The long wait finally ended! My dears, I finally bought my dream Via Venetto (VV) bag today lunchtime at the store's Greenbelt branch. Yey!
In my attempt to curb my shopaholic tendencies, I adopted this habit of logging my "desires of the moment" in a 30-day wish list, i.e., (1) If I still think about the item 30 days after the "love-at-first-sight" date, and (2) I have the means to buy it, then I'd go ahead with the purchase. I believe it has worked for me so far, cutting down my impulse buys to zero. In the case of my dream VV bag, I saw it first on Labor Day sale (May 1) at the Glorietta 5 branch, but stopped myself. It's been more than one month since then, and finally, I felt entitled to the purchase. The 30-day wait adds more value I believe. Although I had and still have more items on my list, I feel that I have strengthened my self-control through this "30-day wish list" habit. When my conditions (1) and (2) are met but the item is no longer available then, I just say that it's not meant for me :( Well, a lot like most aspects in life and love huh.
Back to my VV bag...The bag is in Citrus/Orange (my new fave next to all the pretty shades of blue (what are considered "pretty" is a case-to-case assessment). The main bag is made of Nubuck leather with brown calf skin handles and red lining. It looks like a medium-sized hobo bag to me, soft all over, and with sturdy adjustable handles. I wouldn't mind the marks made on the Nubuck leather when you touch it; I just believe it adds character to the bag and makes it your own (instead of a mere display unit on a shelf). It has metal feet at the base so it can stand on its own when placed on a flat area. I was informed that Via Venetto actually imports their materials from Italy but the bags are made here; they were able to get away with obtaining the same materials from the same sources as the high-end brands because according to the store's owner, Yolanda "Ging" Pajaro, she wasn't considered a threat since she's from a third-world country (Ha! I just hope that these high-end brands would eat their hearts out when Via Venetto gets into the international market) The reasons why I patronize this store: the owner is a former UP teacher-turned-business woman, it provides jobs for Filipino shoe and bag makers, and the service is - I must say - personalized. (Sources: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2005, manilastandardtoday.com)
The nice sales lady, Letty, gave me a 15 % discount even if it wasn't Sale Day then (actually sale days here are quite rare). How kind of her. Maybe my strong desire and wistfulness were so transparent that she read through it. Thankfully she empathized with me. Haha. She was kind enough to answer my never ending queries on how to "preserve" my bag. Obviously, the OC that I am, I just have to know which eraser works best with the bag's material...whether it can survive the rain (or needs a raincoat, yikes - well, I found out that it's not as OA as the other high-end brands)...what are the specifications of each material (if only to confirm its craftsmanship, or just so I would know if anyone cares to ask, though my memory bank is not that retentive considering that I'm completely in love with it, for no less than 30 days already, mind you )...and finally, if she could give me more discount, haha (the initial discount was 10% just so I could get it, then I somehow convinced her that there are a few streaks on the leather, which may be worth an additional discount). She was kind, what can I say. So far, my experiences with Via Venetto sales ladies have been always pleasant as they are well-trained and accommodating, not snobbish like most high-end boutiques. No offense meant there; maybe that snob demeanor has its purpose - to keep the simpletons away and to discipline the impulses of the rich and famous; sorry, but that's still snobbish in my humble opinion. As long as you have strong security measures in place in your store, the sales people shouldn't be concerned that a curious passerby will steal the expensive bags. My friends even joke that the alarm sensors at the entrance of these stores have been configured to detect a shopper's credit card limit. How embarrassing when you walk in with that BDO 4gives credit card, for example, which usually has a four-digit credit line. Hah! Insane.
So in my case, I try my best to always BUY FILIPINO, especially for non-essentials. I think that the international brands are ridiculously priced. This super-extra premium on the cost of production results into the breathtaking sales tags, securely hidden in some discreet location (like secret pockets), so you would have a few more seconds of the "five-sense heaven" before the "who-knows-how-they-came-up-with-these-digits" sales tag floors you (hopefully only figuratively). Come to think of it - our good quality Filipino brands are under-rated. We can produce as good or even better quality; we just lack resources for marketing and promotions, as well as government support.
I have a tough weekend ahead, but maybe my VV Bag will serve as an advance reward. Thank you Lord for this blessing :)
P.S. Trivias (just for kicks):
- Nubuck is top-grain cattle rawhide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface. It is resistant to wear, and may be white or colored. Nubuck was used by cowboys as it was light and comfortable. (Source: wikipedia)
- Nubuck vs. Suede: Suede is created from the inner side of a hide, whereas nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness along with a fine grain. It is generally more expensive than suede, and must be colored or dyed heavily to cover up the sanding and stamping process.
The word "nubuck" is probably derived from "New Buck".(Source: Wikipedia)
- The Alexander McQueen Novak Leather bag (released Sept. 6, 2005) in bowling style costs about $1,190. Whew! (Source: Net-A-Porter)
- Alexander McQueen's Novak flagship bag took inspiration from legendary screen siren, Kim Novak, famous for her smoldering role in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. (Source: bagbunch.com)
In my attempt to curb my shopaholic tendencies, I adopted this habit of logging my "desires of the moment" in a 30-day wish list, i.e., (1) If I still think about the item 30 days after the "love-at-first-sight" date, and (2) I have the means to buy it, then I'd go ahead with the purchase. I believe it has worked for me so far, cutting down my impulse buys to zero. In the case of my dream VV bag, I saw it first on Labor Day sale (May 1) at the Glorietta 5 branch, but stopped myself. It's been more than one month since then, and finally, I felt entitled to the purchase. The 30-day wait adds more value I believe. Although I had and still have more items on my list, I feel that I have strengthened my self-control through this "30-day wish list" habit. When my conditions (1) and (2) are met but the item is no longer available then, I just say that it's not meant for me :( Well, a lot like most aspects in life and love huh.
Back to my VV bag...The bag is in Citrus/Orange (my new fave next to all the pretty shades of blue (what are considered "pretty" is a case-to-case assessment). The main bag is made of Nubuck leather with brown calf skin handles and red lining. It looks like a medium-sized hobo bag to me, soft all over, and with sturdy adjustable handles. I wouldn't mind the marks made on the Nubuck leather when you touch it; I just believe it adds character to the bag and makes it your own (instead of a mere display unit on a shelf). It has metal feet at the base so it can stand on its own when placed on a flat area. I was informed that Via Venetto actually imports their materials from Italy but the bags are made here; they were able to get away with obtaining the same materials from the same sources as the high-end brands because according to the store's owner, Yolanda "Ging" Pajaro, she wasn't considered a threat since she's from a third-world country (Ha! I just hope that these high-end brands would eat their hearts out when Via Venetto gets into the international market) The reasons why I patronize this store: the owner is a former UP teacher-turned-business woman, it provides jobs for Filipino shoe and bag makers, and the service is - I must say - personalized. (Sources: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2005, manilastandardtoday.com)
The nice sales lady, Letty, gave me a 15 % discount even if it wasn't Sale Day then (actually sale days here are quite rare). How kind of her. Maybe my strong desire and wistfulness were so transparent that she read through it. Thankfully she empathized with me. Haha. She was kind enough to answer my never ending queries on how to "preserve" my bag. Obviously, the OC that I am, I just have to know which eraser works best with the bag's material...whether it can survive the rain (or needs a raincoat, yikes - well, I found out that it's not as OA as the other high-end brands)...what are the specifications of each material (if only to confirm its craftsmanship, or just so I would know if anyone cares to ask, though my memory bank is not that retentive considering that I'm completely in love with it, for no less than 30 days already, mind you )...and finally, if she could give me more discount, haha (the initial discount was 10% just so I could get it, then I somehow convinced her that there are a few streaks on the leather, which may be worth an additional discount). She was kind, what can I say. So far, my experiences with Via Venetto sales ladies have been always pleasant as they are well-trained and accommodating, not snobbish like most high-end boutiques. No offense meant there; maybe that snob demeanor has its purpose - to keep the simpletons away and to discipline the impulses of the rich and famous; sorry, but that's still snobbish in my humble opinion. As long as you have strong security measures in place in your store, the sales people shouldn't be concerned that a curious passerby will steal the expensive bags. My friends even joke that the alarm sensors at the entrance of these stores have been configured to detect a shopper's credit card limit. How embarrassing when you walk in with that BDO 4gives credit card, for example, which usually has a four-digit credit line. Hah! Insane.
So in my case, I try my best to always BUY FILIPINO, especially for non-essentials. I think that the international brands are ridiculously priced. This super-extra premium on the cost of production results into the breathtaking sales tags, securely hidden in some discreet location (like secret pockets), so you would have a few more seconds of the "five-sense heaven" before the "who-knows-how-they-came-up-with-these-digits" sales tag floors you (hopefully only figuratively). Come to think of it - our good quality Filipino brands are under-rated. We can produce as good or even better quality; we just lack resources for marketing and promotions, as well as government support.
I have a tough weekend ahead, but maybe my VV Bag will serve as an advance reward. Thank you Lord for this blessing :)
P.S. Trivias (just for kicks):
- Nubuck is top-grain cattle rawhide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface. It is resistant to wear, and may be white or colored. Nubuck was used by cowboys as it was light and comfortable. (Source: wikipedia)
- Nubuck vs. Suede: Suede is created from the inner side of a hide, whereas nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness along with a fine grain. It is generally more expensive than suede, and must be colored or dyed heavily to cover up the sanding and stamping process.
The word "nubuck" is probably derived from "New Buck".(Source: Wikipedia)
- The Alexander McQueen Novak Leather bag (released Sept. 6, 2005) in bowling style costs about $1,190. Whew! (Source: Net-A-Porter)
- Alexander McQueen's Novak flagship bag took inspiration from legendary screen siren, Kim Novak, famous for her smoldering role in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. (Source: bagbunch.com)
