I’ve always had expensive taste and lusted after designer pieces. I wasn’t brought up like that, this is something I have developed on my own. I know I’m not the only one to have heard ‘you’re only paying for the name, the cheaper item is exactly the same’. I’ve always been a believer of you get what you pay for and I’m willing to spend more on an item if it is going to be higher quality. To be completely honest I have always wondered why designer pieces are so much more expensive so I have been researching what contributes to the high cost.

Why is luxury fashion expensive?

Brand positioning

Sometimes it is the price point that keeps brands on the same level as one another. The price determines whether the brand is defined as high end high street, low end designer and high end luxury.

Fashion shows

Glossy adverts and stunning fashion shows do not come cheap. There’s the venue which has to be rented and then styled. Celebrities are also quite often paid to sit on the front row and wear the brands clothes. The adverts again feature the best models and celebrities to create a lifestyle buyers want to emulate. All of this is factored into the cost of the clothing.

Exclusive

Fast fashion is available to everyone and I have to say that’s really what attracts me to luxury fashion. Buying high end pieces is more of an experience than running into a store and grabbing a few bits. High street items launch and then go on sale within months where as luxury brands don’t do that. Luxury fashion stays expensive and tends to get more expensive year on year (Chanel are known for their price increases) which keeps the level of exclusivity. Most designers also don’t produce as much as high street fast fashion brands. This creates the fear of missing out on ‘limited edition’ pieces.

Manufacturing costs

Producing fashion in places like the U.K, U.S, France and Italy is a lot more expensive as wages are higher (as well as working standards). Production costs are significantly lower in countries like Bangladesh and China. Designer brands are often made in the France and Italy so that accounts for some of the cost.

Quality

Luxury brands may create pieces that have been hand stitched and embellished. Quality is particularly important when it comes to bags and shoes as they are generally expensive to make. A lot goes into the production of handbags from the leather to the hardware. There’s a noticeable difference between cheap bags and shoes to designer pieces, so with accessories you really do get what you pay for!

I love the whole experience of buying designer, the luxury feel of the stores, how high quality everything feels, how everything is packaged. I feel like everything is such a production, like going to the theater. To be honest I don’t mind paying more for all these little extras. It’s obviously not something I can afford to do often but as far as I’m concerned it is the ultimate way I can treat myself.