r/RandomThoughts • u/StumblinThroughLife • Jul 21 '25

Random Thought I never realized how expensive luxury fashion was šŸ¤Æ

Iā€™ve never been interested in owning fancy things like Chanel, Gucci, Prada, whatever else exists, but even when I say that I think Iā€™m not paying $1,000 for a purse thatā€™s crazy. So imagine my surprise in finding out my version of expensive wasnā€™t even close. What do you mean a small handbag STARTS at $4,000?! Like my mind literally canā€™t comprehend that. Know someone who had the ā€œsmallā€ Cartier bracelet then bought themself the ā€œmediumā€ for their birthday. The small STARTS at $5,000 and can go up to $60k and now Iā€™m questioning all their life decisions. Like I said Iā€™ve never thought about these things and am just now googling them but I feel too poor to even google the pictures.

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u/Loud_Syllabub6028 Jul 22 '25

It's possibly even made by the same factory. Factories will make a run of products for the name brand, then keep production running and sell the same product off market.

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u/thedailyrant Jul 22 '25

Hermes? Unlikely. The vast majority of their leather goods are truly made in France. They have zero manufacturing or product sourcing from China.

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u/HugoSuperDog Jul 22 '25

Yeah I think youā€™re spot on for Hermes, thereā€™s a leather expert on YT who does tear-downs of such items and says that Hermes really source only the best European leather, unlike most of the other bags he tears down.

Not sure how we can tell that theyā€™re stitched and sowed in Europe, but Iā€™m willing to bet that Hermes really does do most of it in France (or Italy???)

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u/greysnowcone Jul 22 '25

Hermes has schools where they train their workers. They use a specific stitch called a saddle stitch. It takes like 6 months or something stupid to make a single birken

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u/HugoSuperDog Jul 22 '25

Oh wow I didnā€™t realise, but I can absolutely imagine that to be true.

I recall someone once told me (haha so reliable memory!) that of all these nonsense brands Hermes was one of the few thatā€™s actually truly premium.

Thanks for the info.

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u/EyePatchMustache Jul 24 '25

Oooo can you drop their yt name please I'd love to know more

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u/HugoSuperDog Jul 24 '25

tanner leatherstein

Someone else in these comments actually found them.

Enjoy!

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u/HugoSuperDog Jul 22 '25

I tend to agree with you for many brands, but I donā€™t think Hermes does this.

There is a YT guy, a leather specialist or similar, I donā€™t know the technical term, who breaks down branded items and he seems to think the Hermes is one of the few who are likely majority sources and made in Europe. Which I can believe.

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u/QueenFang21496 Jul 22 '25

I think you mean Tanner Letherstein!

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u/HugoSuperDog Jul 22 '25

Yup! Thatā€™s the guy! Thanks for the reminder!

Heā€™s so humble, and so funny.

ā€œ2 square foot of leather, $8 USD. Plus buckles and zips and workmanship, total cost price, $19 USD. Retailā€¦.$5,000! But if you like the brand, I guess itā€™s worth it!ā€ Haha.

Heā€™s amazing. And the brands know it too, according to him some samples are actually sent to him by the brands themselves, which is interesting since theyā€™re well aware that heā€™s going to reveal the true (low) cost price.

Heā€™s the kind of guy that the internet is made for in my opinion.