By Keyanna Harper
- Telfar bags average 195% of their retail value, competing with the likes of Hermès and Chanel
- Telfar bags appreciate nearly twice as much as their original retail price
Luxury brands Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton handbags are some of the most coveted handbags in the world, but there’s a new player changing up the game, Telfar. Donned the “Brooklyn Birkin,” Telfar bags average 195% of their retail value, competing with the likes of Hermès and Chanel, according to a Rebag report. Black culture has always played a vital part in what others deem fashionable; for decades, they have been pioneering to its community on what looks good on their feet, on their bodies and under their arms.
Why This Matters: The European fashion luxury bags of Hermes and Chanel are so popular they’re referred to as “unicorns,” meaning they can be sold on resale sites like Poshmark for 85% or more of their retail value. These brands are known for their high-quality craftsmanship and timeless designs, and their prices reflect that it is almost as valuable as buying and investing in original art. Over time the products begin to increase in value. Now Telfar nags are playing in this same market.
Telfar caught the attention of Beyonce and with one picture of her carrying the bag, everyone wanted it, causing them to be sold out in minutes. Black people bring the cool to whatever brand they rock. Looking into the fashion industry’s past, present, and future, many of these industries “used” prints and designs from African countries and high-jacked black culture for their fashion shows.
Black brands like Telfar are breaking down doors for other small Black designers to take their place in luxury fashion. Rebag Luxury reseller found that Telfar bags are valued more than accessories from legacy brands, including Chanel and Hermès. They appreciate nearly twice as much as their original retail price.
What’s Next: Telfar has thrown its hat into the ring and is gaining traction fast. Other Black brands can compete in this luxury handbag market by following the same route as Telfar and other Black-owned products. This is the start of the evolution of Black-owned luxury handbags keeping pace with their European counterparts.
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