Of Branded Bags
Years ago I had a wake up call about branded bags.
When we went to Paris, one on my list was to get an original designer bag straight from a French shop.
Em and I went around Champs-Elysees the whole morning only to find that the store was closed for renovation. The next available shop was at Rue Saint Honore', which took us the rest of the afternoon locating it, as you know the French building numbers assignment is a lot more confusing than you realize. When we finally located the shop they just declared that they are closed for the day. You can just imagine the big sigh I had that day. Our flight back home was the next afternoon so we had to be early the next day.
The following day we were early - way too early had to walk around first before they open at 10AM.
By the time they opened, we went inside but we were not the first ones as a few Asians were also waiting for the shop doors to open. I happily made the purchase and flew back home 6000 miles away.
Then came the big revelation.
When I open it I saw the big truth - the tag MADE IN CHINA.
I had mixed feelings.
First, I felt disappointed. I went all the way there to get a bag that was actually manufactured by a neighbor. I could have just barged into one of the shops here and got one.
Second, I felt betrayed. All along I was wanting to get an original, from an original shop but then I got one - well, you cannot call it a fake one but it would appear like it is.
Then, I felt I should have just stuck with my local bags from original artists. Not really famous brands but at least all originals.
After that incident, I am very conscious on the tags of the items I am purchasing. Not that I refuse to buy anything Made in China, I still do - but I make sure that it has to be worth the price. But if you say branded items that comes with a price - had to make sure they are not just mass-manufactured but were made consciously. After all that is the thought of buying something from a designer - you are not just buying the item but you are buying the story of that item.
Now, I feel that I should support more of the local industry than become a victim of the branded bandwagon.
I still do carry branded bags, most of them given to me by my loving relatives and I do appreciate it a lot. It's just that when it comes to me purchasing one, I am now very conscious on who made these and what is the story.
Well, there is also one story we had when we went to Bologna about these Italian souvenir items but I will write about that on my next blog. :D
Salut!
 |
| choose local! |
When we went to Paris, one on my list was to get an original designer bag straight from a French shop.
Em and I went around Champs-Elysees the whole morning only to find that the store was closed for renovation. The next available shop was at Rue Saint Honore', which took us the rest of the afternoon locating it, as you know the French building numbers assignment is a lot more confusing than you realize. When we finally located the shop they just declared that they are closed for the day. You can just imagine the big sigh I had that day. Our flight back home was the next afternoon so we had to be early the next day.
The following day we were early - way too early had to walk around first before they open at 10AM.
By the time they opened, we went inside but we were not the first ones as a few Asians were also waiting for the shop doors to open. I happily made the purchase and flew back home 6000 miles away.
Then came the big revelation.
When I open it I saw the big truth - the tag MADE IN CHINA.
I had mixed feelings.
First, I felt disappointed. I went all the way there to get a bag that was actually manufactured by a neighbor. I could have just barged into one of the shops here and got one.
Second, I felt betrayed. All along I was wanting to get an original, from an original shop but then I got one - well, you cannot call it a fake one but it would appear like it is.
Then, I felt I should have just stuck with my local bags from original artists. Not really famous brands but at least all originals.
 |
| my 6 year-old banig bag - choose local! |
Now, I feel that I should support more of the local industry than become a victim of the branded bandwagon.
I still do carry branded bags, most of them given to me by my loving relatives and I do appreciate it a lot. It's just that when it comes to me purchasing one, I am now very conscious on who made these and what is the story.
Well, there is also one story we had when we went to Bologna about these Italian souvenir items but I will write about that on my next blog. :D
Salut!
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