Why Luxury Brands Are A Big Waste Of Money
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- “Luxury,” Socrates once declared, “is artificial poverty.” I’m not poor, but there’s nothing like an afternoon spent shopping for luxury goods to make me feel that way. On a recent jaunt through some of Midtown Manhattan’s snazzier stores, I began to wonder why this should be the case. When, I asked myself, did it become commonplace to charge several thousand dollars for a mass-produced handbag? How could the flimsy designer sundress I bought on sale - a “steal,” the saleswoman assured me - still wind up costing a whole month’s salary? Why is my favorite brand of lipstick more expensive than a nice bottle of Italian wine? When did these products’ values grow so distorted, and what is the would-be customer to make of it all?
In the midst of my consumerist crisis, the question I should have been asking was: Dana Thomas, where have you been all my life? In “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster,” Thomas investigates the business of designer and luxury clothing, leather goods and cosmetics, and finds it wanting. Hijacked, over the past two or three decades, by corporate profiteers with a “single-minded focus on profitability,” the luxury industry has “sacrificed its integrity, undermined its products, tarnished its history and hoodwinked its consumers.” Hoodwinked? The truth hurts. After I read “Deluxe,” suddenly my new sundress no longer looked like such a steal. Au contraire, the book’s line of argument suggested, it was I who’d been robbed.
For Thomas, a cultural and fashion writer for Newsweek in Paris and the Paris correspondent for the Australian Harper’s Bazaar, the luxury industry is a sham because its offerings in no way merit the high price tags they command. Yet once upon a time, they most certainly did. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many of luxury’s founding fathers first set up shop, paying more money meant getting something truly exceptional. Dresses from Christian Dior, luggage from Louis Vuitton, jewelry from Cartier: in the golden period of luxury, these items carried prestige because of their superior craftsmanship and design. True, only the very privileged could afford them, but it was this exclusivity that gave them their cachet. Although they may have “cared about making a profit,” the merchants who served this pampered class aimed chiefly “to produce the finest products possible.” - Financial Times
But all is not lost even in today’s money-driven and fast fashion environment. Thomas shows how luxury still persists in a few brands such as Hermes, Chanel and Louboutin. Most of the book was horrifyingly candid for such a lover of designer goods like me, but I did enjoy the latter parts of the book that allow these wonderful brands to shine and stand against the dizzying avarice of others.
Christian Louboutin explains that “luxury is the possibility to stay close to your customers…about subtlety and details. It’s about service…Luxury is not consumerism. It is educating the eyes to see that special quality.”
Cristiane Saddi, a marketing director in Sao Paolo says that clients who frequent Daslu, a luxury fashion emporium, “don’t need the logo entry-level handbag or to wear labels or logos. We buy from luxury brands, but not ordinary products. You can see what is mass and what is special. Luxury is not how much you can buy. Luxury is the knowledge of how to do it right, how to take the time to understand and choose well. Luxury is buying the right thing.” - Eve Crabapple
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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 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?
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.
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
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.
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 !
“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’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! 🤍
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.
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.
Being physically fit is the new luxury brand. Proof of work. Buying luxury brand is easier and a lower hanging fruit.
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.
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.
Lowkey feel like these designers are rolling in their graves knowing what their brand has become.
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.
The motto of these sellers is: "Treat them mean; keep them keen.".
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.
Perfumes use to smell so much better 20 years ago.
Great 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
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.
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.
I totally agree with you. I went to Louis and Parada and others and I hated everything. It looked cheap and tacky.
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.
I appreciate you ,so intelligent, so sophisticated, so timely, so real. As a fashion elder, I see you!!
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.
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.
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.
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
Lots of good points made. I myself have gotten bored of these luxury brands. I now prefer more unique small clothing designers
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
Wait until people find out diamonds are worth less than 1% of what we pay for them.!
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.
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.
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!
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
excellent job, I tell you as an ITALIAN who has worked in fashion companies, well done video, bravo!!!!
I had FOMO until I watched this video… thank you for this content! It’s a good reality check x
I was in my local LV boutique last weekend and a woman walked in who basically looked like logos vomited on her. Gucci sneakers, VCA and Cartier bracelets, Hermes Evelyn bag, little Gucci pouch hanging off the bag. 🤢
and what's your point... maybe she just likes it
So in other words , a total wanker.
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 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!
couldn't agree more... luxury brand doesn't feel luxury anymore if they are easily accessible
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
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.
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!
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.
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 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
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
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.
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?
The biggest scam is Louis Vuitton: plastic bags, though iconic, where only the handles are leather.
Well, the bags are actually canvas, and they do make full leather items
@@lvbadboy regardless. The bag is a ripoff, not worth the money.
@@rj-jl5nv what something is worth depends on the person and their disposable income . I think Nike is a ripoff for what you are paying vs quality. To you LV is unaffordable but to someone else the bag is a fair value for quality and construction.
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.
Quality goes down, prices go up and the shopping experience goes to hell. And folks are lining up out the door to overpay and be treated badly to get mediocre products.
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.
This ties in nicely to what seems to just be the general downward trend in care across fashion now, since there’s just so so so much more money and profit involved than there ever has been. It’s a real shame. I focussed in on this at LVMH in my video on Pharrell’s appointment.
He has contributed, along with rappers and real housewives, to the devaluing of luxury brands
Can you post a link? Is it on your UA-cam channel?
@@Bthe312 honestly, it’s not really the rappers are the real housewives fault, but the Arnault family ( lvmh)that is constantly pushing this, and cutting down the quality of items and opening more and more stores
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.
I work at LV and I can tell you that they sell, crappy products. I feel sorry for selling these items to clients. the leather and canvas are sooo over the top priced !. People don't understand style or quality.
I hate LV, always thought it was overrated.
LV is not luxury or quality, it’s now fast fashion!
Do you really work at LV if you hated so much why did you even start there?
Honestly, LV is only good for their luggage and they should’ve just stuck with that. I don’t know why they start making clothes.
Waste of money because every thing goes out of style but I rather wear Denim and t shirts very simple
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
In the past the upper class expected premium quality and excellent customer service; today customers expect a very high price and artificial barriers to be able to buy their products. Certain customers are gluttons for punishment.
I even feel more fashionable when I wear 70s second hand double breasted suits than modern ugly artless garbage balenciaga, kenzo, balmain, and gucci
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.
Hello! There' s this youtube channel i also like (aside from yours) called the casual. Every now and then i'd learn a japanese clothing brand from them that is high quality and well thought of. Can you do a european version? You mentioned a brand of loafers in this vid and ive never heard of it. Id be interested to learn more clothing brands that are worth checking. Thank you😊
The brand was Loafers and their design is horrible. The shoes may be high quality but they usually aren't comfy either.
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
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?
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.
Went to UA-cam to find some information on patterns for a specific yarn, then I came across your video on Italian fashion designer, Isabel Benenato, next I came across your video "Why Luxury Brands are a Big Waste" of Money, and I was hooked! What I found especially interesting about your videos is you hit on many key points like the following: aristocracy/royalty and economic class system, Corporate take over of family owned handmade goods shops and social media influencers ie. sports figures, musicians, actors. Also, I like your solution to the problem, suggesting bespoke shops where you can still quality, although still pricey, still cheaper than "brand" household names. That book you suggested reading seems interesting.
At first, I thought you were just going to put down people who loved designer brands, but I appreciate you giving a well-rounded perspective, focussing on the history of it for those of us who have been purchasing for generations. Thank you.
Do not forget all the influencers ! I follow one of them just to see how far she can go .
She doing unboxings after unboxings of Hermès items , it’s insane . She travels the entire world for the fashions shows , she stays in great hotels etc… The big brands paid for that .
And you must see the number of followers, just incredible ! Hermès is a very big brand , thanks to the job of all the influencers . I have to say that I’m not jealous , I’m curious of knowing when she will realise that all this stuff is BS
Who's the influencer??
Is this Kim K ?
She probably does realize that, but it's not stopping her from living it up on sponsorships
Hermes is still top quality though.
In Germany, Swiss and Austria there are some little manufacturers who make shoes or other quality items by demand of costumers and are not as expensive as these luxury goods, nevertheless truely handmade by a experienced manufacturer!
Here's a funny scene I witnessed some years back. An elderly, and might I say, majestic woman, was strolling with her great-grandson on a major street here in Brooklyn, NY. They stopped at the window of KITH - "Kids In The Hall" clothing store. The great-grandson pleaded with his great-grandmother to buy him a white t-shirt from the store. She said, okay, and they went in.
In less than 5 minutes, the great-grandmother came flying out of the store swearing. The white Hanes t-shirt, with NOTHING on it was $95.00! She told the great-grandson, "I'll be damned if I pay these people $100.00 for a $2.00 t-shirt!" She continued to fuss and said, "Humph, I can get a 6 pack of Hanes t-shirts for $8.00 and you can tell your friends you got it from KITH!"
I LMBO and saluted the great-grandmother for her quick firey response. 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve never been a fan of kit, but damn just say it’s like a Hanes is quite the insult. Haynes shirts are just the absolute worst quality.
I’ve tried Gucci and Prada loafers, it’s very hard to walk with them, they were actually hurting my feet! Leather was very hard and slippery on the floor. I eventually found other brands that much cheaper and real quality product and loving feet! I want to feel luxury and I’m happy to pay for the craftsman’s job , I appreciate real artists, not advertisements or influencers jobs (just 2k for Instagram post of model doesn’t make product better), it’s better to wear what is connected to you, represents YOU, but not a brand!!!
Are you serious? Real leather shoes with a leather sole are supposed to be like that, they are slippery and you are supposed to break them in.
Try Lasocki or Gino Rossi
Buying well fitting shoes challenge - IMPOSSIBLE. The classic Gucci loafers are still good quality even though you could get similar ones for less. Which is kinda the whole thing of luxury brands.
Years ago we had a store here in Chicago, named Hit or Miss the clothing was fantastic the fabrics was great, my is that I would have kept some of those pieces the fabric was the best, I truly miss them. You’re right luxury fabrics is no way near what they used back in the day. SMH.
I sew my own dresses , tops , skirts , summer trousers now . Pure cotton , pure linen only , pure wool. Simple & understated styles . Cannot see clothes that I like in the shops now .
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.
I stopped buying items from luxury brands when i realized the profit margins of those brands on each item.
Because whatever you wear, nobody cares. Being someone is not wearing something. Being someone is contributing to the society and being recognized by your peers for your potential.
As an old Money enthusiast, my life is lived with the idea of differentiating myself from the crowd. To live within my means, to stray away from the mockery that is the luxury Market. Anyone can have luxury items, Clothing, Fragrances, Cars, Houses, Furniture. But to live a lifestyle based solely on the old money mindset is far more important to me. Luxury brand items only go so far in how one is perceived by the world. How one acts and lives a lifestyle elicits far more admiration and desire. An illusion is all luxury is.
I just happened upon your video. As one who is firmly in the fashion has gone to shit camp I really enjoyed your video! Will follow up on your book rec too, loved the parts you read. Subscribed to your channel here and will hit your patreon soon! Would really enjoy your review of that book. Keep up the great work, from your newest fan!❤
Luxury isn’t luxury anymore due to the dupes and knock offs being made.
I love how your videos helps reveal quality ❤. Please make videos on quality brands
“These brands just get away with murder” said it all 😂
For me it is about developing my own style and buy high quality clothing and shoes that last long. The best explanation of what fashion does is found in the „Ode to Joy“: What fashion strictly divided;…
Thank you for your educational video!
One has to make a distinction between fashion brands and luxury brands. Gucci started selling fashion only in the late 70's as part of their expansion but it is essentially a leather good brand like LV - first fashion collection in 1998. The strategic approaches of leather goods or fashion houses are dramatically different. LVMH is a very complex group that sells mostly leather goods and fragrances - revenues on fashion are growing but relatively marginal. Quoting Dana Thomas today is interesting but the concepts were known already in the late 90's - during the democratisation phase of the nascent luxury industry. LVMH mostly acquired hailing brands that could not support growth. It is unconceivable to think that big luxury brands are exclusive when their business model is clearly geared to cover as many NON-Luxury clients as possible. The majority of revenues in the industry are generated by people who aspire to live the life but can' afford it. High end clients buy products that are truly exclusive but that have no marginality almost. The average luxury client is an aspirational Gen Z who wants to belong to the continuous experiences that brands offer today. What Dana Thomas mentioned in her book has almost no relevance today.
Your perspective is better than the video’s.
Thank you! I do that as a job - I run aMaster Programme in Luxury Brand Management and Strategy - I always feel that there is the need of clarifying with details certain aspects of brand management.@@pansepot1490
You’re more knowledgeable than the video, and understand the business of fashion. Many of the story fashion houses were all family run and all hit financial times and that is how LMH became the behemoth it us now. In the 90s these boutiques were rare even 2000s now they have locations everywhere
I'm not much into luxury products but the algo brought me here and I wasn't disappointed. Great insights
the price hiking is going crazy tbh. I see wool coats from a brand that were 1000 dollars 3 years ago now are over 4000 for a similar piece by the same brand. I def do not endorse the quiet luxury aesthetic because I do think most of the motivations for people wearing it are pretty suspect but if you break it down it was a movement to quality product over branding so its kind of funny how much it got roasted. Its a shame because I see brands I respect and love raising prices and I wonder if its because they have to because they will be perceived as cheap when compared to everyone around them if they do not.
Right the whole quiet luxury thing has been around forever and people are just treating it like a trend. They’ll be over it in a year or so.
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"..
Much better to buy custom - just need the time to go through fittings and find something local. I don’t want to be an advertising bill board - LV is the brand that comes to mind first! Good luck on the book!
Buying customs, extremely expensive much more expensive than even buying retail
💯 with you if you pay high price I aspect high quality. Hermes is overpriced no way a bag is worth 12000 or more. They took out the soul off a lot off gorgeous fashion houses.
Hermes is still owned by the same family, so what do you mean? It’s always been expensive very expensive brand not everything is meant for everyone or it wouldn’t be appealing.
The most expensive pair of shoes I ever wore came apart in less than a month.
I had shoes from Payless that lasted years.
I buy luxury here and there, but in different segments like clothes, jewelry, glassware and so on. I have specific targets, while always keeping in mind what I truly like, want and will benefit me for many years to come. I don't go crazy and buy a ton of luxury in one segment. It's all a matter of balance imo. We learned back in school that brand advertising is a hoax, dishonest and needs to be acknowledged as such. Nowadays there are more channels to target audience with advertisement, but I nevertheless do wonder why so many people fall victim to brand marketing. It's crazy. People manage to be clever in all other aspects of their life and then they completely lose all their brain cells when it comes to brand marketing. Is it really because of that damn status symbol? How many pieces with a LV logo can one really want? Another Cartier love bracelet just because that shit is popular online? It's a crazy herd mentality, so it seems.
About 30 years ago I bought a beautiful pair of Italian loafers by Cole Haan. They were exquisite and while they were expensive, the price per wear was quite inexpensive since I wore them for almost 20 years-resoled about 6 or 7 times. Since then Cole Haan no longer produces exquisite shoes.
This was great!!! Pure and simple - this was a masterful unveiling of people’s blind lust for more and acceptance - and the lie of these companies. Keep up the great work.
Saw this right after finding out my Saint Laurent Wyatts don't actually have a leather stacked sole, it's plastic..
When adult colouring became a big thing the so called luxury brands jumped on the bandwagon with very poor quality pencils for hunderds of dollars. It's a total ripp off and just so that some people can say they have Louis Vuitton pencils. 😂
This video post, commentary was really well done! Bravo! Congratulations!! 🙌🏽 🎉
I couldn't agree with you more.
My Aunt was a mannequin for a well known brand back in the late 1940-50's.
We recently went shopping and was looking at some clothing in a shop. She was pointing out to me the cheapness of the materials and the cut, sewing.
She actually got quite upset at the way these brands have gone.
She became a maker of clothing for a brand that is darling longer around and she was saying what was on sale wouldn't even have been allowed into the work rooms as rags.
Needless to say we didn't purchase anything. xxJane