How to Invest in Handbags, the Luxury Asset Most Likely to Hold Value
Clockwise from top: Bottega Veneta Nappa Intrecciato Mini Jodie Parakeet, Hermès So Black Alligator Birkin, Fendi Canvas Calfskin FF Embroidered Baguette Poudre, Hermès Rose Extreme Alligator Mini Kelly 20cm .
Photographer: Joanna McClure for Bloomberg Businessweek
With the stock market roiling, luxury goods—especially designer handbags—are becoming a hotly sought-after investment commodity. One July study from the Business of Fashion said 40% of US consumers had bought or were planning to buy one, helping bolster the category from a global market of $72 billion this year to a predicted $100 billion in 2026.
Buy them to store and trade, rather than tote, and that as-new purse could offer an impressive return on investment: In June a study from Credit Suisse Group AG showed that Chanel bags rose in value 24.5% from the previous year. Those by the house’s late designer Karl Lagerfeld are especially coveted.