EBN- In the recent past, women used to buy gold because it maintains its price over time, and a woman could rely on it if she faced a financial crisis.
Today, the subject is different, and watches are no less important than jewelry. But what about luxury handbags? Are they considered a profitable investment that maintains its value, and can be recovered when needed, or is owning an expensive handbag a form of ostentation that loses its value over time?
Why do some bags maintain their value while others do not?
A 15x20cm leather handbag can sometimes cost as much as a small car price. In a few years, these luxury accessories have become so desirable that they have become a financial investment. In the last two years, women’s magazines and online shopping sites have stopped talking about “owning” a particular bag; they have started using the term “investment bag”.
We buy a bag not just for the quality of its components and durability, or because celebrities are seen carrying it, but because we want to be part of the rich history associated with it.
Social media star May Berthelot, a specialist in pre-owned luxury goods and product manager at “Vintage”, explains to AFP that the value of some bags sometimes increases “right out of the store”. The Parisian, who bought a few expensive bags in her early days, explains that “investing in a handbag simply means that, whether it is used or not, once it is put up for sale, there is a high chance of at least recovering the investment value”.
As a student, she was interested in buying old handbags from the Drouot auction house, and learned how to repair them. She would wear them to university, but she began to expand her interests; she would buy these bags and resell them abroad after repairing them.
Accounts specializing in “investing” in handbags are growing rapidly on social media, and they especially attract young women who do not have the means for traditional investments.
Chanel
As for Chanel , the same thing happened with the 2.55 bag, which skyrocketed in price, but many of the house’s customers agree that the quality of the old designs was better; therefore, they are keen to buy old designs from the house, especially the limited edition pieces. Some customers are keen to choose a Chanel bag that dates back to before 2009; because it included the house’s logo on the inside buckle, and they choose caviar leather, which is not considered shiny, but its quality is different from what we see today, according to some.
Louis Vuitton
For its part, Louis Vuitton bags, for example, maintain their value over time, especially for bags made of canvas. However, we must admit that the handle changes color due to heat and sweat and requires maintenance, but it remains in demand, especially for bags such as: Neverfull bags and Speedy Bags among young women and college girls.
Bottega Veneta
One of the most sought-after bags is the Andiamo Bag by Bottega Veneta , in burgundy, with a metal chain and a knot in the middle. This bag has maintained its price when sold this year as well as when purchased. However, this phenomenon may be circumstantial and linked to trends; large bags have recently returned to the forefront, and sales of this type of bag may decline as this demand for them fades.
It is useful for us to acknowledge that these investments are not without risks, as Lea Lejeune, founder of the French website “Blancash” for women’s investment education, warns, who advises, for example, not to participate in the auction on the main day; to avoid “being dragged” into the bidding game.
Auction houses have begun to rely heavily on this interest in luxury pre-owned handbags, and they pay them no less attention than they do to selling paintings by great artists. Christie’s, for example, replaced its fashion department with an accessories department, and achieved sales of $35.8 million in this sector in 2023.
Source : Qatar Gate
