The Real McCoy
BARK Fur Trimmed Duffle Coat – $850
Ever heard of BARK? I met the designer Michele in 2011 at the Fashion Tradeshow Tranoï in Paris. It was the very first time he showed his collection to the public. He is a great guy with great taste and is surprisingly and unassumingly nice and humble. He had an idea for a sweater + coat + duffle combination, made in a whole range of ecclectic colors by the finest artisan weavers in Italy.
And lo and behold, he has had major success after only 2 years. BARK is sold in all of the major luxury department and online stores in the world. It is difficult to go to any major fashion week and not see an elite fashion buyer sporting a BARK.
I got to know this brand’s collection pretty well because we were represented by the same showroom in Milan. I can tell you that they totally justify the cost of their coats.
Why No Name Designer is Better Than Big Name Designer
Here’s an insider’s tip from the luxury clothing world. Take a super big important brand, add millions of dollars of marketing and what you get is EXCUSES.
Excuses to pass off mediocre products, that may say “made it Italy”, but I guarentee you they are 90% made elsewhere, and 10% packaged in Italy (which actually gives them legal rights to print “made in Italy” on the label. And they charge 10 TIMES what the product cost to make to the public. Not 2 times, not 4 BUT 10 TIMES. Ever bought a Gucci belt only to have the finish chip off the buckle, or the lining separate? Case in point.
Then you have your unknown luxury brands. The brands that are seeking out the finest craftsman to make their clothes and sourcing the best materials. They pay much more to make their products and the price is high because it is actually justified.
If I could never afford $800+ bucks for this amazing BARK coat (I have a baby to feed!) I know that it is worth every penny. The hood is lined in real fur, and the knit is so warm and cozy on this coat that it really keeps you warm.
The Real Deal!
A|Wear Duffle Coat – $137
That being said. Let me tell you why I like to spend as little as possible on my clothes. Becuse there are really only two levels of production in the clothing world. EXCELLENT and EVERYBODY ELSE.
That means, that if it isn’t handmade by an artisan with the finest materials possible, it is probably made in the People’s Republic of China. Don’t get me wrong, I love China, and if China didn’t exist my closet would be empty. And most likely so would yours. But since 90% of everything on the market is coming from China why spend more than you have to for the same quality of product.
I think this A|Wear Duffle Coat is a great alternative to the BARK coat. The fur on the collar is fake, so dry clean only or you’ll never be able to wear it again, but aside from that it is a real wool blend, not polyester, the length is totally flattering and I love how things from this Irish brand fit.
The fit, in my opinion is much more flattering and feminine than the BARK Coat, and lately I need all the help that I can get in feeling like a put together lady.
What do you think? Ever bought a luxury bag only to have it fall apart? *Ahem* Furla *ahem* made in China *ahem* even when they put *ahem* Made in Italy on the label *ahem* liars *ahem* pricey liars.