Tips from Neiman-Marcus backed Fashionphile
9.8.2021
Meet FASHIONPHILE, a re-commerce brand that sells pre-owned, ultra-luxury goods while providing best-in-class shopping experiences. When we say ultra-luxury, we’re talking Gucci, Chanel, Chloe and Louis Vuitton. With a mission to make luxury more attainable, FASHIONPHILE has also created a sustainable, practical business solution to shopping (and selling) that keeps clothing out of landfills and *almost* eliminates the high carbon cost of manufacturing these pieces.
Shopping for rare pieces, however, is an art form and involves expert authentication and detailed inspection. Since we’re not all expert authenticators, we spoke with the founder and President Sarah Davis on actionable tips for how to shop pre-owned, luxury items (Here’s a hint: let the experts do it for you!).
Best tips on how to shop for pre-loved handbags and accessories?
Do your research, create your wishlist and never give up on your dream bag! The FASHIONPHILE Blog is a great resource to start with for the research portion. It offers a wealth of information and highlights everything you need to know about the resale market. Here are a few places to start:
Are there specific words or phrases to look out for when buying something pre-owned?
Our handbags are categorized as new, excellent, very good, good, fair and flawed. A new bag would show no signs of usage and may include tags, box, dustbag and may have protective covering on the hardware. Always check the item description and look at the pictures! There can be items that are in “Very Good” condition however, that are almost completely new on the exterior and only have signs of wear on the interior. That is a good find for most people.
Best way to spot a fake?
Each brand has its own signature stamping, stitching, hardware, authenticity stamps, date codes, materials and craftsmanship. Being able to properly identify the individual characteristics of a designer can help you spot a real bag from a fake one. For example, modern Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories have a date code which identifies the manufacturing location and production date for a specific item. Checking the date code is one of the first steps in authenticating any Louis Vuitton item; however, the date code alone does not verify authenticity as many counterfeit items have date codes that match the correct format. Check out the FASHIONPHILE blog for additional ways to spot a fake CHANEL or Christian Dior Book Tote.
Are there any hacks to determine if something is fairly priced?
At FASHIONPHILE, we price items based on our sold data, the recency of the style, the condition and - of course - the market demand. These metrics allow us to extend the most competitive pricing. However, it is important to keep in mind that ultra-luxury brands tend to have a strong resale value due to their consistent price increases, which is what makes these items such a good investment.
So start saving for that Gucci backpack you’ve been wanting. FASHIONPHILE will be popping up at ROW starting September 2nd at M1 Suite 144, right next to Powder Beauty.