Mulberry Mumsnetters.Mulberry chat thread!

[Allthingspretty]

As there are lots of Mulberry bag owners on here I thought it might be nice to have a chat about all things Mulberry.

[CardiCorgi]

Maybe this would be a good place to ask, do you know how one can find out where a particular Mulberry bag was made?

[mrsrhodgilbert]

There should be a small label inside with the country of manufacturer shown. Apparently new bags will not have this on anymore as some buyers are put off if their bag is not made in England.

[CardiCorgi]

Thanks, so you would have to look at the actual bag then, it's not as if all Bayswaters are made in the UK then? I would object somewhat, depending on where the bag is made, after all I thought part of the justification for the price tag was that the bags are made by skilled workers in Somerset.

Another question, how hard-wearing are they? I have bag lust but it would have to last for a jolly long time and be pretty hard working for me to part with that amount of money.

[AmberNectarine]

I have a couple that are 4-5 years old that are looking tired, and I have a lot of bags so they have not been intensively used in that time. Not sure I'd put my faith in them again.

[ElizaDoLots]

I had a couple of Mulberry bags that had to be returned due to broken zips (non leather) and an old leather Mulberry bag that I only started using about a year ago and looks a bit shoddy already. I'm not sure the quality is as good as it should be for the price.

[buttercrumble]

Im getting my first mulberry bayswater this thurs and am so exited. I just hope it lives up to the hype

[middleagedspread]

I've got a Mulberry Bayswater. I use it daily & is now wearing out. The seam (tube bit on the bottom) has worn through. Do you know if I could have it repaired? I've had it about 5 years.

[Allthingspretty]

middleyou can contact mulb customer service and they will be able to help you.

Amberwhat styles do you have?

[Chipstick10]

I have two bays and I'm selling one. I get bored and I'm a little bit over mulberry ATM. I am now coveting a balenciaga. I will have to save for a while but the wait will hopefully be worth it.

[santamarianovella]

chip, I'm selling mine too,had it for six years now,still in good condition,

I would say they are hard wearing,I used it for work,so, a laptop and files
wear constantly shoved in it,
Good choice with the balenciaga!lovely bags.

[Chipstick10]

Cheers santa you'll be the first to know when I finally have that beautiful squishy leather in my hands.

[Sh1ney]

I like them - but I only have specific ones!

A large black Anthony messenger and a small oak Anthony - also an oxblood daria. All bought from John Lewis as I'm paranoid about fakes! Along with a gorgeous Biba handbag that's it for me.

[Southeastdweller]

buttercrumble I remember your thread from a few months ago. Please report back on the bag and experience!

[HousewifeFromHeaven]

Chip and Santa where are you selling them?

[ZaraW]

I have three one is ten years old the Rampling I love it but it's looking tired. I have an Elgin which is about 5 years old and it's virtually indestructable looks better with age and finally I have a Bayswater which I like and is about three years old but I don't wear it so often as it's not so hard wearing as the other two.

I haven't shopped at Mulberry since they started doing the Celebrity thing with Alexa Chung and everyone else for me it cheapened the brand and their prices have seem to increased. I have read some people complaining the quality has gone down in the last few years.

My Bayswater was made in England and the Elgin in Turkey.

[carrie74]

I have [counts] 5. Don't really have any other day bags (and evening clutches are cheap-y numbers).

One must be about 10-12 years old (before the celeb days), and is a pretty plain bucket bag with plaid lining (bought from JL). I used it loads for a couple of years, then put it into retirement, but got it out again a few weeks ago. Yes, there is some wear on the edges, but still looks great to me.

Then an orangey-tan Anthony large messenger (bought from Shepton Mallet), which I used for years, every day. It's pretty worn, but I still get compliments on it. It's a great worker.

Chocolate Roxanne (bought from SM again). Too heavy to use frequently, but probably got a year's worth, and used a lot when the children were babies.

Khaki coloured Phoebe (another SM buy). Quite a nice all rounder, but fairly heavy. Again got it out the other day and used for a few days.

Pheasant green Daria Satchel (bought from my-wardrobe in their sale Dec 2011). Really good all-rounder, not heavy, but massive brass plate on front which is a bit off-putting. Very slouchy, soft leather, so I don't expect it last as long as the others (although is still going strong, and use it quite a lot).

Now the prices are extortionate, even in the outlets, plus fewer and fewer bags are made in Somerset (the factory is 20 mins from my house). It's become so much of a status symbol, whereas I've always bought mine due to their hard-wearing nature, and timeless style. It's also interesting wear I live - everyone knows someone who works/ed there. Just today my colleague said her Mum used to be a stitcher there, and did all the work at home. Fascinating.

[YoniOno]

Mulberry prices have seriously shot up lately! I want an Anya Hindmarch instead - similarly high quality and classic styles. I just returned a grey Maxi Zip to the Outnet as it's too big for me though... need one of the cross-body smaller versions but in the sale. Hard to justify spending full price on Mulberry or AH when you know they have 50% off in sales and still make a profit!

[ZaraW]

I'm looking at a Frye handbag next prices are reasonable compared to Mulberry and have been told they are hardwearing and thankfully without the "celebrity" endorsement.

[ElizaDoLots]

Carrie74 - I have bought from the factory shop too - much cheaper. I'm so glad I don't live 20 minutes away though - we would be so broke!

[Umlauf]

They often have good prices at the Bicester Village outlet. I got mine there (dont actually know its name but I think it was an exclusive to Bicester one) and paid 235quid which wasn't ridiculous as its a good size, fits A4 (just) and has worn incredibly for the last 2 years, still looks brand new.

I really want the cross body one next as having a baby and will need my hands free, plus it looks really unisex and DH keeps having to carry my bag for me....!

[Emo76]

Still dreaming of the watermelon alexa from a few years back. If anyone spots one...!

[AmberNectarine]

I've got a purple Roxanne Tote, A navy cracked metallic Bayswater, a grey leopard print Hayden, a denim Tilly clutch and a red Angelica. I sold my tan Roxanne as it was too heavy and my grey Antony as it was too boring for me. I also have a purse which I love (black with a tiger plaque) which I bought in the AW12 sales.

I don't get excited by the styles at the moment. And they've got a bit 'ten a penny', hence why I haven't bought a bag for a couple of years.

[foxysocks]

i just have one, a tan elgin which i bought from the edinburgh shop in 2004 with a friend's staff discount. i have used it LOADS, it's been practically round the world a few times as is great size for carry on luggage.

i got a campomaggi cross body bag for my birthday last year but before than i used the mulberry almost daily. i can't fault the quality and durability. it's lasted so well, and cost per use is minimal.

more recently have visited the factory shop and been put off by the incredibly high prices. over £600 with 30% off?! madness. however, I did get a lovely purse at the SM store a few weekends ago, it's current season and in selfridges for £300, i paid just over £100 (or rather, DH did!) and i love it.

[ToastedTeacakes]

Love Mulberry, even though I admit they've started to take the piss with pricing over the past few yrs.
I only own the one, a black Lily, which is my ultimate favourite bag and has held up beautifully. It always still feels like a novelty to wear it, the luxury just doesn't wear off (for me!).

Whenever I go to Selfridges they always tend to stand out amongst the other bags and I just naturally gravitate towards them. I was recently thinking of purchasing the Chloe Marcie Mini, but after seeing it in the store it really didn't compare very well - or at least it didn't fill me with the same sort of joy as the mulberry bags I have coveted. Perhaps it's all just personal opinion, of course, but I am yet to find another bag which actually makes me feel like spending such a large sum of money.

Wish they still made the camera bags.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Love a bit of Mulberry myself. The quality has (imo) declined though in recent years and I have been unhappy with customer service I have received on more than one occasion. Price rises are getting silly now. I can't take the new styles seriously. £1500 for a Willow tote is daft. You go to higher end designers if looking to spend that sort of money.