First off, you see some sources straight up saying “Yes, YSL bags are handmade!” and that the brand is all about the “craftsmanship” and “attention to detail.” Sounds super bougie and fancy, doesn’t it? Like, imagine some artisan meticulously stitching away, creating your perfect little luxury accessory.
But then BAM! Other sources swoop in and are like, “Hold up! YSL, yeah, French luxury, Paris headquarters and all that jazz, BUT the handbags and small leather goods? All made in Italy.” Okay, so not *totally* handmade, maybe? More like… industrially handmade? Does that even make sense? Probably not. My brain is already fried from thinking about it.
And then, you gotta consider the “YSL bag dupes” out there. Obviously, those ain’t handmade by YSL, lol. They’re, well, dupes. Copies. But it brings up the question: what *makes* a YSL bag a YSL bag? Is it the “handmade” aspect, or is it the design, the materials, the iconic YSL logo plastered all over it? Probably a combo of everything, right?
Honestly, I think the whole “handmade” thing is a bit of a marketing ploy. I mean, even if parts are assembled by hand in Italy, there’s probably still machines involved in cutting the leather and stuff. It’s not like some grandma in Tuscany is hand-sewing every single bag, you know? (Although, wouldn’t *that* be a story?!)
Plus, you’ve got the pre-owned market. You can snag a vintage Sac de Jour or a Lou bag for, hopefully, a little less than retail. But then you’re wondering, was *that* bag even more “handmade” than the ones they’re churning out today? Makes you think, doesn’t it?