How Designer Brands Keep You Poor

They target the poor, not the rich. Buying designer brand products can trap you in a cycle of chasing status, sinking debt, and losing out on the chance to build real wealth. Let's talk about why designer brands will keep you poor.

In this video essay, we're talking about how designer brands, from Hermes to Louis Vuitton to Rolex, are bad for your financial health. Spending money on designer items comes at a cost to your bank account and to our planet. These flashy brands create a fake illusion of wealth, but are they what actual wealthy people buy?

Want more videos on money, media, society, and intentional living? Be sure to subscribe for more video essays!

#videoessay #videoanalysis #personalfinance #designerbrands #tiktok #moneymanagement #consumerism

If you like this video, check out these other video essays on money & society!

Time Stamps:
00:00 The Birkin Bag
01:59 We seek manufactured status
03:17 Keep you poor
03:35 Targeting the poor
05:28 'Millionaire Next Door'
06:08 Celebrities wear designer though, right?
07:15 Preying on those who can't afford
07:53 The 'Pretty Woman Effect'
09:19 Trapped in the cycle of chasing
10:33 Intention living
10:56 Designer brands wastefulness
12:12 Fashion industry is a menace to our planet
14:12 Climate change impact on poverty
14:44 "Investment Pieces"
16:29 Designer bag vs Stocks
18:31 Final thoughts

Want to read more? Here were some of the sources I used while researching for this video:

[mathewhoward]

A wise man once said he'd sooner have a plastic bag with 5k in it rather than a 5k bag with nothing in it.

[winterbutterfly]

Once my sister told me "when you're buying something, you're not spending money, you're spending time, all the time it takes you to work to earn that amount" and that has helped me to be more mindful about what do I spend my money on. Because, even if you feel like you can make that money back, you can't get time back.

[christinaedwards]

Being free from debt makes you richer than 99% of people.

Sleeping well and not being scared of the mailman walking up the driveway with letters, priceless!

[lonelywife]

The woman that reacted to staff rudeness by going back and buying thousands in the same store gave me whiplash, like... Why? You're rewarding them, reacting exactly how they want! You're not "showing them" lmao

[quietstormvalley]

My mother was a seamstress, she would ask my sisters and I to choose outfits from the clothing catalogue. Mum would buy the fabric and make exact replicas for us to wear. Today I enjoy making my own clothes to wear, recently I bought a book on shoe making. R.I.P Mum!

[electrobuilds]

"They're selling you a costume so you can pretend to look rich." - that's deep. Thank you!

[mira]

A 40ish unemployed single mom living off her middle class parents was bragging how she’s on Hermes’ customer list and is covered head to toe in designer clothing … she’s exactly what you are describing.

[virginiemazy]

I like the fact that you said they target the poor.
It’s exactly that !
Look at the people queuing at Hermes or Vuitton …
They prey on the lack of self esteem. And people confuse bling with class….

[tomlxyz]

What annoys me most is that more and more expensive brands are actually using cheap materials. So you don't even have that going for it anymore

[hayleygerbil]

I once walked through a Harvey Nichols shop just looking at the bags. I was about 19 or so and working in a supermarket at the time. I saw the staff looking down their noses at me. It did not make me want to shop there, I just found it amusing because someone who is getting paid the same minimum wage as me is looking down on me. Truly outstanding.

[pinkpotatoes]

What creeped me out is when LV, Chanel shop assistants were really nice to me, and I feel it's because I am Chinese and lots of Chinese do buy big. I don't spend money on luxury brands. I just look for inspiration.

[thevinylreview]

I had seen a video about how Mark Zuckerberg’s seemingly plain shirt was actually a $400 custom-made shirt. Just because there is no logos on rich peoples clothing does not mean that they didn’t spend exorbitant amounts on it. I’m not saying that’s the case for all rich people, but we need to be careful when assessing what other rich people are doing and trying to compare it to what we should, or shouldn’t do

[soxnation]

It blows my mind that a handbag could cost 10K plus. I saved up several years to buy an upright piano for that amount. If you look at the inside of a piano, the detailed and precise mechanisms of the key actions for 88 keys, the soundboard, etc, then compare that to...a literal bag...it is a just mindboggling.

[southernbellechef]

“Designer brands are selling a costume to pretend to look rich.” Gurrrrl you are brilliant.

[jennifer-zyrz]

I agree designer brands are targeted to the poor, like LV and Gucci, but not Hermes. With how difficult it is to get for just anyone, it actually is for the rich.

[wardayousufi]

Its an understatement to just call you as a Youtuber...This is some honest, pure high class JOURNALISM with excellent research and a deep message....
Mad respect for you girl ❤
Be blessed...

[SupaSweetKay]

My cousin and I were once treated extremely poorly in a Prada store. Where as I wanted to leave and never step foot in that store again, my cousin spent over $1000 on a pair of sunglasses, just to prove that she actually did have money. The woman who was rude to us, profited off of her disrespect and belittling… this is so eye opening

[alygreg]

A better option would to buy a bag from a local craftsman. It supports the community and you can directly trace it's origin. One of a kind! Not to mention it will cost a lot less.

[Jane_Doe_]

I've bought "designer" before, though I think they call it "contemporary". I was tired of wasting my money on polyester bags that start falling apart after a year and don't even look good in the first place, so I bought a Coach camera bag for 130$ that was on sale (originally close to 300$ i think). I'm very happy with the quality and I'm looking forward to using it for many years. I see it as a way to save myself money long-term

[SL-dnrn]

At some point during my teen years, I had a phase of wanting branded stuff until I entered college where I felt more comfortable with hand-me-downs (which majority of my jackets are still in top quality despite being decades older than fast fashion brands). Also having worked in a fashion company after my college, I can guarantee no one gives a damn what brand you wear. Just be creative and buy when you need or feel like it as long as you know what you are doing with it.