Today we meet Noah, a 28 year old graphic designer from Melbourne, Down Under. His passion for designer bags started a mere 3 years ago, and he’s amassed a solid collection of bags since, most of which are Loewe. In his own words, he considers himself a bit of a shopaholic and has a few tales of poor customer service to tell that left both him and his partner angered.
Enjoy this week’s installment of Closet Confessionals and don’t forget to tell your own story:
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 28
Gender Identity: Male
Location: Melbourne, AUS
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Industry: Retailing
Salary: $68,000
Household Income: $100,000
Instagram: @soysheep
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes, “soysheep”
How many bags do you own? 30+
What bags are in your collection?
LOEWE: Multi-colour Pastel Puzzle, Sneaker Elephant, Silver Elephant, Salmon Gingham Bunny, Red Nubuck Python Missy, Black & Electric Blue Market Tote, Orange Cat Pouch, Caramel Gate Pochette, Navy Goya Business Cross Body, Tan Goya Cross Body, Tan Heel Bag, Black Mini Heel Pouch, Khaki Green Military Messenger Bag, Tartan XL Market Tote, Black Cross Duffle 51, Goya Hazelnut Briefcase, Navy Briefcase, Bat Pouch and I start to lose track…
LOUIS VUITON: Catogram Black Petite Malle, Catogram Paneme Set, Catogram Essential Trunk
HERMES: Herbag Bougainvillea
FENDI: Mini Lui
BALENCIAGA: Black North South Tote
BURBERRY: Tan Logo Embossed Tote
VERSACE: The Lover Print Tote, Black Mini Palazzo Empire
PERRIN: Le Mini Amorphe
BALLY: Lobster Darlene Bowling Bag
MULBERRY: Tan New Antony
How much is your collection worth? 90k+
What is your most expensive bag? LOUIS VUITTON Black Catogram Petite Malle
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Anything LOEWE, especially the animals <3 as I'm obsessed with the brand!
LOUIS VUITTON Catogram because they are so hard to get!
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 25 year-old and my first bag is LOEWE Khaki Green Military Messenger
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? All my LOUIS VUITTON Catogram pieces as they are all the last piece when I come into store in Melbourne and Tokyo!
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? It strongly depends on who I’m interacting with. I was made famous in the office for having a considerable amount of bags. Especially when we have photoshoots, I sponsor the bags, which are amazing and make me feel me happy as I’m so proud of my babies. Though everyone at my office is already nice to me, I don’t think it changes much of how they treat me :D.
[sc_ic_ad1]The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? There is no specific amount of time – it all depends on when the shipment arrives! Can be once every quarter (or weekly…)
Which stores do you frequent the most? LOEWE at Chadstone Shopping Centre (in Melbourne, AUS) as I have really good relationship with everyone there, such lovely people. Strongly recommended if you ever need to learn more about LOEWE.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? I haven’t but if I have ever considered getting a pre-loved, Tokyo is the destination.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No, I haven’t, but I do consider (as I have a cozy apartment…)
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? This must be a rhetorical question because I’ve learned that luxury bags are very addictive…
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Yes, especially when they are rare purchases and I keep the bags almost brand-new <3.
Who influences your buying decisions? My partner who shares my wardrobe with me!
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes, my SA at LOEWE is extremely helpful in helping me with different bags (style, usability, etc.) and especially, when I’m going to spend some money, I’d prefer to be treated nicely. After all, it’s an ‘exclusive’ experience.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I L.O.V.E. Shopping and I do agree I’m a little bit of a shopaholic. Although, my priorities are food, then shopping.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? I have received an extremely negative experience at Chanel, Bulgari in Chadstone Shopping Centre and some post-services at a few different brands. However, I’d like to give the benefit of the doubt and say it is not discrimination (mostly).
1) My partner and I went to Chanel and even the SAs are free, they do not even bother to greet or at least acknowledge our presence. Hence, we went to sit down and waiting patiently for 10 minutes and they were just floating around us. I decided to stand up and talk to one of them if they can help us out and was refused blatantly that they were busy. So the lady just walked past us without saying anything else. We decided to walk out. The second time we went there, there is a bag I’d like to see and it was on the display window. So I asked politely if there is any in-stock and I may have a look – “I can get it from the window for you if you intend to purchase it”. Hence, I declined with a manner and walked out. My partner was pissed.
2) We went to Bulgari on the opening night and was waiting in line. As we reached the front, my partner asked the security if he can have a look at the brochures (which is right NEXT TO the door) and he said no. My partner thought the security might have mistaken as the magazines were on the counter, he’d prefer to have a look at the brochures next to the security guard; so he asked politely again and pointed at the brochures – “NO, you need to wait” with an aggressive attitude.
3) I bought a wallet at Balenciaga for my birthday. I used it for 2 weeks and the wear-and-tear was disgusting. The side was smooth but suddenly have a rectangular panel appeared, the cotton linings were fluffing up like a nightmare. Hence, I brought it in their boutique in Chadstone and received some explanation that the panel were there so when they perforated the leather it won’t drill through the leather, and that wear-and-tear is the look of this wallet. I tried to get a refund but was continuously persuade to give it another try and at the end,I just stored that wallet away as the SA was so lovely and I feel bad for her. Now, I actually feel bad for myself!
4) F-is-for-bad-effort-Fendi. I bought my mini Lui bag before Christmas and went to Tokyo for a holiday. Within 30-day, the wax linings were starting to peel off… I went back to Fendi boutique for a repair. I waited a week without any communication so I went back in there, the lady gave me a call 2 days later saying that they need to get materials from Paris to repair, which took some weeks… Finally, I came in there for the bags, the SA was showing me the bag and I pointed out the linings are completely fixed (they didn’t clean the old wax out, just putting it on top of the old one, so in a corner, the old lining was hanging in there…). The lady was quite embarrassed but I don’t want to make a scene as their manager was my partner’s client. So I just asked if the whole thing happened again, I can bring it back for service.
[sc_ic_ad2]The Money
Who pays for your bags? We both contributed to the purchases.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Not really, they were quite spontaneous…
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Nope. As a designer myself, that is an insult to the creatives in general.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No need.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Use my money which I supposed to use for my mortgage…
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I do think it was a problem before I have a mortgage. I’ve planned a quota at my favorite brands (not sure if it will work yet)
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Haute cuisine… I’m happy to spend $1000 on a good meal. My partner loves wallet so the number of wallets keeps piling up so unnecessarily! We decide to branch our reach to Hermes and I’m pretty set my eyes on a Birkin or Kelly. Hopefully, I can get one this year!
Anything else you would like to include? I’ve learned that luxury bags are not just some accessories – they were like sculptures or art pieces. You can display them proudly as an ornament for your home or a nice touch to your outfit. The leatherwork, the design/structure, colours, etc. are meticulously breathtaking! As a fashion illustrator, I have such a passion for beautiful things and thanks to that, I can appreciate these bags I have than some materialistic things.
Though, I do feel sad when a lot of luxury brands lost its touch and produce inferior goods just for the profit.
