The funny thing about branding...

Does anyone know why a Louis Vuitton monogram speedy 30 costs $730? Most people would say its because of the quality of the leather or the level of craftmanship that goes into making each bag. Wrong, while Louis Vuitton bags are very well made, those LV emblazoned bags you see girls proudly carrying around your local mall are not made from leather, nor do they pretend to be. If you go to the Louis Vuitton site you can see in bold letters that you monogram/damier ebene/damier azur speedy is made from canvas, just like that Kate Spade bag you had in middle school. Actually only the piping and handle are leather and my sources tell me they aren't made from the highest quality leather. So if your bag is not leather, although you thought it was, why did you just drop your paycheck on that easily copied bag? One word, status.

Since before I can remember Louis Vuitton, like most high end labels, has been associated with having a certain socio-economic standing. Much like the car you drive, what part of town you live in and how many languages you speak, carrying a Louis Vuitton speaks volumes about your tax bracket, or it used to. Brands like Louis Vuitton work tirelessly to ensure that they maintain their top tier status, from pricing and positioning to deciding which celebs they want to align with their brand. Why do you think you've never seen Louis Vuitton bags on sale? Markdowns and promotions every other season are fine for bridge brands or department stores trying to clear their seasonal inventory, however they can cheapen a brand in the eye of their target customers. What about sample sales, you ask. Well sample sales are usually exclusive events that fly under the general public's radar-you have to know about them or be invited to attend-so they have an air of exclusivity which is key to maintaining the prestige of a luxury brand.

In the end kiddies, I'm not telling you to stop buying Louis Vuitton, unless you are going broke and hungry which is so NAGL, all I'm saying is know what you're buying. Never for a moment believe that a designer item is priced at an arm and a leg simply because its of better quality. While they probably do use better fabrics and legit production facilities, the only reason they are priced that way is to make you think they are better. After a certain price everything is of comparable quality,take this from girl who spent 4 years learning how to evaluate the quality of the garments you buy, actually I have it on good authority that a large portion of luxury brands are made in the same factories as their bridge and better counterparts. How else do you think some knock-offs, I mean inspired by, pieces look almost like the originals and fly off the sewing machines at the same time?