Designer brands battle for slice of booming Asia market

Yellow. The color of Spring 2008 as stated in USA TODAY.

Above Pietro Alessandro Yellow Leather Designer Handbag.

from Asia Pacific Post

Luxury brand Chanel's choice of a Hong Kong carpark roof to launch a global-trotting art exhibition raised some eyebrows, but the location reflected Asia's growing importance to the fashion world.

Chanel's flamboyant pony-tailed designer Karl Lagerfeld described the venue, besides the city's famous Victoria Harbour, as stunning. "Hong Kong is most beautiful at night," he said at Wednesday's launch of the Mobile Art Museum, a moveable structure by architect Zaha Hadid that exhibits work by 20 artists based on Chanel's quilted handbags. Vincent Shaw, Chanel's president for Asia Pacific, said Hong Kong was carefully chosen as the best place to launch the exhibition before it tours other fashion capitals around the world, including London and New York.

"Asia has a huge population and an incredible liquidity. We believe that there's huge opportunity and Asia is going to be very successful," Shaw said. Asian consumers account for more than 50 percent of the annual 80 billion dollar sector, more than the US and Europe combined, according to Radha Chadha co-author of the book "The Cult of the Luxury Brand."

"The reason why Asians buy so many luxury brands is that in Asia you are what you wear. A luxury brand is a symbol that defines who you are and your social status," Chadha told AFP. "People judge each other by what brand of handbag they are carrying." With Asia being the world's biggest market for Western luxury goods, international brands are shifting focus from Paris, New York and London to the fast-growing emerging markets in the region.

Major designer brands, including Christian Dior and Gucci, spent more than 60 million dollars on advertising in Hong Kong last year, 23 percent more than in 2006, according to a study by market researcher Nielsen. This Friday, Hong Kong will see Louis Vuitton step up the battle for a bigger slice of the Asian market with the re-opening of its massive store after a year of renovation - more than double the size of its old shop. The store, across the harbour from Chanel's mobile art gallery, is Louis Vuitton's second-largest after its flagship building on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Jean-Baptiste Debains, Louis Vuitton's president for Asia Pacific, said the company has recorded double-digit annual growth in Hong Kong. "The Hong Kong market is quite mature but is still growing. We have strong potential with the local customers because of the growth of wealth and the economy as a whole," he said.

Chadha predicts that Hong Kong's neighbour - mainland China, one of Louis Vuitton's fastest-growing markets - will overtake Japan as Asia's biggest luxury market in seven years, with India set to storm ahead too. In mainland China, Louis Vuitton has already 18 stores located in Beijing, Shanghai and in other smaller cities, with six more expected to open this year. "There are a lot of cities in China where we can have stores, maybe not today, maybe in three years," Debains said. But it is not all about China.

Vietnam has also become a focus for the company, with chief executive Yves Carcelle quoted in the Financial Times as saying revenues there grew more than 300 percent last year. Louis Vuitton will also open stores this year in Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan. Coach, the US maker of handbags and accessories, said it aims to grow its Chinese operation by more than 60 percent over the next few years and will open a global flagship store in Hong Kong this summer.

The combination of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan have the potential to become the third major market for Coach, following North America and Japan, it said. Chadha warned the economic slowdown in the United States, with fears the world's largest economy is slipping into recession, was likely to hit luxury goods consumption. But Louis Vuitton's Debains said growth in Asia looked unstoppable.

"I feel there's a stronger dynamism and energy in Asia. Maybe that is because we have the economic growth that creates the kind of spirit that pushes people to go forward," he said.

A Guide for Buying Genuine Ladies Leather Handbags

Pietro Alessandro Leather Croc Embossed Handbag

By Michael Goh

A number of ladies have a passion to posses the most stylish, elegant and unique handbags in their collection. They consider carrying a trendy handbag that adds to their style statement. Wherein, ladies leather handbags qualify best in all these aspects. They are indeed the most popular variety of handbags.

Also, as women usually carry lots of things in their handbags, handbags serve as the most convenient way for them to organize and carry their essential personal items. In order to meet this utility need designers make handbags with different big or small compartments for different uses. For example you may like a handbag which has sections for your keys and credit cards or holders for pen and cell phones. Some handbags come with big or small zipper pockets inside or outside the handbags. Thus designers keep in mind the variety of their potential customers while making handbags.

You will find numerous fashionable, durable and versatile handbags made up of leather. Designers use various types of leather such as lamb, alligator, moose and swine to name a few, in manufacturing leather handbags.

The handbag's durability and life depends on the process in which the leather is processed and treated. Also, in order to increase the lifespan your leather handbag you need to care for it. All you have to do is protect your leather handbag from dust, wind and rain. When not in use store your handbag a cloth container. You should avoid keeping any oil-based products inside the handbag. These few tips of caution will allow you to maintain your leather handbag.

It is widely known that reputed handbag brands like Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton use the finest and the best quality of leather. Consequently these designer leather handbags become quite expensive. To buy a designer leather handbag price becomes an important consideration to lots of women. If you want to buy genuine leather handbag then be ready to spend a large amount of money for it. But if your pocket does not allow you to buy a costly designer handbag then you can buy a replica of any of the branded leather handbags. These handbags look alike the original branded ones. But these replicas are not of the same quality like that of the real branded handbags.

Buying from wholesalers is another way of buying the latest style and genuine quality leather handbags. Wholesale handbags offer you the best prices available. Companies or brands generally sell wholesale handbags to retailers or wholesalers. These companies provide proper customer service and also at times provide catalogs to establish their new products. Thus, you can get genuine ladies leather handbags from wholesalers at affordable prices. But be cautious in selecting the legitimate wholesalers so that you may not end up in buying a replica instead of the branded leather handbag.

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From Caitlin Tew

A handbag can make or break an outfit. Wear a fun bag out with friends to show your personality. Or carry the ultimate bag to work and impress your boss. But if you choose the wrong bag, your look suffers.

How to Choose the Right Handbag
Just like a great pair of jeans, a handbag should fit your body type. The shape of a bag shouldn't match your figure: instead, choose the opposite of your body type. For example, pick a bigger bag if you're a tall and thin woman. Don't be afraid to try the handbag on at the store. Get a feel for how it fits. Pass on anything that makes you uncomfortable. Basic designs and styles will last you through the years while maintaining a sense of up-to-date style.

Fakes vs. Lookalikes
Fakes are complete knockoffs (with fake logos most of the time) and lookalikes are pieces that are merely inspired by the original (like many department store handbag lines). Fakes may seem great at the time of purchase--they're cheap and have the designer label--but counterfeiters have ties to all types of crime. How to know if your buy is fake and not the real thing? If the deal seems too good to be true (i.e. Coach bag for $20) it probably is. Learn more about fakes.

Get the Low-Down on Designer Bags
Most designers have websites for you to check out their merchandise. Go ahead and get an idea of which bag you like, and if it's in your price range, get it. But if it's a little too expensive, designers have specialty outlet stores and there are also plenty of websites that offer legitimate designer bags for a reasonable price.


'It' Bags
Now that you know the difference between fakes and lookalikes, you'll want to study up on which styles are hot in the fashion world. "It" bags -- expensive designer bags that get must-have status each season -- don't come cheap. Remember that fashion goes in cycles, so hold on to these pricey investments: they'll be back in style in a few years.

Hobo Bags
Style yourself like a chic street urchin with a crescent-shaped bag known as a hobo bag. This basic style of bag flatters almost all figures. It's found big and small, or just right in the middle (also known as perfect). They range from boho designs to classic, structured designs.

Pietro Alessandro Pebble Grain Leather Croc Embossed Shoulder Bag

There's been a lot of talk about tough economic times ahead (or already happening) which is why it seems even more important to invest in a handbag that will outlast the economic plight. Known for fine craftsmanship and high-end leather and construction, our next handbag purchase will be PIETRO ALESSANDRO bag because we know we are getting our money's worth. Plus at around a couple of hundred of dollars, PIETRO ALESSANDRO handbags won't hurt our bank accounts like other expensive designer handbags. The PIETRO ALESSANDRO black pebble grain leather with croc embossed shoulder bag is a great everyday bag because of the shape and color. Handbag measures about 17 x 12 x 4 inches with a strap about 20 inches long. Shop PIETRO ALESSANDRO handbags now.

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