Designer handbags vs high street

Ten years ago, or so,I bought a carpet bag from The Carpet Bag Company. It is a soft persian red and made from - carpet. It cost about £60. It goes with everything or nothing, depending on your view.

Last year I returned it to the manufacturer for a new zip and I hope it will last another 10 years. Since I bought it all those years ago, it has been the only winter handbag I possess. I do admit to a small leather pochette bag for special occasions.

Oh, and someone was admiring it only this morning.

Alima, I'm with you on the Kipling bags: light, practical, fabulous range of colours and styles. The gorilla key rings are given to the grandchildren for their school bags.

I used to love Emmy( ? Spelling) but I haven't seen them for years.
Then I had Tula, now it's Radley as they have them 1/2 price on my cruises

I saw a Viyella leather bag in charity shop today for £8.99 (see below). It was nice tan leather, a tiny bit scuffed near opening catch, but like new inside. Wasn't sure I loved it so lft it there. uusllay I only find real junk at charity shops.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/262146461853?adgroupid=13585920426&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=pla-131843279

I like Radley bags as they have such handy little pockets on the outside for tickets, passports etc. I have three which I received as presents and they will last me for years. The cross body one is my holiday bag.

My every day work bag is a Kipling. I don't really ove the look of tem, but they are so light and strong, with really useful pockets.

I love leather handbags in all colours and sizes!

Mostly bought because I liked the design. I would worry if I had a really expensive designer brand, in case I ruined it or it got stolen!

I do have a couple of Radley, Tula and Furla bags, other than that any attractive bag will do!

X

I've never had or wanted a designer anything!

I have a little craft business making bags from fabric. I like Making them from Linton Tweed which is the fabric Chanel used to make her iconic jackets. So I sell my bags, which are 'designer' as they are designed by me or by the pattern designer whos patterns I sometimes use, for between £15 and £35, and you never see another one like it!!

I've got a lot of too many several handbags, various colours and sizes , my squirrel tendencies again.
Now I'm no longer in a high flyer job they're gradually being given away.

My Italian SiL has a different bag for every outfit. She favours Prada, Balenciaga and Chanel. I usually get a castoff when I go to visit. I visit often....

www.carpetbags.co.uk/all-products/handbags-purses/small-rucksack/
MOnica* the carpet bags look wonderful. I would love a small rucksack, but can I justify the expense? Probably not. Maybe it would be an idea for my 70th next year.

Radley??!! - never 'eard of it!

shysal So far the annual cost of my carpet bag handbag has been £6 a year and if I use it as long as I hope, taking into account the repair cost, it will be £4.00 a year. That is a bargain by any stretch of the imagination!

Don't tempt me MOnica! I like the Blackberry colour, would go well with denim, although I also ♥ the bright red! Unfortunately there is plenty of life left in my healthy back bag.

Just daft imo

I do like a leather handbag but favour TK Maxx won't pay more

I've never had a bag from anywhere near a designer, I'd be too worried about losing it. The prices are eye watering

Seacliff I would have have snapped that Viyella bag up if it was anything like the eBay one. I just bought a similar one in Monsoon which was £29 but definitely not leather. I like Clarks (shoe shop) bags they are very smart and very reasonable, especially in the December sales. I have a nice little leather bag from Morrocco but it's too small for anything more than a phone and small purse.

I have a small Radley, a lovely Biba clutch bought for my DD1's wedding, and a small Lulu Guinness evening bag (or perhaps not - I bought it secondhand from ebay ). DH bought me a big, beautiful Ciccia shoulder bag when his company dealt with theirs, but the lining ripped in no time so it's no use now.

My best buy was a plain black M & S leather shoulder bag that I've had for 13 years - it's the right size, the right shape, and still looks good after years of almost daily use. Our local cobbler repaired some stitching on the straps for a couple of quid last year, and I expect it to be my go-to bag for many years to come.

My small Radley cost £50 and I've used it most days for 5 years. It still looks as good as new. I don't think you can better that!

I buy cheap carpet bags for my cleaner when I visit Kushadasi. Her old ladies ( at 71 today I'm a youngster) love the bright colours. They cast about €40 for two with a bit of bargaining

I did have a nice Radley bag, soft as butter leather, but DD2 borrowed it a while ago and haven't seen it since! I do have a lot of bags, mainly suede in different colours, and nice roomy ones.

My best bag ever came from a Charity shop, cost me £3.00 and I dread to think what I'd have paid for it new! Have had it for years and its leather and still as good as new.

To answer the OP.... I think that you do need to spend more to get quality, just like anything else, but, over a certain price, you are simply paying for the name.

hi NanSue yes it was exactly the same tan bag as the ebay pic, I should have bought it and sold it on ebay too - I know that's what a lot of people do! ( Actually couldn't be bothered.)

I didn't know if Viyella was good as regards bags. Just could feel it was good leather.