"It makes people think you could potentially work for a big company."

fatchowmein

Or perhaps work at Polk Audio? :biggrin:

Always fascinates me how societies/cultures do things differently.

In China, alpha males carry designer purses

By David Pierson, Los Angeles Times

February 7, 2011

Reporting from Beijing —

Tiger Zhang browsed the sweaters at the Hugo Boss boutique at the upscale Oriental Plaza mall looking for fashionable additions to his wardrobe.

The 41-year-old investor was dressed in the unofficial uniform of Chinese businessmen: dark blazer, crisp white shirt, designer slacks, silky tan socks, hand-tooled loafers — and an expensive purse.

Lest anyone think the $500 Dunhill clutch with dual bronze zippers belonged to his wife, he proudly explained how his business cards, cash and two cellphones fit neatly into its buttery leather interior.

"It's crucial for business," said Zhang, who chose the chocolate-colored bag because he thought it was stylish without being flashy. "It shows I have good taste."

That's debatable, considering Zhang wore his hair in a cotton candy pouf. What's clear is that the designer handbag, long a fashion staple for stylish women worldwide, has become a status symbol for upwardly mobile men in China.

At business meetings and social events across China these days, many of the Prada, Louis Vuitton and Burberry bags are being toted by the fellows in the crowd.

Wang Zhongzhu, a 42-year-old insurance executive, wouldn't dream of networking without his $1,000 leather Dunhill slung over his shoulder. He said the creamy brown mini-messenger bag sends a message that he appreciates — and can afford — fine accessories.

"It's a way of representing where you stand," Wang said. "It makes people think you could potentially work for a big company."

Designed for men, many of these guy purses often known as shou bao in Mandarin would be right at home in the women's handbag section of an upscale department store. Popular styles include the oversize wallet with wraparound zippers like Zhang's and the embossed leather Coach handbag with the slinky shoulder strap and handles. Colors trend toward solid brown, black and gray. But some fashion-forward gents don't mind showing a little flash: Burberry plaid, Gucci's interlocking GG pattern or Louis Vuitton's distinct LV monogram.

Luxury leather goods makers can't believe their luck: Both sexes in the world's most populous country adore purses.

Men represent 45% of the $1.2-billion market for all luxury handbags in China, according to Victor Luis, president of Coach Retail International. That figure is just 7% in the U.S.

"China is a fantastic opportunity," Luis said. "There's a confidence and comfort in Chinese men utilizing bags in the same manner as women do."

How China's often gruff, male-dominated business culture developed a taste for purses owes a little to history, necessity — and vanity.

The country's economic awakening 30 years ago launched an entrepreneurial class bent on dressing for success. Mao tunics quickly gave way to Western suits, but Wall Street-style briefcases never really caught on.

Enter the fat wallet problem. China is now the world's No. 2 economy, but it still runs largely on cash. The largest paper bill, the 100-yuan note, is worth only about $15. So even modest debts can require businesspeople to carry thick wads of cash that could choke a traditional billfold.

The proliferation of smart phones and other electronic gadgets in recent years found men running out of pockets to put them in. In a nation where most people still use public transportation to get around, commuters need to keep their hands free to hang from a subway strap or bus pole.

Super-size wallets, handled clutches and strapped bags turned out to be not only useful, but also a way to display rising affluence. Any common laborer can afford a cheap nylon satchel. Designer accessories that are expensive and streamlined, with European flair, are viewed here as the trappings of the successful Chinese alpha male.

"For Chinese, it's a show of masculinity," said Zhang Lianhai, a 33-year-old marketing strategist gripping a plain, black leather Prada handbag outside a Gucci store in Beijing. "We need luxury brands. You won't be taken seriously if you look too casual."

Indeed, pricey handbags — power purses, if you will — are often wielded for maximum effect, said Paul French, a Shanghai-based author and chief representative of the market research group Access Asia. The retail analyst said he was struck by the way many first-generation Chinese entrepreneurs used these props, leaving them unzipped just enough to whip out a gold lighter or reveal a brick of 100-yuan notes.

"They're a tribe like any other.... They needed to be able to recognize each other across the banquet table," French said. "They're the guys that built modern China."

These men are also boosting the fortunes of luxury retailers such as Hermes International. The Paris leather goods fashion house saw its Asian sales jump 38% last year, thanks largely to expansions in mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong.

After saturating the likes of Beijing and Shanghai, high-end retailers are moving to the hinterlands, where many have grown rich off mining and property booms. Hermes opened an outlet last year in the frosty northeast city of Harbin. A Louis Vuitton store is doing brisk business in the coal town of Taiyuan.

Prada is said to be nearing a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The Italian fashion house held a runway show in Beijing last month, its first outside Europe.

Coach, the 70-year-old New York handbag maker, plans to open about a dozen locations in China by midyear, which would give it 53 stores in the country. The firm is looking to triple its China sales to $500 million within three years.

Small wonder that analysts project China to leapfrog the U.S. and Japan to become the world's top buyer of luxury goods by 2015.

Companies are already retooling their marketing efforts to reflect the purchasing clout of Chinese men. In Louis Vuitton's new ad campaign, Taiwanese-Canadian model Godfrey Gao carries a slender checkered bag with its strap slung across his body.

It's exactly the kind of bag Yang Jun aspires to own. The 20-year-old office clerk at a Beijing cosmetics manufacturer knows it could set him back more than $1,000. He'll have to save for months. But he said it would be money well spent.

"As a man, you must have one of those bags," he said. "It will bring you status, dignity and boost your image."

In the meantime, Yang makes do with a $45 knock-off Louis Vuitton. Despite its provenance, he said his superiors at work told him the strappy number was a handsome accessory. They should know: They all carry the real thing.

"It gave me more confidence immediately," Yang said of his trusty bag. "But I have no doubt I will buy a real one sometime in the future."

ben62670

"It's not a purse. It's a European handbag. It was a gift"

fatchowmein

ben62670 wrote: »

"It's not a purse. It's a European handbag. It was a gift"

But, did you feel the confidence flowing from your Chi?

tonyb

I could swear way back when pants were created, someone also added this thing called "pockets" to them. Does noone use these things anymore ? A buisness jacket also has many pockets for cell phones, cards, why a purse ? Get a frickin' briefcase if your that stuck on room for stuff. Or is that too westernized ?

Systems

ben62670 wrote: »

"It's not a purse. It's a European handbag. It was a gift"

If I had a dollar for everytime I heard that!:biggrin:

schwarcw

Once American chicks think guys with purses are hot we'll be selling our tube gear to buy designer bags.

gdb

I'd rather carry a bag than wear one of those tumor looking fannypak things!:eek:

DMara

Don't laugh. They got billions of buyers, so once they got money to spend, companies will abandon us in a heartbeat. And everything will become more expensive for us.

Rivrrat

"It makes people think you could potentially work for a big company."

I do work for a big company, and you will never see me carry a male purse, european handbag, shoulder tote, or whatever you want to call them.

I guess I'm just not trendy. Actually, trendy in my circles is more like a Kershaw assisted opener, and I do carry one of those.

scottyboy76

they will go where the cash is.

I believe the future for young people in america will be in investing in companys instead of working for them

Danny Tse

If you're Chinese, it's all about how others perceive you and one needs to live up to that perception. This is not just about purses or handbags, it goes all the way to what school you send your kids to and how many mistresses you have. You want to project the image that you've made it....that your bank account is loaded....and thus all the things that you can afford. You need to be able to brag about that you can send your kid to Yale or Princeton....or that you can afford to have different mistresses in different towns. The current Chinese society is all about $$$ and only when you flash your cash will you get any respect.

Believe me, my ex-fianc

fatchowmein

Danny, you should have bought several LV's, bought the Lexus, and married the girl. Then, you could have created, "Keeping Up with the Tse's", and would be rolling in the dough.

Danny Tse

fatchowmein wrote: »

Danny, you should have bought several LV's, bought the Lexus, and married the girl. Then, you could have created, "Keeping Up with the Tse's", and would be rolling in the dough.

I am already permanently scarred, emotionally speaking. If I married her, the reality TV show I'd be on is likely to be "Cops" :biggrin:

Just for the record, she broke off the engagement, not me. Did I tell you guys I had to upgrade/"super-size" the engagement ring (return original ring to jeweler, then buy bigger diamond ring) before she officially accepted my proposal?

megasat16

Danny Tse wrote: »

I am already permanently scarred, emotionally speaking. If I married her, the reality TV show I'd be on is likely to be "Cops" :biggrin:

Just for the record, she broke off the engagement, not me. Did I tell you guys I had to upgrade/"super-size" the engagement ring (return original ring to jeweler, then buy bigger diamond ring) before she officially accepted my proposal?

I betcha she must be a very sweet girl for you to go all through that. And left a permanent scar? No doubt about that. Every relationship puts a dent in you. :frown:

joeparaski

Handbags are not for me either...heck I never even got to the guy earring phase.

Joe

DarqueKnight

Danny Tse wrote: »

Just for the record, she broke off the engagement, not me.

I hope you sent her a very expensive thank you card. Please tell me you got the ring back.

mrbigbluelight

DarqueKnight wrote: »

Please tell me you got the ring back.

Just glad to hear he got his cajones back.

Danny Tse

DarqueKnight wrote: »

I hope you sent her a very expensive thank you card. Please tell me you got the ring back.

Engagement called off May '09....got engagement ring back a week ago. :mad: Had to threatened with legal action.

DarqueKnight

She didn't want to keep you, but she wanted to keep the ring. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. If you haven't already done so, I hope you find someone who appreciates you.

Systems

DarqueKnight wrote: »

She didn't want to keep you, but she wanted to keep the ring. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. If you haven't already done so, I hope you find someone who appreciates you.

Look at him, and then look at the ring!:biggrin:
The ring is sweeeeeet!

I'm kidding!
I have been married Deuce!
Only got 1 ring back and sold a bunch of nice G--U--n--s

---

to finance the one I did not get back!:mad:
Feel lucky my man, and walk this earth with pride that you got anything back!
God shines on the female breed of this species!

Systems

Now, I just tell them I hate 'em and give them half my crap!:biggrin:

sucks2beme

Danny Tse wrote: »

Engagement called off May '09....got engagement ring back a week ago. :mad: Had to threatened with legal action.

Shop wisely for the next one. My wife of 30 years and I got married by a
Judge. I upgraded her ring on the 25th year. She doesn't see the point in
all those bridezillas on the tube and those expensive weddings, when you could
use the money for a house down payment. The only down side, is she
doesn't understand why my rig needs upgrades.

I'm happy to hear you got the ring back, but NOT her!

cnh

Enter the fat wallet problem. China is now the world's No. 2 economy, but it still runs largely on cash. The largest paper bill, the 100-yuan note, is worth only about $15. So even modest debts can require businesspeople to carry thick wads of cash that could choke a traditional billfold.

I can COMPLETELY identify with this problem. Every time we went on vacation last year (while I was in China), we'd need 100s of 100s of renminbi in pocket. Not being Chinese or a Chinese business man, I was only too HAPPY that my wife carried a purse. Among the things in it; several 10s of thousands of Chinese dollars for the trip!

I have to say, though, that I did not see much of these CBPM (Chinese Business Purse Men) during my year stay. But I did not spend much time in the Business areas since I have no interests in that and generally abhor the business world or at least don't much care for it and all the 'ostentatious' displays.

Fatchowmein and Danny Tse are quite right about the gross displays of wealth and power. The first time I saw this was in the late 90s when I stopped at a McDonald's in Guangzhou and saw the parking spaces full of BMWs, Mercedes, etc. And the people inside in high end designer clothes. As for me, I was dressed in a polo and a pair of jeans--I was going into a McDonalds, after all?

Regarding audio...there are a number of Chinese Audio companies that are trying to cater to this new class. They produce super-sized speakers in lacquered woods that are somewhat pricey but that have received bad press on Chinese forums for being all looks and NO SOUND. About how these companies are trying to dupe the public with flash and style but bad quality inside (for the price). I heard some refrigerator sized speakers that couldn't hold a candle to a set of Rti-A9s and were priced at several times what A9s MSRP are?

cnh

Knucklehead

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RMF4Bg8oFxg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

cnh

sucks2beme wrote: »

Shop wisely for the next one. My wife of 30 years and I got married by a
Judge. I upgraded her ring on the 25th year. She doesn't see the point in
all those bridezillas on the tube and those expensive weddings, when you could
use the money for a house down payment. The only down side, is she
doesn't understand why my rig needs upgrades.

I'm happy to hear you got the ring back, but NOT her!

Same here, but only 18 years. My wife is Chinese but fortunately for me she is part of that generation that was rusticated to the countryside in the last two years of the Cultural Revolution! As a result, she values her freedom, counts her pennies and tries to save as much as possible! And Displays of Wealth are irrelevant! That's what you need Danny. But it sounds like you're in the wrong generation. lol

cnh

Sherardp

Actually this is very true for asian cultures. Here in Japan you will see guys with shoulder bags on motorcycles, or walking down the streets to work. As the OP's article states, the name brand bags are the in thing. Heck even American guys working out here carry them, so it is trendy and even expected. I was given the Gucci shoulder bag as a present. It works well, but I usually just fit my Gucci money clip and smartphone in my pocket and be on my way. So I think this is more an Asian cultural thing.

mystik610

The most interesting/ironic observation I made in the 3 years I spent working as a financial advisor is that the flasiher 'new money types' who buy expensive cars, clothes etc etc tend to have very little money to their name...many of them are in a lot of debt. They're being sustained by their debt to income ratio...not necessarily their wealth.

The truly wealthy (old money, established types) do live luxuriously, but do so within their means, and certainly are not flashy about it. The wealthiest people I met (and working down town in Houston, I had a lot of Oil and Gas executives, Bankers, and Corporate Lawyers as clients) tended to be the most down to earth....you couldn't tell what they were worth until you were in a position for them to tell you.

China and a lot of these emerging Asian and Middle Eastern nations are literally 'new money' type economies, though you see a lot of that mentality here in the US as well.

inspiredsports

schwarcw wrote: »

Once American chicks think guys with purses are hot we'll be selling our tube gear to buy designer bags.

Don't count on it.

virtualdean

tonyb wrote: »

I could swear way back when pants were created, someone also added this thing called "pockets" to them. Does noone use these things anymore ? A buisness jacket also has many pockets for cell phones, cards,
why a purse ?

Because they are so pretty?:biggrin: