The World is a Runway

Today we’re going to be talking about the renowned brand Chanel. Now, Chanel is famous for high quality, fashion forward, and quite expensive designs. It is well respected in the fashion world, but is the brand living up to its name? The current designer of Chanel is Karl Lagerfeld, a German fashion designer. But today we’re going to be talking bags, and more specifically, the quality of Chanel’s newer models. Before we begin, a small disclaimer. I do not own a Chanel bag. This article is based on other people’s reviews and articles about the brand.

Grand Shopping Tote Silver Hardware

Okay, let’s talk about the Grand Shopping Tote (GST). The GST is one of Chanel’s cheaper bags, retailing at 2,900 USD. When I first saw the bag, I admit, I didn’t like it. I thought the silhouette was too boxy and the giant logo was too ‘in your face’. But, what about the quality of the bag? I have read many reviews stating that the leather felt and looked “cheap.” In fact, the YouTuber Charles Gross stated, “it felt like the core of the bag was cardboard.” If you don’t already, you should subscribe to his channel he is so funny and has a great sense of style. But enough of that, how does this bag survive wear and tear? I have seen people with the Grand Shopping Tote and, as it is used over time, the bottom sags down and the sides fold in. Unlike some bags, which look great when there are used, this is a bag that does not age gracefully. There has been a LOT of talk concerning this bag and if there’s going to be a price change or if the bag will be discontinued entirely. Regardless, Chanel’s Grand Shopping Tote clearly illustrates Chanel’s decrease in quality.

Chanel Calssic Flap Bag Gold Hardware

The next bag we’re going to discuss is the bag that made Chanel famous, The Classic Flap Bag. This bag is an undeniable classic; the quilting is elegant and classy, and the chain link strap is stylish and sophisticated. In 2008 the medium classic flap bag in Lambskin leather cost 2,495 US dollars. Today in 2015 it costs 4,900. That’s a rather sizeable price increase, the understatement of the century, so you would expect that the quality would be up to par. However, the worth of these bags has been decreasing. Many owners of the Classic Flap have said that the leather feels and looks cheap, that the bag seemed like it would not hold up to wear and tear. Reviews talk about creasing in the bag, messy stitching, and faulty hardware. It’s so sad to see one of the most beautiful bags lose its quality.

So, what is going on at Chanel? It seems like the brand is trying to produce more and more bags, and in doing this, the bags are losing their quality. While, Chanel’s prices are skyrocketing, it seems the quality is plummeting. I hope that Chanel gets their act together or one of the most well respected fashion brands might just lose all its grandeur.