Rebag's 2020 Luxury Resale Report

Foreword

In October 2019, we revealed Clair by Rebag, our Comprehensive Luxury Appraisal Index for Resale. Clair, with its instant offers, universal taxonomy, and standardized grading system, was designed to provide one thing: radical transparency to the opaque world of luxury resale.

Transparency has always been at the heart of Rebag, so in turn, our goal is to provide educational consumer resources that lift the veil over a seemingly exclusive industry.

With this in mind, we are excited to present to you the first-ever Clair Report, a consumer resource covering shifts within the luxury resale market pertaining to retained brand value, pricing trends, and significant changes in overall brand ranking since Clair’s 2019 debut.

“Since launching Clair in October 2019, our submissions have almost tripled. We see that as customers validating our approach to provide radical transparency. The resale industry is constantly changing. The Clair Report is our way of tracking those changes, sharing them with the public, and empowering consumers to make informed decisions and investments.”
CEO & Founder | Charles Gorra

The Value Of Brands

Using Clair data to take a closer look at the brands we all know and love, Rebag has calculated each brand’s average percentage of value retained compared to their retail prices for handbags and accessories.

Unsurprisingly, Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton have not wavered from the upper echelons of brand value, with Hermès handbags maintaining, on average, 80% of their value, while Chanel and LV held 63%.

Bottega Veneta

28% 38%
'19 vs '20 average value retention

+10% since 2019
Shop Bottega Veneta

Christian Dior

43% 56%
'19 vs '20 average value retention

+13% since 2019
Shop Christian Dior

Boosting Brand Value

Let’s take a closer look at rising stars Bottega Veneta and Christian Dior, whose values have increased from 2019 to 2020, thanks in large part to new collections.

In 2018, Bottega Veneta brought on a new Creative Director, Daniel Lee, who has since catapulted the fashion house into the spotlight. The handbag collections under his reign have been minimalist in design yet rich in quality, filling the void that Phoebe Philo’s departure from Celine had left behind. The appetite for Lee’s designs has dramatically influenced the brand’s rise in the rankings.

The Winners

95%
average value retention

Bottega Veneta
BV Jodie Hobo
Shop The BV Jodie

86% average value retention

Bottega Veneta
The Pouch
Shop The Pouch

The demand for Dior has increased since 2018 when the brand reissued its Saddle Bag model and released even more heavy hitters such as the Book Tote. Thanks to the trends of ‘vintage revival’ and ‘logomania,’ the current trend climate has been pushing the French luxury house upwards in value.

The Winners

109%
average value retention

Christian Dior
Saddle Rectangular Belt Bag
Shop The Belt Bag

98%
average value retention

Christian Dior
Book Tote
Shop The Book Tote

Resale Value Trends

The pricing of once-loved luxury goods tends to stump those who cannot decode their meaning, but in truth, an item’s resale value is often linked to trends across both the retail and resale realms.

Louis Vuitton Eva Crossbody

The pricing history of the Eva Crossbody is a lesson in scarcity driving demand. Overall, the Eva Crossbody has been a fan favorite since it was released in 2000 - and even more so when it was discontinued in 2014. Thanks to the mini-bag trend, plus the bag’s sleek design, recognizable print, and ability to transform from elegant shoulder bag to everyday crossbody, it’s easy to see why and how the resale value of this style continues to inflate.

Louis Vuitton
Eva Crossbody In Monogram Canvas
Shop The Eva Crossbody

Chanel Classic Double Flap Bag

The Classic Double Flap needs no formal introduction - it’s truly one of the most recognized, iconic styles in the luxury realm. The demand for this bag doesn’t seem to dwindle, which is precisely why when prices increase at the retail level, then resale value is quick to follow. Resale value quickly picked up early in 2020 when Chanel increased the European and US retail prices for their handbags. The Classic Flap in size Small was one of the hardest-hit styles, with an increase of more than 11% at the retail level and a significant surge in the resale market as well.

Chanel Classic Double Flap Bag

Chanel
Classic Double Flap Bag
In Quilted Caviar, Small
Shop The Classic Double Flap Bag

The Value Of Accessories

In the summer of 2020, Rebag began buying and selling some of the most coveted luxury accessories in addition to handbags, including sunglasses, belts, scarves, and small leather goods. With accessory purchases usually opening the gates to luxury loyalty, let’s review this small but mighty category.

At a respective 119% and 109% average value retention, both Key Holders and Pochettes reign supreme, but categories like Card Holders (96%) and Pouches (87%) are very close behind. The attractiveness of these categories is likely thanks to their functionality, much like handbags themselves.

The Value Of Wallets

The value of a brand is determined by the sum of all its parts, which is why it’s interesting to delve into brand strength from a different perspective: in this case, how some brands surprisingly hold more value than others in a little accessory category called “wallets.”

The leading brands of the wallet category include Christian Dior, Saint Laurent, Celine, and Gucci, which is quite the departure from the ‘Big Three’ we know as Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton. Dior is popular thanks to recent wallet collections that have a vintage touch to them, much like their most in-demand handbags.

Meanwhile, Saint Laurent’s wallets boast a clean, classic look and an iconic monogram, popular with luxury shoppers. It goes to show that brands can spread their value across categories and subcategories far beyond large leather goods.

Clair Picks

When it comes to investment-worthy luxury, we have the options to choose from right here. With data backing our every move, Clair by Rebag presents Clair Picks, the blue-chips of the resale market.

Handbags

Hermès Long Strap Evelyne Bag Epsom TPM
Clair Code
HB.HM.EV.EPSM.TPM
Cash
$1,315
73% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$1,580

The Hermès Evelyne Bag was conceived in 1978, initially designed to transport small equestrian goods, but in the mid-2000s, it became an everyday style worn beyond the stable. Generally speaking, the Evelyne model has been spiking upward in popularity with Hermès shoppers in recent years, but the Long Strap Evelyne is truly the prize winner.

Louis Vuitton OnTheGo Tote Limited Edition Reverse Monogram Giant MM
Clair Code
HB.LV.OTG.RMG.MM
Cash
$2,050
81% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$2,460

Chanel Classic Single Flap Bag Quilted Caviar Mini
Clair Code
HB.CH.CSF.QCA.MI
Cash
$2,680
71% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$3,220

Accessories

Christian Dior Saddle Flap Wallet Oblique Canvas Mini
Clair Code
WL.DI.SDFW.OBCV.MI
Cash
$325
56% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$390

Gucci GG Marmont Belt Leather Thin
Clair Code
BL.GC.GGBL.LE.THI
Cash
$225
63% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$270

Saint Laurent Classic Monogram Card Holder Matelasse Chevron Leather
Clair Code
CH.SL.CLMO.MCL
Cash
$190
69% of est. retail price
Rebag Credit
$230

Discussion With Founder Charles Gorra

Watch as the Founder and CEO of Rebag, Charles Gorra, talks us through the data unveiled in our first-ever Clair Report:

The Clair Report | Founder Charles Gorra Breaks Down Rebag’s 2020 Luxury Resale Report