Can someone explain to me why Stella McCartney’s bags are so expensive?

By Amanda Mull RSS Feed on Jan 18, 2012. More in Clutches.

Stella McCartney Ava Faux Python Clutch, $1995 via Net-a-Porter

Like any proud lover of luxury goods, I spend my fair share of time trying to explain to people that we’re not all slaves to a famous name when it comes to paying for accessories. Sure, some of the reason that prices are the way they are is that many of the brands we love have built of a reputation and history for themselves as employing the kind of aesthetic and artistic talent to craft the finest leather goods on the planet. The name is something, particularly when it stands for a history of craftsmanship and quality, but it’s not everything. Or so I argue. When I look at a bag like the Stella McCartney Ava Faux Python Clutch, though, I can’t help but wonder if I’m merely brainwashed.

I actually don’t have any aesthetic qualms with this design; in fact, I think it’s quite nice and I’m impressed that they got yellow material and gold hardware to function together without looking terrible. It’s no small feat! What I do have a problem with is the fact that it costs $2000 for what is essentially a gussied up PVC box clutch not dissimilar in fabrication to what you’d find at your local Target.

Sure, I’m understand that the manufacturing is probably more careful. The design, too, is much nicer, and those two things definitely factor in to what a bag costs. What brands often cite as the largest influencer of handbag prices, though, is materials, and that’s a place where Stella McCartney has little room to argue on her own behalf. Everywhere else in her line, she uses nothing but the best, which you can tell as soon as you lay eyes on one of her gorgeous knits. Because McCartney has strong views on the ethics of animal products in fashion, though, no leather goes into any of her bags, as most of you probably know. It’s all PVC.

I applaud her for sticking to her convictions about what materials she will and won’t use, but I believe that with the use of PVC should come with an adjustment in price. As I explained last time I wrote about a PVC bag, it’s simply not a luxury material by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s just about as cheap as it gets. I’ve never seen any claim from McCartney that the PVC she uses is some kind of special chemical blend that makes it more environmentally friendly or luxurious, and from what I can tell it’s just…PVC. I’ve never seen McCartney make any claims about the environmental friendliness of her PVC, and some of it has struck me was rather leather-like, but mostly, I haven’t been impressed.

So while I’m ok with McCartney charging a little bit extra for her name and maybe even a lot extra for design and construction, the fact that Stella charges fine leather prices for the finest in oil-based chemical non-leather will forever stop me from owning one of her bags. It’s too bad, I really like this clutch. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1995.

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Alexandra Davidoff

In my opinion there is only one reason why McCartney’s PVC is just as expensive as real designer Italian leather – her own greed and ego. She refuses to utilize animal skins for her creations and yet wants to be put up there with all the other fine designers, ripping off her loyal fan/customers in the process. I have to agree her profits are probably the result of brainwashing – she is just like a pop star who’s voice on the disc isn’t real but made up of layers of auto-tune and computer enhancement (and they probably couldn’t sing live) and who they go and see on tour regardless. And like the pop star, the product looks cute, but is 100% certifiable fake.
aidan

THANK YOU!
Nanci

Well said. I think that it is fine for a brand name to command a certain price but that the materials must be factored in. It also cracks me up when people describe a bag as being made from vegan leather. Um, that’s just PVC, right?
Sandra Rowley

Yes, I have been waiting for someone to point this out. I have been trying in so many of my comments. I refuse to purchase anything Stella McCartney for this reason. (even the clothes) When you are making goods out of PVC, not matter how well stitched, the price should reflect the materials.
http://dontaskmetosmile.wordpress.com Kat

Substituting PVC for leather does not make sense from an overall environmental perspective at ALL. Yes, there are ethical issues when it comes to real leather. But one could argue that there are just as many, if not more, issues with using PVC. PVC is one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials ever produced. Not only is it petroleum based, its production consumes an enormous amount of energy, its entire life cycle (from production, to actual usage, to combustion/recycling) poses health risks to livestock and humans (including cancer) and it is EXTREMELY difficult to recycle.

So how is PVC a more “ethical” option versus leather?

I used to feel neutral about Stella McCartney, but now I feel an utter loathing slowly forming.
Pixiejenna

I’ve always felt the same way. I love her bags with the chains on them but I haven’t been able to justify the cost even when on sale.
t

Well written Alexandra- spot on!!

Alexandra Davidoff

Thanks!

http://www.bearboring.com Musette

Alexandra and Kat pretty much cover everything I was going to say – so I’ll just add this: SM is just getting sillier.

Alexandra Davidoff

Thanks, Musette! Glad to know I wasn’t too crazy on this post, and yes I definitely agree – McCartney is getting sillier.
http://dontaskmetosmile.wordpress.com Kat

Thanks. I just got really, really riled up by this SM. Using ethics as an excuse to use PVC versus leather is just ridiculous enough as it is, AND then she has the gall to charge premium leather prices. RIDICULOUS.

Kat

*by this POST on SM.

Marie Martell

Agree with everyone here!

http://nyorkeratheart.blogspot.com
camilla

you got ther point. I never never would buy something from her, it’s simple absurd. She says she is green but please tell me how can it be if she uses plastic (eco-leather is plastic) but the prices are like best phyton and not faux one. I hate people like her. We can make the difference, we as customers can refuse to play her game.
John

The sad thing is, people will still probably buy this. You can buy a Balen or PS1 already with what you spend on this clutch.
http://fashionableteacher.onsugar.com mochababe73

I have never been fooled by Stella. I just don’t get it when I see women that I know are wealthy carry that Fallabella bag. I finally got to see one in person, and I wasn’t impressed. To be honest, I thought that the PVC felt cheap and tacky.
I remember when one of my favorite designers, Marc Jacobs, made a PVC bag for around $300. I wouldn’t pay $300 for one, and I definitely wouldn’t pay $2000. When I think about what kind of nice, leather bag that I could buy for that kind of money (even at $300), it just makes me wonder how stupid Stella thinks that her consumers are.
With that being said, it’s a nice bag that I wouldn’t pay no more than $50 for.
rose60610

I think that if her father were someone other than Sir Paul, the scads of celebrities and fashion editors would not give her the time of day, let alone buy and promote her hideous bags. Buying her so called “animal and environment friendly” bags at the prices they go for reflect a consumer for whom money is no object or someone who is given McBags to wear in public. I can’t believe her clothes and shoes have nothing to do with animals (wool? leather? silk?) And the celebrities and others that have scores of her bags? Think they have other bags that ARE leather? As a group, most celebrities are the biggest bunch of nauseating hypocrites out there.
Chris

I think it is very simple: as long as people are buying her bags, Ms. McCartney might as well ask for a ridiculously high price. Come on, guys ! Does anybody here think that $39,000 for a backpack from The Row was justified? It sold out nevertheless. Yes, Ms. McCartney probably laughs all the way to the bank. Good for her. I do not understand why people would bash her, she is not forcing anybody to buy her handbags, is she?
Having said that, the clutch is not bad. I would not buy it though, first because of the price, and second I need more versatile handbags.
PurseFan

I agree with you all. It is just greed. Every luxury brand has to find a way to pay for their Hampton estates. And remember cost of a product is 10%-20% of MSRP based on product ( this includes materials, manufacturing and overhead expenses.)

But what really kills me is this so-called environmental moved towards PVC products. The dirty little secret they don’t tell you is that to color the bags, they use LEAD BASED PAINT!!! California and some European countries require a disclaimer be place on the bags so consumers know their purse is covered in lead-based paint and can be harmful to your health if ingested like when you are eating you sandwich at lunch after handling your bag.

So maybe they should move on to cotton, denim, etc.
http://www.wingedreviews.com Daphne

It’s a shame that it’s such a nice design, but terrible material. I can image what it feels like and I don’t think the looks can make up for the ‘fake leather’ feeling. I agree there is something special about owning bags made with luxury materials, and PVC is definitely not one of them.

Boo, Stella.
Mari

Word.
Rashida

I am digging the comments! They are so spot on! I wouldn’t pay that much money for some crap like that! Sorry!
Anonymous

PVC / PU is not good for the environment! it is made from plastics & petrochemicals, and the processes for creating the material cause pollution. its not ecologically friendly, and that for me is the great irony. fine, its not animal skin, but its also not good for the planet.
Subbz

I saw a similar clutch in Zara, only it wasn’t fake python and wasn’t 2000 dollars.
mizzc

FINALLY!! Someone publicly said what i’ve always thought!! I would NEVER buy any of her bags/shoes. If i’m paying upwards of $2000 or more on a handbag, I want it to be made from a real cow, lizard, alligator or some other once living breathing thing:-).
Gi

No handbag is ever worth the “designer price” – a bag’s real manufacturing cost is not affected all that much by the material(s) it is created with. 80%+ of handbag’s cost goes to PR, marketing, sales operations, distribution, logistics, etc. along with cost of maintaining perceived brand value. This is why luxury conglomerates fight so hard to protect their brands and designs.

So saying Stella McCartney is not worth it because it isn’t real python / leather is not really a valid claim.
Shida205

Right on Amanda! Get in her butt! PVC is not high end period!
Phee

My thought exactly!!!! I always think shea overcharge her creation!! she uses cheaper material while charging high-sky price, just because her name..not her fan!
mardianamd

Spot on. Thank you…
Guest

excuse my French, but that bag and this woman…what a crock of sh**.
Does she think we have half a brain?
http://profile.yahoo.com/PBGZWHMGVTZ5QBBLSPHZ57EATI Shirley

My personal guess was around $35,000 and I thought that even that kind
of figure might be a little low, particularly when you consider that so
many designers seem to be in some sort of unofficial race to see who can
produce the most ridiculously expensive bag
Lettygirl

I actually had a very similar discussion with a close friend who is a huge Stella follower. I can’t believe she still told me, “well they are still a couple hundred less than a PS1 or balenciaga,” and I was like, yes but that is leatherrrrr!
Of course, to each their own, but I will personally not buy one. Thanks for posting.