Latest news with #GenZ-fuelled
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Why cute little bag charms are the fashion accessory of the moment
Years after Jane Birkin famously decorated her eponymous Hermès handbag with clusters of trinkets and strands of beads, bag charms have made a big comeback. Plush Labubu keychains helped revive the Gen Z-fuelled accessorise-your-accessory trend and catapulted it into the mainstream. Now charms are showing up on elite fashion runways and dangling from the purses of celebrities. Designer handbag makers, anxious for growth during a downturn, are especially eager to get in on the phenomenon. If affluent shoppers can't be persuaded to drop thousands of dollars on a new purse, perhaps they can be enticed to spend a few hundred dollars on a branded charm for a purse they already own. Read more: Still obsessed with Labubu? Sorry, fashion did the bag charm trend first Ethan Diaz, 24, used to splurge regularly on high-priced purses and streetwear that he would barely use. Now, bag charms enable him to quickly switch up the look of his purses without blowing his budget. He recently dressed up his US$695 (approximately RM2,930) Coach Soft Empire Carryall Bag with a handful of eclectic charms, including a US$120 (RM506) Longchamp keyring in the shape of a croissant. The commercial director from New Jersey began buying the embellishments a year ago and now owns 30, the most expensive being a US$1,010 (RM4,260) Louis Vuitton crab charm that doubles as a small pouch. "You can mix and match and put it on different bags, so you're not limited to one specific style,' Diaz said. Sales at luxury brands have been falling for several quarters, and companies are putting out more affordable and smaller accessories to reverse the slump and drive up store traffic. Last month LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE reported that second-quarter sales fell 9% in its key fashion and leather goods unit as shoppers reined in purchases of costly purses and clothing. Rival Kering reported that Gucci sales plunged 25% during the same period compared with a year earlier, while sales at Prada declined 3.6%. Shares in the companies are all down double digits in the last 12 months, and consultancy Bain & Co expects the personal luxury goods industry to shrink between 2% and 5% this year. That would be the worst performance since the 2009 global financial crisis if the pandemic is excluded. Tapping into the viral bag charm craze is "sensibly opportunistic' for luxury companies that might as well "make some money off the back of it', said Neil Saunders, managing director at analytics firm GlobalData. Tapestry Inc, which has been outperforming top-tier labels thanks to strong sales at its attainable luxury brand Coach, has expanded its assortment of charms there and at Kate Spade. The company plans to significantly increase the number of pieces offered at Kate Spade, where sales have been falling, during the holiday season. Unique bag charms provide "an accessible way in' to the two brands, said Alice Yu, Tapestry's vice president of strategy and consumer insights. Ultra-luxury brands have sold charms for years, but mainly as afterthoughts to big-ticket items. Many sold them online only. Now the charms are front and center in boutiques and at fashion shows. "If we don't get into this and lean into this, someone else will,' Saunders said of the prestige brands. And as some of their wealthy customers hold off on buying new purses and clothes, hooking them with a stylish bag charm helps maintain valuable client connections during a rough patch. "The worst thing for a brand is to lose a consumer completely,' he said. Read more: Do you own a BAB? Big bags, big vibes, and even bigger fashion statement During recent visits to Bloomingdale's stores, statement charms were featured throughout the handbags departments. At the retailer's Manhattan flagship, Prada was showcasing its US$825 (RM3,480) black and gold robot charm attached to a US$2,300 (RM9,700) backpack. In Los Angeles, Gucci's US$510 (RM2,150) dragonfly-shaped keychain was clipped to one of the handles of a US$1,950 (RM8,225) handbag, and three dog-shaped charms, US$450 (RM1,898) each, were lined up in a display case alongside monogram card holders and wallets. Although bag charms are booming, industry analysts caution that they can only bolster luxury brands to a point. Ultimately, charms "will make up a very small portion' in sales for premium fashion labels, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Deborah Aitken. "Enough to keep brands active in the minds of potential shoppers, but at very limited total value.' Louis Vuitton and Loewe declined to comment on their bag charm strategies or provide sales figures. Gucci and Fendi did not respond to requests for comment. Klevisa Hendrix, a 27-year-old content creator from Los Angeles, began buying bag charms this year after seeing them on the Coach runway and now has a dozen in her growing collection. She typically spends less than US$100 (RM422) on a single charm. "You want to be fashionable,' she said, "But you want to still be able to afford fashion.' – Bloomberg
Tatler Asia
01-07-2025
- Tatler Asia
8 Under-the-radar Southeast Asian night markets worth staying up for
2. Kampung Baru Night Market (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) A cultural stronghold in KL since 1899, Kampung Baru is a rare Malay enclave that has largely resisted gentrification. While Petaling Street evolved into a tourist-centric Chinatown, Kampung Baru's Saturday night market remains unapologetically traditional. Expect banana leaf-wrapped nasi lemak, smoky satay, kuih in vibrant hues and, during durian season, the pungent fruit in all its glory. Development pressure persists, but locals and heritage groups are fiercely protective of the area's identity. 3. Kampot Night Market (Kampot, Cambodia) Unlike Siem Reap's increasingly tourist-oriented Pub Street, Kampot's modest night market retains a distinctively local feel. Launched in the mid-2010s as part of a small-town revitalisation plan, it blends community fairground with street food haven. Mini amusement rides and live music lend it a family-friendly charm, while the food—especially the pepper crab, a nod to Kampot's spice-farming roots—remains the real draw. 4. Son Tra Night Market (Da Nang, Vietnam) Located at the intersection of Mai Hắc Đế and Lý Nam Đế streets, right beside the iconic Dragon Bridge, Son Trà Night Market is Da Nang's most vibrant and family-friendly night stroll. Open daily from early evening until around 11 pm, this street market—one of several in this coastal town—draws a mix of locals and domestic travellers, offering a warm, authentic alternative to more tourist-centric markets. Set in a neighbourhood where locals gather to eat and socialise after work, Son Trà has retained a genuine community vibe, without the polish meant for tourists. 5. Bugis Street (Singapore) Above Bugis Street in Singapore has undergone a Gen-Z evolution in recent years (Photo: Singapore Stock Photos/Unsplash) Bugis Street's roots trace back to its heyday in the mid-20th century, when it was famed for its nightlife and street hawkers. Sanitised in the late '90s into a commercial arcade, its edge seemed long lost. Today, however, a new subculture is taking root: think indie sneaker sellers, obscure snack vendors and thrift fashion pop-ups. It's not a throwback, but a Gen Z-fuelled evolution. Read more: Bugis food guide: 13 best restaurants, from Japanese to Singaporean fare 6. Pasar Malam Taman Connaught (Cheras, Kuala Lumpur) Once a suburban curiosity in the '90s, Taman Connaught's Thursday night market now stretches over two kilometres, making it one of Malaysia's longest markets. Locals still flock here for Taiwanese-style street snacks, Ramly burgers, oyster omelettes and bargain clothing. While Petaling Street tilts increasingly touristy, Connaught holds on to its neighbourhood-night-out charm. In case you missed it: 8 must-visit night markets in Taipei 7. Pasar Malam Bintulu / Bintulu Night Market (Sarawak, Malaysia) Far from the crowds of Kota Kinabalu's Filipino Market or Kuching's Waterfront Bazaar, Bintulu's night market is a lesser-known gem on Borneo's northern coast. It's a showcase of Sarawakian street food—think raw fish umai, sago worms, jungle produce—and is largely run by vendors from rural longhouses and fishing villages. Unpolished, unpretentious and deeply local, it's one of the remaining night markets that still feel like a true community gathering. 8. Sudirman Street Night Market (Bandung, Indonesia) As Jakarta's Tanah Abang and Glodok districts grew increasingly commercialised, Bandung stepped in as the cooler, more creative cousin. Sudirman Street Night Market, which opened in the 2010s, was envisioned as a walkable, hawker-style food destination that brings together Chinese-Indonesian street eats and youthful energy. Here, the focus is all about flavour: steamed fish siomay, pillowy bakpao, crispy tofu and a spectrum of snacks that reflect Bandung's multicultural culinary heritage. Neon signage, bold murals and strings of fairy lights lend the space a lively, street-art-meets-night-bazaar atmosphere. Popular with students, young families and day-trippers from Jakarta, it's a market that feels both local and fresh.
