While browsing social media over the weekend, I came across an ad for a Coach handbag. It piqued my interest because it looked very much like a crocheted bag. I became curious about the price of it, due to recent conversations around the VALUE of handmade items, specifically crocheted ones.

The bag, pictured here, is marketed as a “straw” bag, and it looks a LOT like it’s made by rounds of double crochet, using some straw-like fiber (raffia perhaps).

The ad ALSO encouraged adding a purse charm to the shopping cart, which was interesting because just last night, I had finished making a fabric purse charm with some black fabric featuring a cat pattern (pictures at the top of this post, and toward the bottom).

The COACH bag retails for between $245 and $350 without any charms. The charms range from questionable to cute, and are priced at between $75 and $95. Referencing the charm examples below, the cherries and mushroom are $75 and the green dino is $95.

My fabric bow, made with remnants from my stash and beads/findings from existing craft supplies, is looking better by the minute!

I have no beef with someone making something and pricing it as they see fit. The market will decide if its worth it, BUT crocheters know that items like these with designer labels on them are very likely being made by slave labor in terrible conditions. Those big price tags aren’t trickling down.

We know what it would take to crochet a bag like this, and what it would take to make a couple cherries, a mushroom or even a dino charm; but how many of us would be able to, with a straight face, put crocheted items just like these out at a craft market or fair and price them at $75 – $95 ?

I guess that I am less influenced by designer labelling. I buy things that I like. Sometimes they are expensive and with a designer label, while at other times, they are non-branded and really inexpensive. For me it’s more about what the item IS and how it LOOKS, and less about the name brand.

I recognize that designers are counting on people different from me in this regard and it must work for them, but I can’t overlook the fact, according to a number of sources, that designer brands frequently utilize the same overseas factories, leather suppliers, and production lines to create nearly identical items without the official luxury markup. (here’s another link)

This seems to suggest that the ONLY thing customers are paying for in the premium priced items is the brand stamp or logo. The quality and construction are essentially the same.

A purse is a functional item. It will work the same if it’s designer, thrifted or hand made. I just can’t see spending a small fortune for a logo or brand stamp. To each his own, but for my money, I’ll leave the extreme price purses and their tzatchkes in the store, and stick to my unique, one of a kind purses.

Before I close out this post, I have to also share some of the fabric bow purse charms also sold by Macy’s. I cannot imagine ever buying one of these as I don’t care for the style OR the choice of fabric (yuck!).

Apparently I’m not alone in that opinion. While these originally retailed for $20 each, they’re on CLEARANCE now for “only” $7.95

Instead of staying salty about these things, I will focus on being grateful for the ideas that come when these items hit the news cycle.

My NEXT copy cat designer item is a take on the Dior charm. I have a light pink measuring tape upstairs now, laying flat under some weights so it will be pristine when I assemble it into my own personal-brand of the Dior flower charm (pictured above).

There are a number of tutorials for making this item, including this one by Craft Club’s Sarah Isenberg.

Here’s to finding inspiration in all kinds of places!

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