The Brief Facts of the Underwear and Lingerie Reshaping

It is a fact that like purses,  women’s underwear is getting fuller whilst men’s underwear gets briefer! Young women are finally seeing the light of day in their lingerie collections and are now opting for comfort over trends. Thank goodness because I have never quite understood how anyone  I can’t comprehend how thongs appealed to women as every-day panties anyhow. In my opinion they are very uncomfortable. I think they were designed for the bedroom and not in the board room! I find pretty full panties are far more feminine and so much sexier.

I am intrigued how suspender belts have become a sex symbol. I always thought of them as  a curse, an item to hold up my stockings. Now a days intimate lingerie  has a really sexy, pretty suspender belt as part of the set. A suspender belt together .with some unique jewelry makes an really sexy outfit for the bedroom.

Thongs became the trend in the 90’s, but now less than 10% of the knickers and briefs purchased are thongs, according to Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie design at Marks & Spencer. The luxury lingerie market has also experienced a change where more briefs are sold than thongs. Women, even young women now prefer to wear full coverage briefs rather than thongs, demanding comfort instead.

This demand for comfort has also crept into the bra market where women are wanting comfort up top as well. Non under-wired bras are now becoming the bra of choice. According to Nancy Szachno-Dressel, the lingerie buyer at department store John Lewis, non-wired bras now comprise 40% of bra sales. This figure is up 32 %.

But interestingly enough, as women’s underwear gets bigger, men’s underwear is getting briefer. Men’s briefs are having an effect on reshaping the underwear market overall.  Boxers, a fitted short, now make up the majority share of the men’s underwear on the market. Nearly 40% of men’s underwear sold are boxers as men become much more focused on the style of underwear they want to wear. This has led to thriving sales of men’s underwear.   

Like women men are now driven by performance and luxury. Men now demand their underwear to perform, first and foremost. Style comes second. Fit and comfort is what it is all about for both lingerie for both men and women. After comfort, style and sexiness are important.  Fit is probably a much more critical feature in underwear than with other clothing lines.

There has been a huge growth in sales of underwear and lingerie online. And it is continuing to grow with growth forecast to increase by 18.2% in the 5 years from 2014 to 2019, according to market research firm Research and Markets.

Because fit is so vital, online stores have had to offer complete size indicators, delivery and customer care services. Buying underwear and lingerie online is now seen by many as a great way to avoid the embarrassment of having to go into a retail store to shop for intimates. The overall underwear and lingerie market is worth billions of dollars each year, so I guess the online share of this lucrative market can only increase.

Italian Leather Always Shines in Quality

Italian leather is highly thought of around the world because of its excellent quality.  There is nothing quite as extravagant as a hand-made Italian leather purse. It shows good taste and portrays a sense of fashion and style. The Italian leather purses available for sale on TheLarge Purse Shop have been designed with the smart man and women in mind. Regardless of if you are buying a bag for business or pleasure, travel or the gym there is a bag for you – desirable, practical and functional.

Buy Italian Leather Bags for Men and Women

 Buy a bag from a contemporary designer 

There are many different leather products offered on the market, so why is Italian leather so outstanding? Given the very high value of Italian leather, why is it so exceptional and worth the additional cost? The key difference of Italian leather is its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Leather produced in Italy is always produced in a very high quality. However leather production in other areas of the world is often inconsistent and not as high quality.

Italian leather is produced by traditional techniques which are handed down from father to son. Ancient civilisations have been working with leather for thousands of years, and Italy has been renowned for its leather production for many centuries. Cities such as Florence and Milan are chiefly recognized for their leather production. Milan, Italy's capital of fashion, produces leather fashions which are out of this world. I got an Italian leather bag in Italy over 20 years ago which still looks well preserved and in fashion.

Italian leather is used principally by high-end fashion houses. Because of this relationship, Italian leather has come to be synonymous with quality, fashion, and good taste. Italian brands rule the fashion world and set the trends and the standards for more modern fashion houses to shadow.

I Love Designer Handbags, Don’t You?

Many Men &Women are Fanatical about Designer Handbags

Many people, both men and women are into designer handbags and have collections like one would collect stamps. Designer handbags are their hobby and their passion. They live and breathe bags and follow all the latest trends and know all there is to know about them. They are fanatics.

Buy PRADA Here

.       Designer handbags are fabulous fashion accessories and always look and feel good

Designer handbags are a great way to dress up your outfit and to express yourself. A fashionable bag takes the focus away from you and places it directly on your bag. Whether you are fat or thin or have the prefect figure, a trendy quality bag makes you look fantastic.

      Designer handbags can be purchased from a physical store or on online

When you carry an expensive handbag you sometimes cop a bit of criticism from begrudging people. Just tell them you got it on E-bay really cheap. That will shut them up and stop them being too nosy or critical and stops their bag shaming session. There are some who may criticize you for being shallow by spending so much on designer handbags. But these people do not appreciate that you are obsessive about them. Ignore them! Who are they to judge anyhow.

Designer handbags come in many colors and sizes

Enthusiasts believe it is not over the top to have the same handbag in different colors, sizes or types of fabrics. If you like a bag it is okay to have it in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes you like a big black bag but on other occasions you wish the same bag to be little and green.

4    Leather always looks good, smells good and feels good

Leather is the ultimate. Once you have owned a leather handbag you will wish for nothing else. They are definitely one of life’s little luxuries. Leather lasts a life time and is timeless.

5   Designer handbags need proper care and attention

Bags especially leather ones need to be kept clean and lubricated to remain supple and looking good. Keep them stored in their dust bags, in a cool, dry place, and out of direct sunlight. Stuff them with tissue to keep their shapes when not in use. Whether made from leather or fabric, designer handbags need more care and attention than other clothing.

6   Plan your outfits around your designer handbags

Planning your outfit around your handbag is actually very logical and rational. You have a lot on your bag so why not make it the feature of your outfit. In fact, if you buy an expensive handbag and don’t plan for its debut, you should return it because you probably don’t like it enough.

7   You can, in reality, save money if you have expensive designer handbags

Truly, because expensive designer handbags can dress up your otherwise simple wardrobe. If you carry a fashionable classy bag, it automatically makes everything else you wear look more expensive. Women are judged by the handbag they carry, so if you have a limited funds to spend on your wardrobe buy cheaper clothing brands like Zara so you can spend more on designer handbags. If nothing else, a bag is a great distraction.

8   You are treated differently when you carry designer handbags

It is true, people really do treat you differently. They may not acknowledge it, but everyone sees designer handbags as a status symbol. They may not be obsessed with fashion and they may know very little about designer handbags, but most people can tell when someone’s is dressed in expensive and sophisticated clothing. These well-dressed people tend to get better treatment in stores and restaurants etc., because designer handbags are definitely noticeable. They are a great way to create a delusion of wealth.

9   Designer handbags are practical and functional

Designer handbags fit the purpose as well as being a fashion statement. They are functional, practical and have the right size pockets to carry all your belongings. There is a design for all occasions; business or pleasure; travel or sport; formal or casual. That is why most men and women have several to choose from.

1   Buying designers handbags is an experience which is second to none

It doesn’t matter if you are shopping online or at a lovely department store there is a lot of excitement when choosing your new handbag. It is so much fun and the expectancy is incredible. If you buy online there is the anticipation of your parcel arriving and the delight of receiving it, the exhilaration of unwrapping it and seeing, feeling and touching it for the first time. You have doubtless already planned your first outing with it and cannot wait for that occasion to occur. What will you wear and where will you go? Designer handbags give you so much pleasure!

Look beautiful. Give your clothes a new lease on life by adding a flamboyant fashion accessory.

1. The Large Purse Shop

For generations the handbag has been used to demonstrate signs of wealth and many women these days crave the labelled brands as an indicator of status. Large purses first came into popularity in the early 1900's and the term handbag was initially used to refer to hand-held luggage most often carried by men. At this time it was considered lady-like to carry as little as possible and a small bag was typical. In fact, it is noted that Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the first women to start the trend of carrying large purses which was not really typical of the time.
Women and men are advised to invest as much money as they can in a good quality leather handbag. This is because quality leather especially Italian leather, lasts a long time and always looks good. Well made large purses can hide the fact that maybe your clothes are not as well-made or fashionable.
A good handbag has become a sign of good breeding. Designer large purses are a good way to exhibit both wealth and good taste. Large purses also reflect women's climb up the corporate ladder. In the 80's, as women began “power dressing” in shorter skirts, sharply tailored suits and killer heels, their handbags soon followed suit becoming bigger and flashier.

Click Here to Learn More About The Large Purse Shop

2. The fashion Accessory Shop

Do you feel your outfits drab and outdated? Are you off to some ritzy social event and have nothing to wear? Just add a flamboyant fashion accessory to transform your style and look.
Fashion accessories ore for men and women. They range from ties, scarves, handbags to exquisite engagement rings,
A fashion accessory is a feel good item about which there is often a story. It is a statement about beauty and ready-to-wear creations which reflect the wearer’s dress style and personality. Social occasions such as the Melbourne Cup, Ascot, weddings and other gala occasions are a time to be daring and show off your individuality to the fullest. Or simply dress up your boring everyday clothes by adding a bit of bling.

Click Here to Learn More About The fashion Accessory Shop

Social media is the new trend setter for fashion these days.

Men’s Hats Have Made A Come-back

Like man bags, men’s hats have made a comeback. These days they are now possibly one of the most trendy fashion accessory in a well-dressed man’s wardrobe. But beware, Men’s hats can make a definite fashion statement or be an unlucky gaffe. Whether you wear a beanie, a baseball cap or a fedora, it is vital to get it right. It is important to dress to impress. In fact it was only a few decades ago that a man was not considered to be fully dressed without a hat. It takes the movies and pictures of men in the early 1900’s to be reminded of how men’s hats used to be an obligatory part of a man’s dress code.

When worn properly, men’s hats divulge a lot about a man’s character. Choose a hat that suits you and wear it for the right occasion and you will look really sophisticated. Men’s hats are intended to be worn with confidence. The challenge is to personalize your hat and develop a fashion signature which matches your dress style. A quality hat ages really well, so wear it as often as you can. Wear it in, wear it over and over again, and wear it until people associate the look with you. Note, if you wear something once it is a novelty, wear it twice it becomes familiar, but wear it three times it becomes your fashion statement.

When selecting the style of men’s hat for you, it is key to give a thought to your own height and shape as well as your bone structure. For example big hats look better on big heads and large, straight brims draw focus to the eyes. Don’t be scared to be different because a stylish hat also has to be personal and reflect your taste, as well as make a fashion statement. Men’s hats enrich one’s appearance and add to one’s personal sense of style.

So let’s have a look at just some of the classic men’s hats and discuss what they say about their wearers.

The Fedora Hat

A really popular type of men’s hats is the fedora. It is a classic style which displays both masculinity and sexiness. Typically, the brim of the fedora turns down slightly in the front and slightly up at the back. The fedora was at first linked with the mafia in the 1930s prohibition era in America. But the fedora has gained popularity throughout the 20th century and is now one of the long-lasting styles of men’s hats. A fedora looks good with a suit and tie, or with casual clothing. The fedora gained acceptance with teenagers when it was worn by boy bands in T-shirts such as NSYNC.

Buy your Fedora now 

The Panama Hat

A panama is a classic style of men’s hats hat worn in warm-weather climates. It is a timeless style which originated as an essential hat for tropical destinations. It was worn by the British colonialists in India and the West Indies, where it grew in popularity. But these days the panama is worn in cities during warmer seasons. Panamas are stylish and men look really cool in them. Worn formally with a suit or at the beach with swimmers, a panama depicts a man who celebrates the season and loves trendy accessories in his wardrobe. A panama is made of straw or woven straw, and has a reasonably wide flat brim to protect the face and eyes from the sun.

Buy your panama hat here

Baseball Caps

Baseball caps are undoubtedly one of the most popular sort of men’s hats in the world. Most men have possibly worn a baseball cap at some stage. They are very practical and are worn  to protect the eyes from the sun. They do not however protect the ears, as my partner found out when he was diagnosed with a skin cancer on his ear. As the name suggests baseball caps were first designed to be worn by baseball players to shade the eyes from the sun. But its usage extended to the American military and other sports. Baseball caps have the signature of various sports clubs and other social events on them. Some men wear them everywhere, even to a black tie occasion. The fashion of wearing them back to front began with cameramen in Hollywood who found the peak got in their way when filming. This trend was adopted by teenagers and rappers. There are various styles of baseball caps. They each feature the insignia of various clubs, organisations, companies, schools, universities, brand names and are a corporate way of advertising.

Buy your baseball Cap here 

Beanies

Beanies are rugged men’s hats first designed to be worn by the Navy and on the docks as protection from the elements. They are useful for people who work or play sport in extreme cold weather conditions because they keep the head and ears warm. They are close fitting so they sit snug on the head and do not easily come off. They were traditionally made from wool but now you’ll find beanies made in more elegant fabrics. They have become a fashion statement especially for those on the ski fields. They are worn by office workers and sportsmen alike. Men often wear them with casual clothing in the winter because a beanie is both comforting and practical. Beanies are functional, simple and timeless. My son-in-law who is a company executive, wears one to work every day in the winter to keep his shaved head warm.

Get your Beanie here

Flat Caps

Tweed flat caps are a style of men’s hats which are classically British in origin. They hint at English aristocracy who wore them hunting and fishing. But flat caps were also accepted by the working class who wore them as part of their daily attire. They were once seen as a practical type of men’s hats but now they are worn as fashionable and trendy fashion accessories. The flat cap is now characteristically associated with American newsboys as well as the Norwegian curling team who wore them as part of their 2014 winter Olympics uniform. Men regard the flat cap as a smart version of a sporting cap, dressier than a baseball cap but less formal than a fedora. It is a hat that appeals to all ages and has been worn by men such as Prince Charles and Mr Dennis Hopper. Flat caps are designed in many fabrics such as wool, tweed, and denim.

Buy you Flat Cap here

The Trilby Hat

The trilby hat is similar to a fedora, but it has a smaller brim that usually slopes sharply down in front and up at the back. They have been around since the late 19th century. Its   popularity soared when Sir Sean Connery’s James Bond wore the trilby with Savile Row suits. The trilby made him look so dashing, masculine but with a hint of playfulness. The classic trilby is a excellent way to make a fashion statement, particularly when it is teamed up with a well-tailored jacket. If new to the fashion of wearing men’s hats then you can’t go wrong with a trilby. It is the ideal hat to add to a formal, business or casual wardrobe. Trilbies come in felt, fur, straw, wool and range of other fabrics.

Buy your trilby now

Cowboy Hats

Cowboy hats are the mark of the North American cowboy and old west lore. They are associated with ranch workers, particularly horseback riders, in the western and southern United States, western Canada as well as northern Mexico. They have become the trade mark of country and western singers and of riders in the North American rodeo circuit. The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat worn by both men and women. However the shape of a cowboy hat's crown and brim are often modified by the wearer for fashion and to protect against intemperate weather, either sun or rain. These men’s hats can be made from felt, straw or even leather. The tall crown provides insulation and the wide brim provides protection from the sun. The modern cowboy hat has stayed mostly unchanged in construction and basic design since Stetson created it in 1865. John B. Stetson is recognized with the creation of the modern cowboy hat and his name has become tantamount with the word cowboy hat.

Buy A Cowboy Hat Now

Men’s hats add to a man’s appearance and characterize his distinct sense of style. Pick which style of hat suits your figure so that you are seen as a fashion entrepreneur.

What Are The Issues With Leather Tanning Methods Used To Manufacture Handbags?

There may be issues with the leather tanning method used to manufacture handbags, shoes, watch straps and possibly even coats or jackets. Not all leather tanning processes used to treat animal skins are safe.

Leather Tanning

Prior to the manufacture of fashion products, the animal skins are treated in factories called tanneries. Leather tanning is the process of turning animal hides into a workable fabric. Leather tanning makes animal more durable and less like to deteriorate. The customary procedures of tanning use an acidic chemical known as tannin, from which the tanning process acquired its name. Tannin, the chemical used in the process, is actually the German word for oak or fir trees from where tannin was first isolated. Leather tanning includes a process which permanently changes the protein structure of animal skin, converting hide into different types of leathers.

Leather tanning procedures have advanced significantly since the ancient generations and currently leather tanning can be achieved with either vegetable or mineral techniques which use of chrome, alum, zirconium, titanium, iron salts or other minerals.

Rawhide

The word rawhide relates to a skin which is not tanned, but treated by cleaning the flesh, fat and hair, and then by treating it with chemicals known as liming which uses a solution of lime; or bucking which uses wood ash (lye). After the chemical treatment the hide is scraped over a beam with a fairly blunt knife and then dried.

This same process can also be used as a preparation step before the leather tanning process so as to cleanse the fibre network of the animal skin to let the leather tanning agent penetrate without difficulty. Another process used to unhair, degrease and desalt the animal skins prior to leather tanning, is to soak them in water for 6 hours to 2 days. To prevent damage to the skin by bacteria and fungi, biocides and fungicides are added to the water.

Dying

Dyes are added during leather tanning to get a variety of attractive colors. In a visit to Morocco I was intrigued by the Moroccan Leather Tanning Vats located on the outskirts of the old city of Fez. These vats have been in use for centuries. Leather tanning has always been thought of as a decidedly noxious and truly smelly skill. The leather tanning vats were typically found on the fringes of a town. The odors were due to a mixture of urine, animal faeces and decaying flesh. In fact, leather tanning by these old traditional methods yields such rotten smells that tanneries still using old systems are still positioned as far out as possible. The ancient craft of leather tanning and dying is handed down from father to son and the craft is kept within the family for generations.

Toxic Chemicals

In order to boost leather tanning procedures, some tanneries use toxic chemicals which are cheaper and faster than tannins. These include

·         Mercury based biocides (Banned since 1980)

·         Pentachlorophenol (PCP’S) (Banned since 1980)

·         Cyanide

·         Chromium Salts

Chrome Leather Tanning Methods

Chrome leather tanning is a nineteenth-century development, and was implemented because it was an efficient, quick and inexpensive way of treating animal skins. The ease and cheapness of this technique has made it the economical choice of the mega-brands. A vast proportion of luxury goods manufacturers, as well as contemporary brands have chosen to use chrome leather tanning over other traditional techniques.

So why is chrome leather tanning an issue?

Chrome leather tanning is an issue because of its environmental impact. Chromium III sulphate used in chrome leather tanning is recognized as the most efficient and effective agent to treat animal hides. Chrome leather tanning is significantly quicker than vegetable leather tanning and it produces a really stretchable fabric which is great for making handbags and other leather goods.

Chromium III compounds used in leather tanning are significantly less toxic than Chromium VI. However chromium III oxidizes to chromium VI by boiling and sun-drying. Chromium VI is a very toxic heavy metal which is both carcinogenic and environmentally harmful. Unfortunately chromium VI is often found as a waste product from leather tanning. It has been detected in food chains and in the water supplies of both developing and developed countries. When chromium VI leaches into the soil it is absorbed by vegetation and/or ingested by animals. Nearly 25% of chickens in Bangladesh are contaminated by dangerous levels of chromium VI which causes a major national health concern. Toxic chromium salts residues in handbags etc. may affect your health.

Luxury brands use chrome leather tanning to manufacture handbags and shoes without appreciating the environmental impact, nor the well-being of consumers. But as long as people continue to buy chrome-tanned goods, there is minimal motivation for luxury brands to move to the safer vegetable process which takes longer, is more costly, and does not as successfully cover up low quality skins.

Vegetable Leather Tanning

Vegetable leather tanning is a slower and more costly practice, but it is much safer for the environment and safer for you! This is the leather tanning process you should demand. Vegetable leather tanning is used by Conti of Tuscany one of my suppliers of both men and women's exquisite Italian handbags.

Vegetable leather tanning uses the traditional tannin technique. Tannin is found naturally in the bark and leaves of many plants such as chestnut, oak and other trees. Tannins bind to the collagen proteins in hides and they become less water soluble, and more resistant to bacterial contamination. This process also causes the hides to become more flexible. Hides are stretched on frames and immersed for several weeks in vats of increasing concentrations of tannin. Vegetable tanned hides are used for the manufacture of handbags, luggage as well as furniture

Leather Tanning Using Other Minerals

Other chemicals such as alum, zirconium, titanium, iron salts can also be used to treat skins. This method is eco-friendly and are known as “wet white” whereas chrome tanning produces a “wet blue”.

Goods That Last a Lifetime

Leathers last for a lifetime. However, many luxury brands now manufacture goods to a much lower standard. Some luxury handbags which cost over a $1500, will last only last for a few years before they need to be repaired. Others will simply fall apart. Cost-cutting tricks in the manufacturing process include:

• Makers compromise on the quality of leather tanning process
• Mega-brands use chrome leather tanning rather than more eco-friendly approaches
• The edges of handbags are finished with acrylic varnish which cause the material to crack within a couple of years. Techniques such as turned edges or burnishing which are more time-consuming should be employed because they result in a product that last for decades
• Manufacturers use poor quality hardware on their products, such as white metal rather than solid brass or plated steel
• Modern stitching techniques are poor quality. They no longer tend to use traditional saddle making techniques which are stronger and more robust

These cost cutting actions have damaged the quality of the designer brands. Handbags cannot be called if the brand has compromised on manufacturing processes and produce items with inferior quality. A price tag on its own does not determine if a product is luxury or not. Some brands, even some of the most renowned names in the industry, have tainted their popularity by driving volume production rather than quality.

It is far better practice for the mega-brands to use techniques and procedures that mean the products will stand the test of time. The responsibility to promote change lies in the hands of the fashion houses and luxury brands who need to be more focused on the environment rather than financial results. It would be a smart move for companies to label their garments with the leather tanning method used so that the consumer can make an informed choice.

Is The Luxury Designer Handbag Market Over-Crowded?

The sales of fashion accessories have increased substantially during the past decade. Fashion accessories now make up approximately 30% of world-wide sales in the luxury-market. This is up from 18% in 2003. The bulk of this growth can be attributed to the sale of the luxury designer handbag. So what mega-brands are selling the best and why has the luxury designer handbag market grown so much in later years? Statistics publicized by Exane BNP Paribas account for mega-brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Hermes, Coach and Burberry. But all other brands are reported as a broad group under “others”. This “other” group took a larger market share, growing from a 38% share of the market in 2004 to a 41% in 2013. This is due in part to other high end brands entering the luxury designer handbag market.

1)     Luxury Designer Handbag are Seen as a Status Symbol.

Bags are an affordable status symbol.Women and now also men are judged by the quality of her handbags. For both men and women, a luxury designer handbag can be mixed and matched with other trendy fashion accessories and to a wide variety of events. Fashion accessories such as a luxury designer handbag can dress up or dress down an outfit.

2)     A Luxury Designer Handbag Has Become More Accessible & More Affordable

For brand-names, the retailing of a luxury designer handbag offers clever retail economics. The sales of bags result in high sales productivity as well as selling at full retail price in their branded stores. Brand stores are usually located in larger cities such as London, Rome, New York, Paris, Milan and Sydney and thus have restricted convenience to those who live outside the cities. Through the arrival of the internet, the acquirement of a luxury designer handbag has been expanded. People can purchase over the internet from anywhere in the world, with their purchase delivered to their door. Consumers look for bargains when they purchase online, specifically on sites such as E-Bay and Amazon. This has had the effect of driving down prices.

3)     The Luxury Designer Handbag Market Has Become Much Talked About

The dawn of social media brought about a transformation in the way fashion trends are set for both men and women. A new release of a luxury designer handbag is talked about on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. The dress code of celebrities and royals has become a day-to-day topic of conversation on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Many bloggers and fashionistas put their personal fashion views across online using blogs and forums. More and more people are up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and what is new and where to get it. I follow the Business of Fashion, Purse Blogs, Purse Stories and the Large Purse Shop Blogs. Fashion information is freely available on these sites.

4)     Third world Market Places Such As China Have Expanded

Third World Market places such as China have opened up to the call for the sale of a branded luxury designer handbag. This has occurred due to the growing middle class in these countries with a higher disposable income. They are particularly fashion aware and see these branded bags as a status symbol. I saw evidence of this when I recently visited Guangzhou. Branded stores were located throughout the city in glamorous shopping centres scattered among the busy traditional Chinese marketplaces.

5)     More High End Brands Now Produce A Luxury Designer Handbag

The market selling a luxury designer handbag is becoming more and more over-crowded, as high-end fashion houses such as Dior and Saint Laurent have expanded into the fashion accessories market. In fact the Prada set up a new brand called Miu Miu which produces a luxury designer bag range aimed at celebrities and a younger audience. This has led to more and more availability and choice for branded bags.

6)     Medium to Lower End Fashion Brands are Challenging the Mega-brands

Other emerging fashion brands such as Zara, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Oroton, Tory Burch, and many others are challenging the luxurydesigner handbag market. The bags produced by these companies are just as smart and classy but the price tag is usually much less making them more affordable. To match this challenge, some of the Mega-brands have produced what I would call a second tier of luxury designer handbag which they also retail at a lesser price. The lower priced bags are still sought after by fashion conscious consumers.

6)     Generation Y Has A Bigger Disposable Income

Generation Y who have grown up with computers, cell phones and technology are often seen as self-entitled, overly precocious, demanding and just plain rude. They change their jobs readily and spend money more easily. I have 4 generation Y children who love to shop online, and do not blink an eye to pay the price of a new luxury designer handbag. Although they do their research first in order to get the best bargain. Unlike their baby boomer parents who were more frugal and were taught to save rather than to spend.

Exane BNP Paribas Infographic | Source: Exane BNP Paribas

7) Has the Luxury Designer Handbag Market Become Over Crowded?

To offset the mounting pressure of the ambitious new brands, some of the mega-brands increased their entry-level price points to highlight the exclusivity and desirability of their own landmark luxury designer handbag. Unfortunately this back fired a little because although they experienced a rise in exclusivity, it was accompanied by a reduction in sales revenue. Consumers who are spoilt for choice in an over-crowded market, have little loyalty and alter from one design to another. This is particularly apparent in the Chinese market.

It seems apparent that the mega-brands have increased their entry-level price points, but abandoned the market range below $500, and prefer to focus on the $500 to $2,000 price range. The median price of a luxury designer handbag is now around $1,500. Some fashion houses have designed innovative more extravagant models priced above $3,000 so as to retain exclusivity at the higher end of the market. Some of the high end brands have a signature luxury designer handbag which became the landmark by which they became recognized. However they still need to concentrate on developing new landmark products with iconic shapes which emphasis sophisticated design. However discretion often goes out the window when these high end mega-brands are produce full logo bags as a means of status distinction.

The up and coming brands sell a more functional, luxury designer handbag to younger consumers with lower budgets where price is a more important buying benchmark than for the higher end brands. Emerging brands position themselves by using one of three product strategies: attempt to own a shape, concentrate on best sellers or be a lower-priced fast-follower. This approach may not be sustainable in the long term. These brands often go for easy-to-spot logos and canvas prints.

It is obvious that this is no time for any of these companies, mega-brand or not, to be relying on previous success. In a market oversupplied with choice, a tactic based on past success and reputation, whether associated with a logo or not is a recipe for failure.

Consumers these days are very knowledgeable because they can research online before buying. They look for new and exciting products and get bored quicker than in the past. The manufacturers of a luxury designer handbag has to keep on their toes and watch what social media, blogs and forums are saying about fashion trends. They have to be innovative and not rely purely on their past success. Consumers want to be trend setters and want to be admired and talked about and even envied especially on social media.