When Tory Burch was first launched, their products carried a Made in USA label, but this popular American brand was one of the first to transition to Made in China.
A growing number of mid-tier fashion brands choose to keep their prices attainable and accessible by opting for Chinese manufacturers.
While these have a reputation for being poor quality, brands like Tory Burch show that you can get high-quality products without needing to manufacture in Europe or the US.
Initially labeled Made in USA, Tory Burch, a popular American brand, was one of the first to transition to Chinese manufacturing, challenging the perception of quality associated with production location (Credit: WENN / Avalon)
With its Made in China manufacturing, Tory Burch is the only New York-based brand to have gone international in the last 20 years, becoming arguably as successful as Kate Spade.
Tory Burch swapped to Chinese manufacturing around 2011, gradually moving all its production there. In an interview with South China Morning Post, she reflected on the early days of her brand, noting that the concept of accessible fashion wasn’t initially popular in the industry, although it appealed to her customers.
In the beginning, when I started, this idea of accessible wasn’t interesting to people. It was to our customer, but it wasn’t as cool to be accessible in the fashion world as it is today. But I thought it was interesting and challenging too to design beautiful things at that price point.
She found it interesting and challenging to create beautiful designs at an affordable price point. Burch achieved this by opting for production in China when most luxury brands were skeptical about maintaining high quality outside of Italy or France.
I’ve always embraced Made in China. The things we make in China are absolutely beautiful and the quality is outstanding and has got better over the years.
She has consistently embraced the ‘Made in China’ label, asserting that the quality of their products made in China is outstanding and has improved over time
Is Tory Burch a high-end designer?
Although a Tory Burch bag will cost several hundred dollars, it is not a “luxury” fashion brand. While it won’t compete against Louis Vuitton or Prada, it’s within the same brand category as Coach and Kate Spade.
It’s an ‘attainable luxury’ or mid-tier brand. You’ll spend more on a Tory Burch piece than a bag from Zara, but you’ll get a higher-quality item and brand name recognition.
Jessica Alba and Ashley Olsen sport Tory Burch bags, epitomizing the brand’s balance of quality and affordability within the ‘attainable luxury’ category (Credit: WENN)
Tory Burch is an ideal choice if you want a ‘designer’ brand without paying the top-dollar price of a luxury brand – and with the option of finding items brand new on sale or at the outlet stores.
Where can I purchase discounted Tory Burch bags?
As Tory Burch sits at a mid-range price point, they have outlet stores and regularly host sales throughout the year. It’s worth signing up online for their newsletter to know when their online sale or promotions start in-store.
If you have your eye on a Tory Burch, you can also guarantee it will go on sale at the end of the season. You can also try your luck on Amazon, which usually has discounted Tory Burch products.
Certain classic styles at the higher end of Tory Burch’s price point are harder to find, but even their most iconic pieces make it to the sales section.
How much do Tory Burch bags cost?
Tory Burch bags differ in price, often depending on the style and the material used. The current most expensive Tory Burch bag is the Lee Radziwill woven leather double bag, retailing for almost $1,600 at Nordstrom.
Showcasing one of the most expensive Tory Burch bags, the woven Lee Radziwill, which retails for nearly $1,600, exemplifying the brand’s high-end yet accessible pricing
Several of the Lee Radziwill bags retail around the $1000 price point, with the style being one of the most expensive offered by the brand.
For most classic styles, you can expect to pay around $500, including for the popular Kira bag. Some more affordable Tory Burch bags – such as the Miller clutch – retail for under $400.
The most affordable Tory Burch bag is the Ella Mini nylon tote, which retails for around $180 full price at Zappos.
Remember that discount codes and promotional offers are frequently available for current-season Tory Burch bags, allowing savings of 10-20% throughout the year.
The Ella Mini tote, one of Tory Burch’s most affordable bags, represents the brand’s commitment to offering stylish, quality accessories at various price points
When the semi-annual Tory Burch sale starts online and in-store, most of the seasonal bags will drop in price by 50%. If heading to the outlet store, you can save even more money from your Tory Burch bag.
You’ll usually find these bags marked down by 20-50%, with promotional offers popping up to allow you to save an additional amount.
As Tory Burch is not a luxury brand, it doesn’t retain its value like a Louis Vuitton or Gucci bag. You can usually expect to save by buying Tory Burch bags second-hand, but you want to ensure you’re purchasing an authentic bag.