To wonder who in their right mind would pay more than £200 for a raffia bag?

[Bluestocking]

I honestly don't care what people spend their money on - but how could anyone think that a raffia bag, however nice, could be worth more than £200?

If they can afford to spend £200 on a bag and they think it is worth it then, good for her or him :)

I couldn't buy a bag of any sort for £200.

And I could boggle that someone would consider that a worthwhile spend.

£200??

I've just bought a raffia bag with leather handles for £4.99 in a sale! It does the job I want it to do, so why would I want to pay any more?

YANBU. £200 would definitely be the most I would spend on a raffia bag, no more.

Well if it was woven by virgins in Essex I suppose it could be worth it on rarity value.....

Quite right too, Jeezy! I certainly wouldn't go over £200.

Surely, just as you're entitled to think it's mad to spend £200 on a raffia bag, the person who spends £200 on a raffia bag is entitled to think it's perfectly reasonable?

There is loads of over priced things out there, in every consumer catergory that exists. Why are you picking on bags? I love bags, and if had millions, I'd happily spend thousands on bags.

Liz jones?

Of course everyone is entitled to spend their money, as much of it as they like, on exactly what they like. It's just that this is a particularly good example of "added value" - the raw materials involved must cost, ooh, let's think, all of 20p per bag , and the labour, gosh, that'll be at sweatshop rates so let's say 50p per bag. I just wish I'd thought of this extraordinarily profitable business model.

Freddos, I'm not picking on bags particularly, I just happened to stumble upon this website when I was looking for a bag and was amazed by how expensive these particular bags were.

Agree the raw materials might well cost a whole lot less than the £200 cost of the bag, but if spending that sort of money, I'd certainly hope for it to be made in U.K., and at least, not in a country where it could be made in a sweatshop.

@ rogers

At the risk of being accused of becoming obsessed, I've just read the company prospectus, and they say nothing at all about where or how the items are made - but make a big song and dance about their eco-chic credentials. So my assumption is that they are made in a sweatshop, because if they were ethically produced, they'd make a big hoo-hah about that as well.

It's extortion. I've got a nice bag I think from Accessorize a few years ago. Lined. For not much. Only use it on holiday. £275 for an unlined rafia bag.

Who the hell is mad enough to spend £200 on any bag?

To make it worse they are unlined so cheapskate finish too!!!

I'd avoid that website then, Bluestocking. I'd only part with a large sum like that if I had all the information I wanted and it met with my expectations. Don't think there's anything wrong with the concept of spending that amount on a bag, as long as it's not making some fatcat rich at their employees' (and my) expense.

ugly bags at ridiculous prices. why? because women are stupid.

Not all bags are ugly and not all women are stupid.

Women are stupid???

Speak for yourself.

YANBU. I wouldn't spend £200 (or £100 for that matter) on any bag. Just don't get the whole bags thing at all.

It's just a bag - as are all bags.

It's not a statement trendsetting must-have latest look cult label aesthetic essential style catwalk next-season architectural palette theme bling silhouette handcrafted retro key piece.

It's a bag.

I looked for the same thing, OP! Loads of stuff about hand-picking and sorting the raffia, lengthy dyeing processes and the intricacy of the stitches. All this is done by "artisans" in "workshops", who are not shown or mentioned except when frequently stressing the high standards they are held to.

I imagine skilled manual workers are quite cheap in Madagascar.