All luxury fashion houses dream of being able to create a great handbag that will not only consistently sell for over $1,500, but will even command wait-lists and actually increase in resale value as time goes on. There are now a handful of bags on the market that if you maintained well, you could recoup the majority of your investment and, in some cases, even make a profit should you decide to sell it on. Here are seven of the most important handbags worth investing in now…
Hermès Birkin
These bags have rumoured to offer better returns than gold or stocks, with their value increasing by 500 per cent over the past 35 years. The resale value of a Birkin depends on the style, type of leather, and hardware, but the average bag holds a resale retention value of 72% and for more limited edition pieces, Hermès sellers can earn an average of 1.3x the retail price. The bag is known to have fetched $233,000 at an auction.
Chanel Flap Bag
Alongside the Birkin, this bag is arguably the most iconic on the market. Created in the 1920s by Coco Chanel, the bag has increased by over 200% in the last 10 years, where it will now retail for anything between $4,000 to $6,000 depending on the leather and hardware. On average, Chanel increases its prices from 8 to 12 per cent each year, so a bag bought now could potentially increase in value by more than 30 per cent in a short time frame.
Goyard St. Louis Tote
Despite all of its tradition and conservatism, the mysterious house of Goyard boasts an ardent following and seems to attract a cult of customers, regardless of its lack of advertising, an extremely limited retail presence and as little interaction with the media as you could imagine. Investors and sellers of the St. Louis tote in particular can earn on average 1.3 times the original retail price.
Hermes Kelly
Another classic Hermès bag with a high retention value, which, no doubt, has its iconic namesake to thank for that. Inspired by Grace Kelly, this bag is a classic and happens to be a favorite for Miranda Kerr, Emma Watson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosamund Pike, Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss and the Karashian-Jenner clan.
Dior Lady Dior
Another bankable classic thanks to its link with Princess Diana, who was gifted in the bag in 1995 by French first lady Bernadette Chirac, wife of former president Jacques Chirac. The bag’s rich history alone will score it a place in the list of best bag investments, with the resaule price varying depending on the hardware, leather and size.
Chanel Boy Bag
Another Chanel bag to consider investing in is the Boy Bag, which is still fairly new to the houses portfolio, making its debut in the 2011 shows. But despite only being on the market for five years, it’s now a mainstay, joining the ranks of the classic flaps and reissue flaps. Five years ago, this bag sold at $2500, and today prices start at $5100. It typically retains at least 90% of its resale value.
Louis Vuitton Neverfull
The most popular style of bag from Louis Vuitton are the Neverfull, Speedy and Alma, which all rake in an average of 70% of their resale value.
