The beauty of the modern era is that businesses are ruled by the data they collect to better understand their customers. This data, when shared, serves as an indicator of what was favoured, what (still) is favoured, and what will be in the future — all important factors to consider when shopping. Rebag's 2022 resale report does just that, providing shoppers with a list of entry-level designer bags to invest in for 2023, all of which are under $3,000 in price.
The Prada Re-Edition 2000 Hobo bag, an archival style carried by the Italian label from 2000 to 2005 and brought back in 2020 with a recycled nylon material, is one of the notable purse callouts. Even before the revised version was released, Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, and Bella Hadid wore the simple and functional piece. Other nostalgic '00s bags highlighted in the report include Carrie Bradshaw's beloved Fendi Baguette, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, as well as roomier tote bags, such as Telfar's Shopping Tote, which has an average retention value of 193 percent, according to the report. (To be clear, retention value is the amount of money a handbag retains from its purchase price.)
"Obviously, there's a question of whether Telfar is a luxury brand," Rebag's Chief Merchandising Officer Elizabeth Layne tells TZR. "It does have many aspects that are similar to luxury brands, such as its drop model and scarcity, as well as some of its owners' strategic decisions." Nonetheless, according to the report, the brand's average value retention on the secondary market outperforms all legacy brands, including Hermès. The rest of the entry-level investment category was made up of more compact silhouettes, such as Chanel's Wallet on Chain, Gucci's Soho Chain Crossbody bag, and Louis Vuitton's Pochette Accessories. "Chanel's Wallet On Chain is still a couple of thousand dollars," she says, "but it's definitely much more accessible than buying your classic Flap bag." (In October 2022, the Wallet on Chain cost between $2,000 and $4,600 on Rebag.)
