This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and watch out for more Battle of the Brands posts.
Recently, someone told me that only 1% of all Louis Vuitton handbags in the world are authentic, which is quite surprising considering how many people, young and old, tote the luxury status symbols. I guess what most of them don't realize is that some of these bags are the real McCoy, while it seems a lot more are just reproductions. Several weeks ago, I posted Coach bags: You're just not worthy because Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) was stepping up their luxury handbag game with a new, more exclusive line of bags priced from $10,000 to $500 and adding hoity-toity boutiques to bring in a more elite clientele.
While both Coach and Louis Vuitton (LVMH) (EPA: MC) already have classic and luxury goods status among many, it seems that both companies are grasping for the top rung of the handbag ladder. LVMH may seem to be ahead of the game, since A-list celebrities such as Uma Thurman, Naomi Campbell, Scarlett Johansson, and even rapper Snoop Dog often travel in style and are photographed with LV bags. In comparison, I can't even think of an instance where I've spotted a celebrity with a Coach bag. After a quick Google search, I did however find a picture of Jessica Alba holding a cute Coach Daphne Straw Top Handle Bag ($168), which surprised me because most women I see with Coach bags tend to be older and middle class. In fact, a budding fashionista once told me that Coach bags were "mom" bags. So then it's understandable that Coach would spring this new Legacy line on us in a not-so-veiled attempt to lose its "mom" status.
At the same time, both bags have made some considerable bad choices, as I see it. LVMH launched its Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag, that sent the blogosphere running from: 1.) the monstrosity of its price tag, and 2.) its pure ugliness. The bag, hyped as a tribute to the brand, designed with the help of Marc Jacobs and priced at an unbelievable $45,352, had a lot of people shaking their heads in disbelief. In fact, most people I talked to thought I was pulling their leg. Oddly enough, all 15 of the "Frankenstein" bags sold out, leaving us to question the sanity and identity of these buyers.
Coach also made a bad move in attempting to upscale their clientele; consumers tend to be very loyal when they find a niche brand that speaks to who they are, so why move away from them?
If I had to choose between a Coach product or a Louis Vuitton, however, I would have to say I would probably go with an LV over a Coach bag, even though I have no loyalty to either. Even with the hideousness and silliness of their latest "tribute," the prestige of the brand carries on.
Be sure to vote in our poll for Louis Vuitton or Coach as your preferred brand, and let us know why you love it in the comments. Results of all Battle of the Brands match-ups coming soon.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-19-2008 @ 2:44AM
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1-27-2009 @ 4:16PM
nick_cannon_luv_16 said...
hmm...
Coach...thats kinda like Dooney & Bourke to me, it seems childish. I mean i'm only 15 and i see 10 and 11 year olds carrying coach bags, to me Louis Vuitton is much more mature and grown up. I may only be 15, but i know a lot about fashion and to me Louis Vuitton and Chanel is the best way to go for style. Plus, if you want a designer handbag i'd spend the big amount on LV or Chanel so you can have the same one for years that won't go out of style, like im pretty sure coach will. :)
4-12-2007 @ 11:14AM
Lucille said...
COACH is the brand for me, and I own many handbags, totes, and travel bags. They are all well constructed. You can find bags made from material to light-weight leather to heavier-weight leather.
The variety of styles makes them beautiful wardrobe accessories to anything I wear. Not to bash LV, but I find their products fake looking, like they're made from plastic.
4-14-2007 @ 1:40PM
Caroline Small said...
As a long time Coach buyer, I have recently become dissatisfied with with both quality and style of Coach. I much prefer Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.
4-19-2007 @ 10:55AM
Linda said...
Coach has become too trendy, and the quality is not like it used to be. I won't be buying Coach again, after owning in excess of 20 of them.
4-19-2007 @ 12:28PM
Madgirl said...
I like neither Coach nor LV - Coach looks cheap to me, and is ubiquitous. If LV looks like it's made of plastic, you're pretty close. The material that is used for the stardard LV bag that everyone loves to wear as a status symbol is just canvas. I'm not going to pay more than $10 for canvas, sorry.
4-19-2007 @ 1:26PM
Martha said...
In the 80's & early 90's I mostly bought Louis Vitton purses & luggage! The prices of today are not even close to being realistic. You have to be a multi-millionaire to afford to purchase anything from LV. I would rather take a great vacation or go on a full blown shopping spree than spend the same amount of money for a "Purse". This is not the real world.
4-20-2007 @ 12:47PM
Margie said...
I've been buying Coach again after 20 and love their products. You can purchase lighter weight to heavier weight leather and the prices are not out of reach. Coach products will still last forever. LV bags look and feel like plastic. I cannot believe people spend that kind of money for status. It truly amazes me.
4-24-2007 @ 9:24AM
LVMH said...
EW COACH! THAT'S LIKE COMPARING A DODGE NEON TO AN AUDI R8. YES, LV HAS SNOB APPEAL BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FASHION, YOU'D KNOW THEIR QUALITY OF GOODS ARE SUPERB. COACH FALLS APART AFTER A FEW YEARS WHEREAS AN LV CAN BE PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. MY VINTAGE LV IS WAY BETTER THAN ANY COACH.
4-25-2007 @ 9:55AM
Julie said...
Everyone and their maid has a Coach bag. Kids in middle school carry them. What ever happened to originality?? To me carrying a Coach says "I'm trying to fit in"....And paying thousands of dollars for a purse is not just greedy...it's stupid!
4-30-2007 @ 9:29PM
Pretty woman said...
My travel bags Louis Vuitton, my car Aston Martin, my hifi MBL, my watch Bulgari, my home MalibĂș
6-04-2007 @ 10:16AM
SRCampbell said...
This is an interesting discussion. In the last few decades LV contenders have changed theri conservative designs to attract a younger hipper audience, however no'one can compare to LV. Theve been around since the late 1800's and for the filthy rich, special custimazation services are available, like engraving. And when has Coach designed a bag with a movie star or other famous person in line. Why I even have a bag named after me in the LV line, although I happen to share the name of a European princess. No doubt Coach has stepped up theri game and now Dooney & Burke is going where Coach once was. Though the price tag and what a person can afford and is willing to pay tenda to vary from region to region and country to country, the bottom line is....who has the most copied purse in the world! Therefore I have devised a formula. The bigger the price gap between the real thing and a replica the higher the real value/status level. Now I can't afford real LV, but likemost people who are true Bag Diva's start small and build up. One day its a coin purse (=car payment) and one day its shoes(=2 car payments)etc. Based on my years of reseach on these brands,I've learned 10 Golden Rules. One, the replica industry fuels the the sales of the real thing. Two, income determines what brand you buy, Three, the uglier the style the more fashionable it is, Four, Hollywood dictates who's brand hot and who's not, Five, quality is in the eye of the beholder, Six, the best brands cater to ALL age groups, Seven, the best brands are diversified (i.e. accessories, luggage, timepieces, fashion etc.), Eight, there are actually M.S Degrees is Management and Marketing of Luxury Items that cater to this industry, and these folks know exactly what they are doing, Nine, the best companies have day/evening/recreation product lines, Ten, don't hate the players hate the game because we pay for their names to be on our arms and if you don't like it or an't afford it make some bags with your own name on them. Beleive me I thought about doing it!
6-14-2007 @ 2:39PM
willis m. said...
I have worked for Coach since 1988, when their product line was very traditional and classic, (the fashion of the time). I have seen the amazing transformation and have been a part of the company's success story. The true champion in this handbag battle goes to the brand that appeals to every facet of fashion, form, function, multi-purpose use. That winner would have to be Coach. I know several LV travel pieces and men's accessories. Although they are very well made and last a long time, they don't always go with everything that I wear.(major function flaw). However, With Coach, you can purchase a bag for every style of fashion that you have(from casual to very corporate, to leisure, to travel, to just plain fun outgoing styles).
I'm not just saying these things because I worked for the company for a very long time, I am a firm believer in its product and it's marketing strategy. When you have such strong conviction about a brand and you invest in it's product for yourself and your family, that it, in my opinion, the mark of a true brand leadership and champion, GO COACH, keep up the good works.
willis, houston, tx
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9-21-2007 @ 9:33AM
Eric said...
LOL You guys are pathetic. Coach is owned by Sara Lee Breads. Check out Sara Lee website. Louis Vuitton is a joke now since its part of Moet Hennessy crap. I think original and authentic designer brands are Prada and Chanel.
11-13-2007 @ 10:01AM
Mathew J said...
As a guy who has a wife that likes handbags, and who also has an interest in high quality accessories himself I have to say that by far Coach is our choice in brands. They make a good quality product (even after moving production over to china) and a seemingly affordable price when compared to many others, and especially LV.
As for the whole Sara Lee thing, from what I understand they sold off holdings of Coach in 2000, much like Avon was once in controll of Tiffany & Co., Inc.
LV for us just seems tacky, we know they sell things other than their "branded" items, but for that kind of money I would rather see my wife with Hermes or another good brand. For myself I have no need for a $300 wallet, the one they sell at the coach outlet for $75 has held up amazingly well, looks classic and conservative, and appears made well.
I also think Bosca does well for leather goods, but they are more office and business accessories than fashion bags.
11-22-2007 @ 5:28AM
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