Yellow Rose of Texas: It's actually red and from L.A.

[Posh]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE REPGEEK HOT MAMAS!

Hello all! I just recently got a genuine Monogram Roses Speedy 30 as gift from my man (I have several Speedys (in Monogram Canvas, Damier and Damier Azur) because they are just too cute and fairly practical for the way they are designed). We went down to the Louis Vuitton in Bethesda and picked up the limited edition MR Speedy sans wait list easily because, well, I'm kind of a big deal.

There seems to be some confusion, though, about the Stephen Sprouse Collection and where some of the pieces are made. I've been meaning to write this since last month but got wrapped up in work, myself and my foray into French cooking lessons which I slot between pilates and yoga on Wenedsday, the day I usually start writing for pleasure (and profit). Anyway, Mother's Day is as good a day as any, right?

Anyway, Louis Vuitton has officially stated that they have about nine factories in several major First World countries, including America. Now, there's talk that they actually have many more factories than that in many other places but refuse to admit it and manage to kill any report, article or book that dares to ever mention otherwise. LVMH, Richemont and PPR are EXTREMELY powerful organizations that can easily back up threats to make sure you never work or counterfeit again with muscle.

One of their factories is outside L.A. in a heavily secured facility with workers all subject to intense confidentiality agreements, gag orders, you name it. The security precautions taken at this facility would NSA blush! They happen to make all the Monogram Roses Speedys for most of North America there, along with bags from several other lines. But every single replica MR Speedy says 'made in France,' which is fine if you're not in America! Knowing that traveling abroad or even down the street has been curtailed for many Americans due to this severe economic slump, I don't believe saying that you got it on vacation in Spain is quite as believeable as it once may have been. If you're an American or even Canadian, your chances having a Monogram Roses bag from France are almost non-existant. I mean, if the tag wasn't so prominent, it wouldn't be so bad but the country of origin tag is on top at the end of the zipper track! It's not small and it's not unnoticeable.

As you all know, I'm a BIG proponent of replicas and don't really recommend buying genuine anything, especially of crap like "luxury" watches, "luxury" bags, diamonds (which are Forever, right? WRONG.) and all that stuff, however in the case of the MR Speedy and entire Sprouse collection you have no choice but to go genuine. It's the only way to get an item that is the right color intensity (Sprouse is about INTENSE colors) and glows in the dark. If the item in question can't both of these things, it's useless because that's a dead giveaway. And if you think you'll only carry it in the day because no one carries a blacklight on their person, then you've never met people like my parents who are avid antiquers. Antiquers ALWAYS carry a blacklight with them and will pull it out anywhere! With your luck, you'll meet the one person in the world who has one and wants to see your Sprouse glow.

Please note that the Roses bags are more likely to be made outside of France, most likely America. The Grafitti bags are more likely to be from France. As far as Sprouse replicas go, it's hit or miss, people. Some bags are spot on, most simply aren't. You need to see detailed pictures before buying any of them or you are just GAGGING for heartache and anger.

I am including below pictures of the bag so you can see for yourself and compare to bags you may have been considering. I tried to get pictures that show the color saturation which is rich and deep, where most replicas fall short. They're large so watch out! I have no idea how to resize them to a level between this and the too small that is my other choice because the BF, who took the pictures, is out-of-town on business and I just don't do anything picture related well. Enjoy!




The INFAMOUS tag!


















Anyway, hope some of this helps Sprouse mouse in your house!

[Triple-d]

ALL RIGHT!!!!!

Your article was so good Posh...........thinking I will pick one up to carry my private stock moonshine in.

Very nice write as usual!!

[Posh]

ALL RIGHT!!!!!

Your article was so good Posh...........thinking I will pick one up to carry my private stock moonshine in.

Very nice write as usual!!

Thanks! Ya know . . . that wouldn't look right. LOL Perhaps a Keepall in Monogram Roses would be better!

[Ximenes]

Wow. good info... Thanks Posh...

I was wondering about the activity at one of the LA area abandoned underground MX missile silo sites. This confirms what locals were inclined to believe already, that Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses are being produced there.

"One of their factories is outside L.A. in a heavily secured facility with workers all subject to intense confidentiality agreements, gag orders, you name it. The security precautions taken at this facility would NSA blush! They happen to make all the Monogram Roses Speedys for most of North America there"

[Posh]

Wow. good info... Thanks Posh...

I was wondering about the activity at one of the LA area abandoned underground MX missile silo sites. This confirms what locals were inclined to believe already, that Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses are being produced there.

"One of their factories is outside L.A. in a heavily secured facility with workers all subject to intense confidentiality agreements, gag orders, you name it. The security precautions taken at this facility would NSA blush! They happen to make all the Monogram Roses Speedys for most of North America there"

Shhhhh! I didn't tell you any of this! Oh, God . . . I'm so scared. So scared. They followed me home the other evening. I SAW them. They mostly come at night. Mostly.

What was that noise? I can't stay here. I gotta keep moving! I'll send word of my next location through "Silverman."

[Ximenes]

Shhhhh! I didn't tell you any of this! Oh, God . . . I'm so scared. So scared. They followed me home the other evening. I SAW them. They mostly come at night. Mostly.

What was that noise? I can't stay here. I gotta keep moving! I'll send word of my next location through "Silverman."

Oh-oh... spy cam pic verification...

[Dave123]

I will never get the LV bag thing,even my wife thinks they are ugly,Chanel,Fendi but no LV.

The chinese love them though,oddly enough as reps come from China,go into a LV shop here,Hawaii,Vegas...nothing but chinese women,all of the store.

Whats up with that,Posh?...they do make one tacky bag,looks like its made out of a garbage bag,and you only find chinese women in the stores buying them,you are chinese i assume...

[dragonxking]

excellent choice, posh. the floral design is perfect for the season.

[stolikat]

That litte girl....

[stolikat]

She is east coast.....we watch our ladies on the west.....unreal..

[stolikat]

dave....when are you out kickin it? west side?

[stolikat]

really? Its just me? Posh? Help....

[mrs-h-]

Posh, Congrats on the new bag, its gorgeous, i had no idea the colours were so vivid.

[Posh]

I will never get the LV bag thing,even my wife thinks they are ugly,Chanel,Fendi but no LV.

The chinese love them though,oddly enough as reps come from China,go into a LV shop here,Hawaii,Vegas...nothing but chinese women,all of the store.

Whats up with that,Posh?...they do make one tacky bag,looks like its made out of a garbage bag,and you only find chinese women in the stores buying them,you are chinese i assume...

I admire Louis Vuitton: the man, the brand and the company. I am very familiar with their history and have read just about every book written about the company that has come out. What happens now, which is what they want ultimately, is that I align myself with the values of the brand. I am very big on travel and exploring the world around you, something they've emphasized with recent campaigns. Louis Vuitton makes items that support you on that trip through life and the world, like a trusty friend and companion you can count on to be there at all the milestones of your journey. Everything they make isn't gold but most of their decisions and products I absolutely adore! The choice to have Marc Jacobs as their creative director was a move to show that while they honor their history, they also look forward to the future and want to expand what their brand stands for and with whom they want to identify. There's literally a product for any and every person available to them from the company. For the Park Avenue dowager, there's the classic Monogram Canvas, Nomade or Vernis. For the Pharrell Williams luxury skateboarder set, there's Murakami. For the Tribeca beauty and her hipster boyfriend, there's Sprouse. No other brand has the ability to reach all demographics the way LVMH can. Is that bad? Depends on who you ask.

Now, it was mentioned in several books about the Asian market that I've read that for many of the new adopters of luxury goods, like Louis Vuitton, the brand's heritage is less important than what it stands for today. They don't care necessarily that Louis Vuitton's core business used to be (and still is) fashionable luggage/bags and accessories for some of the world's most famous and influential people of all time. They care that it's expensive and conveys status onto the person owning it. Many can't pronounce the name 'Louis Vuitton' or names of the products but they know that it's coveted and desired by almost everyone the world over. For many, that's enough.

excellent choice, posh. the floral design is perfect for the season.

Thanks, Dragon. I think so too! It's just one of those things that you see and say, "That's a Louis Vuitton bag but it's covered in roses! How sweet!" It just brightens your day. I'm looking at it now and smiling!

really? Its just me? Posh? Help....

You need all the help you can get. Hold on, my mom's a psychotherapist. I'll go get her!

Posh, Congrats on the new bag, its gorgeous, i had no idea the colours were so vivid.

Thanks, Mrs. H. They really pop both indoors and out. But get it near a blacklight and watch out. It's OUT OF CONTROL!

[SFA437]

Posh- excellent write up. The Missus has been looking at the roses and drooling so it might be one of those for my last HURRAH before I go into semi-retirement after surgery.

As a side note for all you people who think this information is useless......

State Dept had a little soiree I was invited to at the New Embassy Complex. Started chatting with an older woman (definite cougar territory here) who obviously had more than a modicum of class. Somewhere between discussing Maliki's devaluation of the dinar to cover graft losses and Jeish al-Mehdi I noticed she had a Damier Azur Speedy under her seat.

I commented on the bag by name and her eyes flat out LIT UP!

Keep in mind I am known amongst State Dept people over here for what I do for a living- field ops.

Her attitude changed dramatically from somewhat frosty (State people generally don't like DoD field ops people- all uncultured and all that) to downright warm.

One thing led to another and I now have an opportunity to get onboard with a major import consortium to be set up here in Baghdad within the next few months. Might help me keep my house out on Long Island now that I am officially (as far as DoD is concerned) in the crap heap.

All because Posh educated me on what LV was, what the styles of bags they make and what pattern is what.

She was, is and always will be an asset here. Her posts have done more to inform me on the female side of fashion and status than anything else I can think of.

So far, her posts are the only ones that have helped me land employment- kind of setting the bar high eh boys?

[Posh]

Posh- excellent write up. The Missus has been looking at the roses and drooling so it might be one of those for my last HURRAH before I go into semi-retirement after surgery.

As a side note for all you people who think this information is useless......

State Dept had a little soiree I was invited to at the New Embassy Complex. Started chatting with an older woman (definite cougar territory here) who obviously had more than a modicum of class. Somewhere between discussing Maliki's devaluation of the dinar to cover graft losses and Jeish al-Mehdi I noticed she had a Damier Azur Speedy under her seat.

I commented on the bag by name and her eyes flat out LIT UP!

Keep in mind I am known amongst State Dept people over here for what I do for a living- field ops.

Her attitude changed dramatically from somewhat frosty (State people generally don't like DoD field ops people- all uncultured and all that) to downright warm.

One thing led to another and I now have an opportunity to get onboard with a major import consortium to be set up here in Baghdad within the next few months. Might help me keep my house out on Long Island now that I am officially (as far as DoD is concerned) in the crap heap.

All because Posh educated me on what LV was, what the styles of bags they make and what pattern is what.

She was, is and always will be an asset here. Her posts have done more to inform me on the female side of fashion and status than anything else I can think of.

So far, her posts are the only ones that have helped me land employment- kind of setting the bar high eh boys?

Thanks, S! I wouldn't really consider it my best work but the info was important for many people to have and I wanted to put it out there. There are people hoping against hope that their bag passes muster in ALL situations and I'm not sure just yet that most Sprouse replicas are ready for prime time. I have been shuddering at the thought that this financial crisis, which has affected makers of luxury goods as much as suppliers of the raw materials that go into them, might have hit counterfeiters just as deeply. And as we know how they cut corners when times are good, imagine how they must be trying to cope now. This is my biggest fear and it is slowly being realized lately with what I hear people are receiving from certain replica bag purveyors, bag purveyors that in the past have been otherwise known for top notch quality.

That's funny that my love of luxe has helped you land a job too. It's helped me, certainly. But you would've gotten it either way.

[SoCal Transplant]

They mostly come at night. Mostly.

Is my inner geek showing or is that a reference to an Aliens quote?

Thanks for another great post.

This is my biggest fear and it is slowly being realized lately with what I hear people are receiving from certain replica bag purveyors, bag purveyors that in the past have been otherwise known for top notch quality.

Which sites? I've been saving to get a rep birkin from a certain site but would need to reconsider if it was one of the ones you've heard bad things about.

[samurai jack]

Excellent post Posh

[Posh]

Is my inner geek showing or is that a reference to an Aliens quote?

Thanks for another great post.



Which sites? I've been saving to get a rep birkin from a certain site but would need to reconsider if it was one of the ones you've heard bad things about.

It is an Aliens quote. But I can honestly say that I wouldn't have recalled it if my BF wasn't such a big South Park fan. I remembered it being said by a character from a South Park episode that I watched with him and asked him why he thought that was so funny. Then he explained and I thought it was pretty cute. I've been waiting for a chance to use it somewhere. LOL

As far as replica Birkins go, the really bad sites are usually the first to appear on Google searches, which is how most people begin their foray into replicas. They tend to have slightly off stitching, be out-of-shape and use significantly cheaper leather than even the worst leather replica you could find. They are often priced under $100 or just over one hundred dollars, and that's WITHOUT a wholesale price for multiple bags per order. The replicas used to be far worse than that but they've caught up so quickly in terms of quality and indenticality to the genuine that many Hermes stores no longer authenticate at the store level, something they could do readily a decade ago.

Excellent post Posh

Thanks, Jack! I always count on you to give it to me straight!