury fashion is quickly becoing irrelevant and exhausting.
Honestly, people are paying for the name, and not quality. My money will not go to LV anymore. The quality isn't worth the money, but the vintage items are worth it, and less expensive. Love the video.
Yes! I used to be massively into luxury goods as a 20 something. Back then, things were worth their price.
When I see someone now with a bag or shoes that are mainstream luxury it makes me sad for them. They don’t know quality.
And you’re right about Japan - my favourite pair of leather loafers that have lasted me years and and years cost me $250 and are so well made.
Identifying quality needs to be taught more broadly. Otherwise people just get duped.
I think a lot of people want to be duped just so they can say I have a Chanel handbag.
@roden70 this! I think luxury brands today are just worn as a status symbol so people think you have a lot of money as opposed to people wearing them because of their quality
So true the quality has definitely changed in some of these brands it’s appalling and people who aren’t used to the quality of before have no idea
i grew up in a time when you told on yourself if you went into a store and asked the prices of items - in short, it meant you couldn't afford it. Now I ask the same question when shopping because I want to know if the item is worth the price - and 9 times out of 10, it isn't.
My dad made garments in addition to his regualr job to make extra income for our family. He was a master tailor. I didn't know or understand the intrinsic value of having something custom-made for my body in the finest fabric and craftsmanship (I was a kid, so choke me already.) I learned about quality fabric, seams, buttons' zippers, etc. and I learned to sew. This was the best self taught skill I ever acquired as my clothing was most often one of a kind, that fit my body perfectly and I didn't look 'mass produced'.
Most of these cheap, flimsy, one-season garments (if that long) of today look so off the rack that I find myself not bothering to purchase anything. I live in NY, and there are enough close out, and discount stores where you can purchase these 'designer' garments at a fraction of the cost. It's all the same junk no matter where the hanger hangs.
Vanity sizing is the most insane thing that ever happened to fashion. The stupid reasoning that a woman wouldn't feel embarrassed about her size and could wear the same garment in a so-called smaller size is gaslighting at its finest. You end up taking 5 sizes of the same garment in the fitting room trying to figure out which one fits you well. It's exhausting. It's all a racket and a psychological scam mind game. I wouldn't give these designers change for a quarter let alone my hard-earned money for their overpriced, poorly made merchandize/garments. Why would I want a plastic Louis Vuitton handbag with his initials on it and not my own? Why would I advertise his products for free? Who is the dummy here?
This was a very informative video, I hope more people will realize what they are throwing their money away on. If you have quality 'back in the day' items, keep them in excellent condition and hold on to them, you will be far ahead of the game on two levels fashion and finance in addition to looking well put together.
In the past few years, i purchased a Burberry and YSL handbag costing around 3.5k for each. I returned them instantly due to poor craftsmanship. Uneven stitching and cheap leather. I stay away from labels and go for the true boutique designers who are quietly sophisticated. Great video!
I agree. The best leather goods come from independent hand craftsmen in Italy and France for a more affordable price. It was also confirmed that thse luxury houses do not even use high grade leather for their purses.
Incidentally, another trend is emerging: quiet luxury. Hope you make a vid about this.
Greetings from Mexico!
I just subbed! I told my wife like 3 weeks ago that most people don't understand luxury and that luxury items no longer seem to exist. I arrived at this conclusion after years of self reflection, but to see an entire book validating my intuitions is kind of based.
Interesting stuff.
Primo! 👋
Yup, now it's just the NAME, but it's no longer luxury. More and more luxury fashion influencer said they are only buying vintage going forward.
That probably explains the billboard type look of some designer clothes with popular names😂jk
Sounds like they are moving the goalposts.
I’m so over luxury that I’ve stopped buying for a long while now. I just enjoy what I already have.
You are absolutely right and I bet you get compliments on what you are wearing all the time. 😀
Absolutely right. I only replace underwear these days.
It’s as Karl Lagerfeld used to say, “If you’re going to throw money out the window, throw it with joy!!!!!!”
Ironically his own brand is even worse. It's just cheap stuff for malls.
@@teekue I’m not sure what you mean by “worse”, and for whom ? It’s not worse for Karl when he was alive because it brought him tons of money with little effort on his part, and not really worse for the consumers at the mall who wants a bit of Karl but could not afford Chanel nor Fendi.
@@teekuethere was two lagerfeld lines a high end that’s now defunct and the crap one which is a license deal with G-III Apparel Group it’s retched
@@lvbadboy oh yeah, His Couture and high end stuff was something else of course. Totally.
Amen! 😂
This video was brilliant and true. Thank you for the explanation. ♥ I remember buying a once transcendent perfume, Comme des Garcons 2Man. All the critics raved about it and I loved it too. Then a year later I went to buy 2Man again. It was awful, not the same formulation. I sent my purchase receipt from Barney's to Comme des Garcons and they kindly sent me another bottle. It was the same awful fragrance. It blew my mind that a perfumer would concoct a totally different perfume and pass it off as the same perfume as before. I understand why the French are loyal to Guerlain. Don't mess with perfection.
I totally agree with you. I went to Louis and Parada and others and I hated everything. It looked cheap and tacky.
I appreciate you ,so intelligent, so sophisticated, so timely, so real. As a fashion elder, I see you!!
Pretty much its just a big scam for people who think they are rich. They made there stuff in India where its cheaper to mass produce and just limit the product to have artificial scarcity.
False no luxury brands produce in India
Lots of good points made. I myself have gotten bored of these luxury brands. I now prefer more unique small clothing designers
Luxury is mostly found in small independent brands nowadays.
Interesting video...
I grew up in a country and at times when fast fashion wasn't a thing. Shops had a limited selection of styles and the only way to have something unique was to have it custom made. And it didn't break a bank. Many women could sew and for those who couldn't, in almost every other village was a seamstress. I have had a few items made for myself and nobody had the same. This is a luxury nowadays.
As I got older I stopped looking up to a style and got more practical. And frugal. I don't mind buying clothes in charity shops or in discount stores, clothes for every day use. The problem is that the fashion tends to follow the majority body shape and often things don't fit me. Even jogging trousers got narrower on the legs that they either fit me on the hips but I barely can bend my knees, or they are too baggy around my hips. I have difficulties finding comfortable lounge wear. I see no sense in buying a hand bag for like £2000 when I can have one for £10 or £20 and that lasts me for a decade or two. I don't need a collection of 30, buying one every year. A lot of young people get into a massive debt just to keep up with a fashion. And at the end of the season the luxury brands destroy tons of leftover unsold stuff - for which the customers paid extortionate price already for the items they purchased. What a strange world we are living in.
Well, yes and no, honestly we as consumers are at fault. The current generation does not care about quality, they care about how much it costs, who made it and if there is any clout connected to it and they will gladly pay a ton of money for clothing that is subpar in quality. The few that do care about quality get left behind in this world
I agree. The new generation did ruin it for all of us.
If Polo Ralph Lauren can produce and sell at retail a large unlined Italian leather shoulder bag for US$798.00, then why can’t LVMH? Corporate greed, plain and simple!
@@periscope7731 fashion houses becoming corporations was the downfall of quality, always. Small brands are where it’s at
@@odinxrk1424 👍
blame social media just posts of ass cheeks and name brands
Perfumes use to smell so much better 20 years ago.
Great video!👍
Now 2day the smell doesn't last and it cost so much more😢
@
I remember how years ago they’ve band a few of the elements used in perfume industry for environmental reasons. At least in EU where I live
That was when I’ve noticed that perfumes changed a lot
I think getting a tailored suit or a bespoke suit can be luxurious if you buy the right materials and get any good tailor. The brand and all that marketing that goes into it doesn’t matter. Sure, one can buy a branded product if they want just to see if it’s worth and for the value associated with it as a brand. But aiming for everything from a luxury brand isn’t worth it. Most celebrities that wear luxury brands are gifted the items. Also, I am sure the cost of producing them is a fraction of the cost.
I had leather purse, wallet, and dopp kit made last year from a small business on Etsy for maybe $150. I use them every day and the quality has proven itself. My initials were also branded into all three, which feels special.
Three brands I genuinely believe make quality goods which justify the high price tag are Maison Margiela, Loewe and Acne Studios. I'm always impressed with the materials they use and design. Plus the staff is always friendly and welcome you to touch everything unlike the big conglomerate brands like Prada, LV and Dior.
Not to be that guy, but Margiela is owned by H&M and Loewe is owned by LVMH. Which is to say you kinda can't even use the ownership as a metric these days. Feels like you have to constantly re-inspect every new release these days since quality is so inconsistent within a single brand, and across the industry as a whole. I think channels like Tanner Leatherstein does a good job of helping the public become better quality inspectors, but it's nuts that all the pieces are "in beta" and we're paying to be the testers if we're buying
@@iwannaseethereceipts Margiela is not owned by H&M, but rather by OTB which is the holding company of Diesel and Marni
@@abadacadaba oop, my bad. Swore I read at some point that Margiela and H&M were owned by the same holding company
@@iwannaseethereceipts true it’s hard to escape the reach of a big conglomerate, but I’ll also add not every brand brand under their ownership is the same. I know how to tell what’s quality made and what’s not, it depends on construction/ complexity of design/ quality of materials( even then it’s still hard to tell if it was made in Asia or Europe). Loewe leather is comparable to Hermes at a much “cheaper” price if your in the market for a leather bag. They’re also not as popular as some of the brands I mentioned at the end of my original post which might also help ensure better made good’s since they’re not as globalized. I know not every shopper knows what to look for to determine if a luxury item is worth the cash. My advice is avoid the big mass produced brands and support the lesser known brands.
@@iwannaseethereceipts Margiela and HM did a collab years ago once, but Margiela is not owned by HM. I think if you want to get better at finding items built to last, it’s important to learn what goes into producing a quality item first and understand what makes one material better over another . Once you know what to look for and what to avoid, shopping is easier.
It’s always painful when my favorite perfume brands get gobbled up by corporate greed. Parfums de Marly was recently acquired. I’m sure the quality will go to shit in no time.
Who bought PDM ?
Advent International yep it will go down the drain. True luxury buyers are retail refugees going designer to designer hoping corporations don’t buy them out and completely ruin the brands
I came across this ... Listening along must say - this young man speaks so pleasantly. If he were a talking audiobook, I would listen to him analyze the shoes and clothing etc for hours.
Really great job how you began with technical info and book excerpting..but instead of your opinion on someone else's book for your whole video...
You pivoted and start sharing what you know.
Brilliant job.
You are great in your area of expertise and speak perfectly. Thank you.
Corey from Florida.
Of the top luxury brands, the few that at least try to make high quality products are Chanel, Hermes & Louboutin
Edit - some people are misunderstanding me saying they make quality products as me saying it’s “just as good as it used to be” - the whole point of the video was explaining why the quality of all major luxury brands have dwindled with time across the board. I also emphasised “top luxury brands” so I’m comparing them to the other brands that are the most famous names. The brands I’ve mentioned here still go to a certain extent to try and use real leathers, some are partially hand stitched etc. didn’t think I’d have to re-explain what has already been said in the video.
Sneakers’ wise… I would add Gucci… their inner lining its top notch
Even these brands, I would argue, the quality has taken a downward spiral. Major houses now worship the Dollar and their 'marketing image', more than they ever respected the craft of creating well made clothes and accessories. They trade on past reputations, solely to increase their profits. How long do they think this will last?
Chanel no longer. After the last two years, the quality is infamous in luxury circles. Even the girls that still keep buying classic flaps and minis have been complaining about leather quality and cheap hardware. Chanel ditched real gold plating back in 2018 and it's only been downhill from there.
@@iwannaseethereceipts I guess Chanel’s bag hardware has followed the trend of their jewellery. That’s a shame
Chanel? Quality? You are clearly out of the loop ...
I definitely agree that luxury shouldn't be just a feeling and quality is not part of that feeling, because if I bought a so called luxury item, paid a lot of money, for it to fall apart, or have bad craftsmanship the feeling I'd get is of having been conned!
I am so glad someone is finally saying it as it is. I hope people who waste there money on these fashions will stop these astronomical amounts. Most of us do not even know how to recognise quality. Most of us do not know anything about construction, materials etc…
When luxury looks and feels cheap, it doesn't have the same aspirational i impact and dilutes the brand! Great video. 🤩👠
I read this book years ago and it totally changed my luxury buying perspective. Pieces just aren’t made with the same integrity anymore. I’ve halted my indulgence and I’m so glad this book was introduced to me at the time that it was.
Highly recommended book!
book title?
Great video. My mom once walked into a Gucci store where she spotted a shoe with a price of her one month salary, little did she know that the quality is horribly bad.
Why was she even shopping at Gucci in the shoe is equal to her salary that’s like 2K
I live in the U.S. and prefer to support smaller local brands that are made here. I find their items are more well made and last longer than so called luxury items. Unfortunately many of these folks businesses don’t last for some reason. Also, as soon as a big brand buys them they turn into garbage sadly. My most recent fav was a brand called Moop. They were a canvas bag company that sourced their materials from here in the states and made all their bags at their shop in Seattle. They are not currently making any more bags however and I think the owner is selling her shop so another one bites the dust. I think I’m going to check out that book. I’m not a big fashion person, but I was when I was younger so would probably find it interesting.
I have always loved designer handbags, but only now can afford them. Someone hipped me to the pre loved Japanese market. I literally have 40 year old vintage handbags that are way better quality than the same ones new, but for a fraction of the cost.
excellent job, I tell you as an ITALIAN who has worked in fashion companies, well done video, bravo!!!!
OMG! About a year ago, my best friend said the same thing you said about Air Jordan being higher quality shoes than the mock sports shoes made by fancy fashion brands. As an example, the Versace trainers are awful.
Keep up the good work. ⚜
I was in a store, a salesman even told me not to waste my money on those "brands"
Air Jordan’s but not high quality they are made in sweatshops I have trainers from Nike and Versace. Nike quality is garbage for the most part. It doesn’t wash well shrinks the shoes lose form it’s just a mass market brand. Versace trainers have lasted longer they aren’t made for sport use by quality and materials are higher
This is a well produced bespoke video that educated me. Fortunately the art of tailoring can bring us pleasure - I sew a large part my own clothing.
You’re misusing using the word bespoke 🤦♂️
The whole point of fashion is to create constant new material desires in a world already overflooded with waste and superficiality. This fact is buried under clever branding and hype over the "newest thing" with an echo of a promise to make you special, relevant and desireable.
I remember a SUDDEN drop off in quality from the 'good' brands. I'd get my nicer clothes secondhand or discounted on clearance, and the sumptuous wool and silk, fully-fashioned, structured garments, and attention to detail seem crazy now. I can't even get a 100% wool winter coat from some of my formerly favorite brands. I used to look for the good brands to make sure I was getting good fabric and workmanship. There's absolutely no point in it any more.
EDIT - YES, also perfumes! I am desperately clinging to vintage bottles of things!
Thanks for this video. I read this book and was surprised it didn't slow down the luxury brands' relevance. Aspiration is a scary thing. I saw some of the $1,000, $2,000 shirts at Holt Renfrew, and could tell the fabric was cheap, the stitching was nothing special, and the designs were hideous and gaudy. But people will pretend not to see it.
Taste is personal what you think is “ gaudy” is innovative to someone else
I had FOMO until I watched this video… thank you for this content! It’s a good reality check x
This was soooooooo good 😭 🙌🏽 As an independent designer, I salute, praise and thank you 🙏🏼 💚
My choice is small independent brands. Their quality is outstanding because they try very hard to compete on the market with the big tycoons. Im a big perfume lover and try to go back to my old brands I use to buy 35 years ago. O well , as you said , unfortunately they last nowhere close they use to. And not to say that “ logo mania” these days has turned me off toward the big brands . Discretion is completely lost . Video is spot on.
It depends on how well you buy timeless pieces. I’ve had these D&G black cropped slacks since high school, they’ve “come in” and “gone out” but they’ve lasted is my thing
My parents used to shop a lot of luxury fashion in Italy back in the 90s. My father still wears jeans and other trousers from Gianfranco Ferré from that time, extremely good quality and still looks fantastic. Buy a pair of trousers from any easily available luxury brand and you‘ll end up with pilling after three months. Heck, I even own a ridiculous sweater from H&M from 2003 still. Washed it countless times, wore it extremely often - still beautiful color, still in perfect shape. Unthinkable with H&M products nowadays. The quality of everything, no matter fast fashion or luxury items, has decreased so much in just a bit over a decade. It‘s sad.
Btw, I used to live in Japan in 2016 and 2017, my best friend spent that time in South Korea. We both experienced how shallow and superficial these societies are. It‘s all about your appearance. You don’t talk about your feelings there, you hide your personality in order to fit in. What else would be left to show people aside from your appearance? That‘s why the consumers of luxury items are relatively younger in East Asia than in Europe. They don’t even land a job there unless they appear perfectly groomed, well dressed, overall put together and seemingly somewhat well off moneywise.
Regarding trickers - they used to make Thome Browns original shoe collection - £1000 vs £350 ( this was a while back) - artificial brand premium
This was a really insightful video . I think that a lot of folks in the United States are not aware of what goes into a garment - because sewing is not as popular nowadays so you can go to a store and purchase a dress at a considerable price and it won’t have a lining in it - which is crazy. If you a consumer that is not knowledgeable then you can get away with so much - a shoe that is glue together and not stitched Should be super cheap .
Knowledge is power
A refreshing commentary on the quality of luxury fashion. I have and continue to appreciate well made garments/beautifully constructed footwear and have learned over time from conversation and observing the process engaging with craftspeople what one can expect in terms of longevity - I rarely throw out a garment - a dressmaker will repurpose it if the fabric is high quality and I myself have re-lined fur garments with deconstructed silk dresses past their fashion allure.
There is a great deal of literature available on the industry behind the corruption of quality in production of luxury products - organised crime syndicates have been known to play a significant role - and then there are 'knock-off' products made along side the luxury brands for sale in the designer stores. It's an amusing scenario where now knockoffs are barely discernible from the 'originals' if you could call them that .
If you have a good eye, you can always tell the difference, but it definitely takes some training
For me, as someone who doesn’t shop for high end designer brands but thought I’d like to given the chance, this has been a real eye-opener! (no pun intended with regard to your poorly eye). I assumed that with a high end piece, whether clothing, footwear or handbags etc the quality would be there and you’d have it forever… but not anymore 🤔 Thank you for this.
Hi Anne, luxury definitely has some beautiful quality pieces that are much higher than most small brands but I think he’s referring more to T-shirts and hoodies and things like that. It’s not a one size fit all
Love this conversation!!! Thank you for saying this. The modern luxury brands are destroying themselves and they dont even know it. I dont know where these legacy brands will be in 50 years. Way too many variables.
As a seamstress the so-called luxury brand garments were sewn in china. I have seen so many productions when i worked in Asia! The garments are made cheap! As you stated not much is made in Europe! Thanks God i make my own design! 😂 i would advise to everyone, buy a sewing machine, learn to sew and make your own unique fashion!
What do you consider a luxury brand and what was the brand I was made in China?
Wow, EXCELLENT discussion. Two points: 1. Making luxury accessible is code for making luxury enviable, thereby selling the fantasy of wealth which really has nothing to do with the clothes even when they are well made. 2. Related to the previous point, if you can afford to spend the money, then I’m not sure how much it matters if the money is going to prestige alone versus prestige coupled with craftsmanship. It’s called disposable income for a reason. I would have given anything to have some of the clothes that belong in this discussion before 2020. But quarantine broke the spell and made me realize how important and “accessible” a frugal life can be.
Very well stated and indubitably TRUE!
The wealth association comes from where the brands heritage. Most of these designer brands were sold to royalty and the ultra wealthy when the original designers were alive
The motto of these sellers is: "Treat them mean; keep them keen.".
I went to a local boot maker and spend 800 bucks on custom boots. I picked out the leather and designs. They are hand made and wonderful quality. I will be doing the same for a luxury purse. I am going to find a small local leather artist and have a bag created for me for a fraction of the plastic canvas pieces. I want the quality of a kelly but actually functional for getting in and out of.
Wow this was good and as a person who worked in fashion before and likes fashion I think your right on. In buying a car recently your right it’s not just in fashion but everything sadly
Brother, you are so knowledgeable and articulate the struggle to find well made/high end products that have not been watered down. I was looking for a weekender bag for the longest and almost got sucked in to LV, however I decided to do more searching online and found out many luxury brands take short cuts in production. Especially in bags you find, hollow brass-wear, uneven stitching, or non leathers (which are best). Then I found Frank Clegg, solid construction, heavy duty superior brass-wear and amazing leathers ( I decided on a chocolate soft but durable goat leather). It turned out amazing! For bodywash and hard bath soaps I more than recommend Saponificio Varesino products. Other worldly.
I have a pair of Virbam sole horsebit loafers from Blackstock and Weber. Amazing quality and price point! Black-owned business from NYC area too. Brands like that are so much better to support
This is a wonderful expose of what has become of high end fashion...no wonder so many people are buying vintage..
All these brands commercialized what luxury once meant. Balenciaga, ysl, and chanel were never meant to be a brand logo on sneakers and handbags. They were luxury when they catered high end clientele looking for cuture.
All brands made in Italy are a scam, and even chanel and Hermès make products in Italy which is the same as made in China. For a product to be legally have the made in Italy stamp, onlh two steps of the process have to be made in Italy. The design can be one, and the assembly can be the other one. All raw materials can come from Asia, parts can be done in Asia and simply assembled in Italy. This is why Hermes, ysl, and chanel, which are all French brands, produce in Italy. Some products like hermes lesther is still made in France, and some classic bags from chanel are also made in France. But most accessories like shoes and clothing are not.
But now the trick is to say "the workers were trained by our staff", I saw a zenga interview where they said something like that. So, if my Italian workers train staff in india, its still technically Italian.
That’s only partially true, and it also depends on the brand Hermes does not do that either does Chanel but I do know Burberry openly makes things in Asia and I’ve seen the same with Balenciaga. It says actually made in China on their shoes.
Lv, Gucci and others is just a Designer Label not luxury, especially with those poor quality.. their "craftmanship" marketing is just a mind game to make people think all their product are by "artisan"..
Really great video!! I had also read The End of Luxury years ago - truly eye-opening and distressing really. Our human herd mentality is very strong, even if we consider ourselves intelligent and strong-minded. We dress for others as much - or more - as we dress for ourselves. That means it can be very difficult to choose Trickers shoes over Gucci, for instance. Who would recognize or appreciate Trickers? Who would be impressed - at least amongst our peers or even amongst the well-heeled Gucci lovers? That mentality - and aim - is what one needs to change.
In any case, I agree with your points totally, and I’ll look at your feed to see other videos. I hope to find one where you discuss true quality clothing brands, including vintage - and in some depth - or hope you will produce one which does that.
Well, if you’re shopping for other people, then that’s an issue some people actually genuinely love fashion and as for trigger boots, maybe people don’t like them because they’re not that interesting looking. And there are some people who enjoy that look, and that’s fine for them but why the judgment of people who like certain designs?
Hey, just wanted to say I like your insight on fashion definitely, I agree, luxury brands are over hyped but if there’s something you like based on the shape or look you should definitely get it if you love it. Whether it’s $30 or $3000. Just be responsible with your funds
Everything in luxury has gotten so astronomically overpriced these days. Those who love luxury know that the price will exceed labor+materials regardless, but it's so far removed that it's starting to feel like these brands are just sort of forwarding the cost of their own existence onto the customer outside of the products, or even the marketing/trappings. Feels like they're not even charging for the "artisinal heritage," they're charging based on some algorithm that'll calculate how many times you'll say the brand name while wearing it. And then with the Cosette drama with bags, we can't even tell if the bags are real a lot of the time.
Though secondarily, I don't think that the price gouging going on means that we need to submit to the quiet luxury hyper-trendy "tastemakers" and revert these brands back to inaccessible and boring. They just need to make less and make better.
Scandalous‼️
“forwarding the cost of their own existence” 🎯🎯🎯
People are buying and inhabiting a fantasy. I love good quality but we don't need to slavishly buy new stuff each season, just get a few things and make them last. This is the true philosophy of sustainability.
That Cosette drama that’s why I buy from department stores or boutiques
My all leather Coach bags are just as great as my LV bags. I only have older LV bags, as today’s LV can be plagued with quality issues.
My biggest fashion lesson last year was ‘It’s not where to shop It’s how to shop’ because there’s bad and good quality everywhere the high street and luxury.
This is a great video! I’d love to see a video where u get very specific about which products, brands, or clothing items are high quality. I know you touched on this in the video, but a list of 10 to 20 items would be cool. Some of us are so clueless & of course brands take advantage of our lack of knowledge. For example, as u mentioned, it’s nice to know that if I purchase a Rick Owens piece I can take comfort in the fact that it’s actually well made
I agree! I would love a follow up video
@@theorderofthebees7308 me too! Please do a follow up video of well made small brands!
couldn't agree more... luxury brand doesn't feel luxury anymore if they are easily accessible
HOW LUXURY LOST IT’S LUSTRE BOOK LINK: amzn.to/45x8mEF
KINGDOM OF DREAMS DOCUMENTARY INFO: www.imdb.com/title/tt22046582/
LMAO there's the link to the book!! Thanks dude!!!
Thanks for this video. I read Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Lustre when it first came out. It was eye-opening and quite shocking. I never looked at a luxury brand in the same way again.
I never bought anything from these brands, except perfume and a few cosmetics. The perfumes are so watered down now it is ridiculous. I will never buy from these brands.
I know enough about fashion to know, never get into retail. But there are times where I would love to open one of those big ass old school department stores in a handful of cities and stock them with small cool designers from the US, Japan, China, and Asia that nobody has ever heard about.
I agree that not all products in luxury stores are high quality, but some are. Once you know how to judge the quality of items, you can find great things there. Luxury clothes have access to better fabrics that you won't find in cheap stores. Regarding perfumes, the reformulations are usually done because of IFRA regulation changes that ban certain compounds or limit their concentration, not necessarily because of trying to make it cheaper.
I agreed with all these points with the sole exception of a handful of mid priced luxury watch brands such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre. They're for the main worth the cost and are quite easy to sell on for close to what you paid.
Well, most people aren’t gonna be able to get near those brands because of the price point
This is why you need to ask for details. Sorting "luxury" and quality becomes harder. If they're not using primo hardware like riri then the rest of it will be crap too. Always source the goods before buying.
I absolutely agree with you. Having learned to sew and make things from a young age, I'm very picky about what I buy. Luxury for me would be buying or ordering from an artisan workshop or unknown designer.
There were sumptuary laws everywhere, not just in Europe, which started around the Middle Ages. Sumptuary laws in China and Japan were particularly strict and complex, every level of society had materials and items they could or couldn't wear.
Can't agree more, I bought my very first and last wallet from Prada many years ago and it lasted for only about 5 years before i transitioned to another local brand in Japan that have their leather products fully hand crafted by leather craftsmen. I have been using it for almost 10 years and not only it's still in good condition, it aged beautifully. The Prada wallet showed wear and tear in just less that one year of use, it was really terribly made.
What type of material was it finished? And that also makes a difference and items are always going to wear and tear. If you don’t take care of them well
@@lvbadboy That's the problem, it was leather. I take good care of things i own, even if it's not luxury item. A good quality product especially leather goods should able to last and age beautifully with time even with wear and tear, not to mention this is actually a leather goods coming from a prestige brand. Todays, all luxury brands are just selling the luxury fantasies and dreams to the middle class, they are just another cheap off from the shelf mass produced products. The luxury and prestige die the moment these brands are sold to giant corporate companies, which are looking to milk these brands for highest possible profits.
@@Touyoujin I love the elitism as if middle class is unwashed dumb masses. What income is middle class to you? Middle class is 38k to 85k trust me these people do not have swathes of disposable income to support these brands truly perhaps one or twice small leather goods, fragrances, makeup , sunglasses. They core items clothes, shoes , bags they rarely purchase. As for the wallet I ask because of the treatment of leather changes some are more prone to starching with the finish if you know what you’re purchasing.
People on here don’t even care about dressing well it’s more about bashing.
How would you know if luxury designers quality has changed if you only bought a wallet? leave that to people who regularly purchase them.
Prada clothes are quite luxurious. Luxury clothing is not like fast fashion the quality it night and day. I do agree about them being bought by corporate giants because we know it’s just a matter of time with some not all till they start cutting corners for more profit
Thank you for this. It randomly popped up in my page and I really enjoyed it and got a shed load of info/insight from you about things I thought I knew about, but actually didn't! I think you've done a great job!
Very interesting point of view! I work in automotive and I've been invited in a business university in France to give a masterclass about luxury automotive. Even there there is a big change happening. Consumerism and affordability, as well as more general wealth, with poorer people buying luxury goods they can barely afford have affected the luxury markets have we have known them so far.
Absolutely waste of money,the worst part that their items often are ugly,I would never wear/use, even for free around the house.
Just my honest opinion.