Comments on: Vera Bradley Villager Bag

By: lorilee

lorilee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:41:05 +0000

i just heard that vera’s now being made in china. bummer! myself and my 3 girls, mildly obsessed to say the least, will no longer be buying them. even the ones made in the usa because they’re still sending some out…i’d like them to know that even a little outsourcing is NOT ok.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:08:54 +0000

I have a few Vera Bradley items. I given a few for gifts.
I really like the MINI HIPSTER! Great for going to concerts, craft fairs, shopping. I need something small enough to include my phone and digital camera! I really would like some solid color mini hipsters but really love a lot of the fabric styles.
One thing about Vera the price is equal to the quality.
However, since I have started going back to the days of Doris Day and others that try to match their purses to what they are wearing I am willing to buy anyones quilted bags especially if I love the design & the price is right.
Those that feel the Vera pricing is right on should take into account that you cannot just grab one style of bag to use with everything you wear!
Companies have to make a decision:
1) Do I make a quality item & price it for the masses so I can see my product everywhere?
2) Do you make a quality item that you don’t want to see everyone using because the price is too high.
I’m a people pleaser, I would want to make the quality item for the masses and make them affordable so you would be more likely to buy every accessory item that goes with the style.

I just discovered the Stephanie Dawn bags. I can definately see a quality difference but it may just be the type of fabric. I may have to look them up on Ebay. However, you don’t really get that great a deal on ebay on Vera either.

By: i

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:50:52 +0000

can u use this as a bck pack????!!!!!!!!!!

By: Vera Bradly

Vera Bradly — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:38:24 +0000

Has anyone ever been to a Vera Bradley Outlet Sale? I’ve been a huge fan ever since my sister got me my first Vera last Christmas…

Now it’s all I want! Coach who?? LOL

I really want to connect with other Vera owners and see all of the past styles I’ve missed out on.

A nice looking site that my friend is putting together: http://vera-bradly.net

Go Vera!

By: sarah

sarah — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:32:30 +0000

i have about 10 vera bradleys and everyone has a vera at my skool i luv vera bradleys

By: Cassie

Cassie — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:07:15 +0000

(: i love vera bradley! i have like five different ones. they’re sooo soft, and all my friends have them too. whats not to like about them? and those of you who use them as diaper bags, totally gross. What’s wrong with you people?? what eves. ♥**

By: BUY LOCAL

BUY LOCAL — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:13:15 +0000

I used to work at the factory in Ohio that made the VB bags, and the new brand that they have started selling STEPHANIE DAWN is by no means a knock off of the VB brand. When VB sent a prototype to the factory, the bag was examined, ripped apart , and made into a bag that would be functional. The new and improved bag was mass produced and sold as VB. KAM had a huge role in the production of high quality bags and VB and they very untactifully tried to put them out of business. But, since KAM has a strong sense of business they picked up the pieces and created their own line of purses. They will be very successful and I will never buy a VB again!! The two lines are the STEPAHNIE DAWN and BRANDY J. Just remember that these are new lines so there is not as large of a selection!!

By: Maryann

Maryann — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:34:42 +0000

I have many many Vera bags and all the accessories. I have been buying them for a while and have an amoire full of them. I and all the nurses I use to work with love them. I would never take mine into the hospital and take care of everyone I have ever bought. It is my one guilty pleasure and when others may spend hundreds or thousands on one purse, I started a collection of Vera purses and totes and am not sorry. I have the whole collection of New Hope and love it. I know part of my money went to breast cancer research and have been in my favorite shop when breast cancer patients have come in to buy the latest bags that benefit the Susan B. Koman foundation. I try to buy a bag for the foundation every year, if not for me, for a gift. My daughter loves Vera and one of my best friends at the hospital where I used to work got hooked due to me and loves her bags. It is an innocent addiction and it employees people and I too am hoping they will bring the company factory back to the USA as I saw a difference in the quality especially in the darker fabrics after the operations went overseas. I still love Vera and will continue to add to my collection because I have Dooney, but it is too heavy and I have a Coach, but it is too expensive and I am not into a bag with C’s all over it. (my husband bought it for me in Las Vegas at the Ceasar’s resort) I have never used it and I have it for 3 years…. I know Vera’s business must be down because I don’t see the people flocking around to buy like in the past when the collections would come out and the new pieces are staying the stores longer and the sales never use to happen like they are now. But…it is the sign of the times. I only pray things get better for all of us. Not just for the purpose of buying a Vera, but for the future of us all. Happy Vera….think of it this way, it is like playing Barbies. The patterns, the colors, playing with purses instead of dolls…..innocent fun. God Bless the USA.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:11:03 +0000

I have been a loyal Vera Bradley customer for YEARS. I go to the ourlet sales in Fort Wayne. I would never dream of buying a knockoff……..that is until recently. VB’s quality has gone down and prices up. I have done a lot of research about Stephanie Dawn and I bought one. It is made in the USA by KAM, the same comapny that sews for VB. None of them are made in China. I have to say, I don’t think I’ll be buying VB anymore and I know a lot of people who agree with me. In these economic times, my money is important.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:34:32 +0000

Just so everyone is clear the few Vera bags that are made in the USA are now being made at Vera Bradley’s own facility outside of Fort Wayne ,IN and have been for about the last 6 months. So any quality issues the store owners may be having with their USA made Vera is a direct reflection of Vera Bradley and not a reflection of all companies making products in the USA.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:56:16 +0000

Regarding the stephanie Dawn bags: they are nothing more than a new knock off. We don’t need another knock off. If you want to place such an emphasis on being made in USA be original. I love Vera. Not all of their bags are made overseas. I spoke to a shop owner and he told me that they actually have more quality issues with the Vera bags made in the USA than overseas. Isn’t tht a shame? Doesn’t speak highly for us in in US.

By: Emily Jane

Emily Jane — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:13:06 +0000

Somebody posted a long thing about, basically, “I LOOOOOVE BEING RICH” and what I have to say to that…

I feel that if you are ALL about the Dior, the Coach, and the Louis Vuitton bags, you are a walking label. They all brand their print on a bag and you walk around with it. Vera Bradleys do not ‘brand’ you. In fact, since most people haven’t heard for Vera Bradley, you aren’t walking about with a large logo.

I love Veras mostly because they are lightweight and cotton. They are quality and are washible. Plus, they aren’t very outrageously priced. A large Vera, for example, the VERA, costs less than 100 dollars whereas that same size Vuitton can go upwards of 5 thousand dollars.

To be brutally honest: It’s a waste to spend so much on something that is going to be dragged across the floor and used excessively, marched through the rain and hot sun, and taken to the beach, filled with food and towells, etc., etc.,

So, Veras are good, and reasonably priced.

And quality, made in China or not. Plus, they are cute and stylish. Not some ugly leather thing that is dull.

And I don’t think they are old styled. Grandmas may like them, but even elementart school children carry them…So they are versatile.

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:20:45 +0000

I love the new “Stephanie Dawn” bags!!! They are made in the USA at the same factory in Ohio as the Vera bags when they were being made in the US before they went over to China to make all their bags. The colors are so vibrant and the quality is fantastic…very well made! The company comes out with three new colors every season. I think these bags are going to be the new trend and I would suggest stocking up on them now!!!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:06:45 +0000

Vera Bradley bags now have a label that says MADE IN CHINA – In 2006, the bags still had labels that said MADE IN USA. Vera Bradley’s old facility in Ohio that employed 140 people who would have been laid off now houses a new company named Stephanie Dawn – the seamstresses and employees that made VB bags for 25 years are now employed making the new MADE IN USA Stephanie Dawn bags. Their website will be up in about a month. – I think it will be something like http://www.stephaniedawn.net

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:59:45 +0000

Vera Bradley is work of the devil. Those bags have zero design integrity. They are like wearing a sign that says, “I am suburban, follow trends like sheep, and have to have everything my friends have”.

By: Pauline

Pauline — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:25:46 +0000

I love Vera Bradley bags! When I was in sixth grade, my friend introduced me to them because she had just gotten the small duffel in pink elephant. I had never heard of them, but when she sent me the website, i thought they were completely adorable. I loved them before anyone else my age did, and was the first to get one.

I don’t know what’s wrong with you guys. Are you just saying it’s ugly because it’s a mainstream purchase? To really learn to appreciate a good buy, you need to get away from that and tap into your own preferences, not what the crowd tells you to do. In seventh grade I hated VB’s, but over the years I realized that I was allowing my self to be influenced by NOT falling into the craze.

Wear what you want, buy what you want.

By: Alissalou

Alissalou — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:11:55 +0000

(Jaclyn: Like most vendettas, yours is held with no evidence. If you haven’t tried them, you shouldn’t knock them.)

I have used, bought and sold Veras for about 20 years (yes, I’m from Ft. Wayne, and we are saturated with them here). Even though I once felt they were sort of ‘rustic’, back in the late 80’s, I have found them to be very versatile, convenient, and with the new patterns yearly, exciting. Everyone has ‘their’ bag or pattern, and that only adds interest; it’s fun to see what kind of Vera someone favors.

I prefer the older bags, usually a Villager or Betsy; LOVE those POCKETS!!! The ‘Made in Indiana’ bags seem to be better made, the patterns were more complicated and interesting, and the fabric of a higher quality (usually!). The only bag you used to see was the ‘Original #100′, the small duffle or ‘barrel bag’, and admittedly, while it was a good all-round handbag, it WAS a bit boring! I’m glad they have improved it with all the nice pockets. But it’s great that the younger girls are getting into the newer patterns and styles, and wonderful that Vera Bradley is designing things just for them.

As far as favorite patterns, I’d have to say that Chanticleer (Eggs) or Tavern on the Green or Animal Kingdom are some of mine. I’m a sucker for a pretty animal face, and those fit that bill. The Yellow Bird and Night Owl patterns just don’t have the same personality. My 3 faves also go well with denim or black, which I wear a lot. The newer Puccini is beautiful, as is (was, now retired) Botanica.

Last but not least…I have recently read that Vera Bradley is going to start making the bags in the US only, and you should see the new plant here south of the city…it’s HUGE. Hopefully, the quality of the originally ‘Made in Indiana’ bags will return!

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:00:11 +0000

tacky, reminds me of teen girls, over priced…need i say more? oh yeah and the pattern’s are horrible. but i must say i like the plain ones…and i think the large tote bags do look handy…but i’ve never bought any vera bradleys…you can get a leather purse for practically the same price! ah sorry…i have a vendetta against these bags haha

By: Kristl

Kristl — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:56:15 +0000

Hey, I’ve bought my first VB last year, Bowler Mod Blue. I really like it! I want to buy another bag big enough to stuff a magazine or a cross-stitch project, which currently fits in my Bowler. I want the Yellow Bird in a Bucket tote, but I am considered about no zipper closure. Does anyone have any trouble with their stuff falling out of the Bucket tote?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:24:48 +0000

Do you have any Vera Bradley Chelsea Green hand bags in the collection you are selling. I’m having a realy hard time finding anyone with one I like for sale. Please let me know.

Thanks,
Lisa

P.S.
This is just incase you are not in to Vera Bradley, so you know what style i’m looking for.