Vera Bradley Made in China or United States?
October 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Latest Vera Bradley
Ever wondered why SOME Vera Bradley purses will say "Made in USA" and others will say "Made in China"? Well a few years ago you did not have to worry where that Vera Bradley bag was made. Fort Wayne Indiana was cranking out the purses and all of them were made in the good ole USA. But a couple years ago we started noticing some bags said "made in China" and questions were raised.
The excuse Vera Bradley gave us was that the demand for these fabric handbags was so much that they had to outsource some of the work to keep up with the demand. China was willing to do the work and help Vera stay on top of her orders and keep her customers happy with plenty of supply. But were they really happy?
While some have been outraged that a portion of the purses are being made over seas, some are happy just to have a Vera Bradley bag and don't care where it is made, as long as the quality is still good. But therein lies the problem for some. I have heard reports of the China made bags having poor quality, while others have said they are made with the SAME quality, and still others believe that both USA and China made bags are being made cheaper than in the past, and simply do not last as long.
What portion of these bags are being made overseas? While at one point it seemed close to 60% or more, the company explains this is only a temporary fix. They have built another factory in New Haven and have hired a few hundred workers to try and fix this supply and demand issue. This new plant is supposed to help keep these beloved bags made in the United States, while providing some more jobs for Indiana as well.
What I want to know is this. Have any of you had any problems with China made bags? Do you even care if some of them are made overseas. I know for myself, if I had to choose between a Purple Punch Libby made in the US and one made in China, I would definitely go for the one made in the US. But at the same time, I am not too concerned where it is made as long as it holds up and is well made. These are cotton purses after all, and will tend to wear out the more we use them, no matter how well they are made.
In any store you can request Vera Bradley handbags and wallets that are made in the United States. Sometimes the store owners will keep them in the back. That kind of makes you wonder. Why are they so sneaky about this? Many Vera Bradley fans have been upset about the fact that the company has not been very forthright with information. They seem to WANT to keep us in the dark. Even the thread they started in facebook on the issue was left unresolved for over a year now. Tired of not getting answers? Leave your comments below and lets get something started here.
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kelly b on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:44 pm
I was just in China and visited all the markets where they had no idea what Vera Bradley was (as I was carrying my large bag) nor did I see ANY knock off bags anywhere….Which I can not say about almost any other brand of items sold in the USA. Everything you can imagine is reproduced in China. If it is made in China…they are making it as a fake. It made me very confident that all Vera Bradley items are produced in the USA…That is why I was astonished to read here that you claim vera fabrics are made in china. If so, they are doing a fantastic job of keeping their materials under lock and key!
admin on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 3:33 pm
Kelly, the handbags mentioned in this post are not fakes that are made in China, they are actual Vera Bradley bags made there. You can check it out yourself by looking at the labels in any Vera Bradley retail store and see the “Made in China” label on many of them. Not all of them are made there though, and the company is trying to outsource less over seas and keep the jobs here, but demand was too strong for them to keep up with so they needed some help.
Stephanie on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 2:43 am
Well I will just say this. I can see why they wanted help to keep up with the demand. Vera is very popular right now. But I used to live in Angola/Fort Wayne and I have seen the new factory and I can atleast say that they are trying. The creator of Vera Bradley lives in Indiana and I am sure that she and her company are just doing what they can to keep all of us crazy Vera fans happy and coming back for more. The products are very nice and I just hope that people see that it’s not some company that is pushing their production off on the chinese child laborers.
anonymous on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 2:27 am
Just wanted to say that I live in South Korea and have access to Vera Bradley fabric on the bolt w/ her name on the selvedge edge. That said, there are also people in China selling VB fabric on etsy.com. I am pretty sure her fabrics are made/printed in Asia, as well as designers such as Alexander Henry and Michael Miller.
Liz Ridings on Fri, 11th Dec 2009 1:51 am
I had never heard of Vera Bradley until one day while shopping I happened upon a purse that said “MADE IN USA”(I always check labels to see where things are made) I didn’t really need a purse but was so excited to see something that was made in USA that I bought it. I really liked it and since then I have bought 3 more always looking for the ones that say made in USA. I want to support the American worker. I do hope Vera Bradley will have more of her purses made here in USA. They are the best. I will not buy any that say made in China. I have convinced several of my friends to buy Vera Bradley purses because you can find some that are made in USA. Please have them all made here. Thank You
Robin on Sat, 12th Dec 2009 2:37 am
As a previous expat living in China I visited and purchased from the fabric markets often. During one of my shopping trips, one of the locals saw my VB purse and said (in her fragmented English), “we make here”. I said to her, “You copy for me?” pointed to myself and she replied, shaking her head,”No copy.” I do know from many things that I have had made at the markets, some were of excellent quality and some were of fair quality. So just depends on who is making the product and how many shortcuts they are taking when making the item. I have many VB bags and just love them, so easy to wash if needed and now my mom who is in her 80″s is a big fan as well.
Kim on Sun, 27th Dec 2009 2:30 am
Wow … The bags made in China are very poor quality .. It is not the same fabric as the ones that used to be made in FT Wayne, Indiana … The bags that I have gotten made in China are very rough and feels like metal fibers are in the fabric .. I have returned the bags made in China because they have worn out within a short period of time around the edges… It truely is ashame that quality has gone down hill …. I have been carrying these bags for years and when I called their customer service line to share the info of the quality .. the young girls that they have working in cs don’t care .. in fact most of them weren’t even born when the company first began … I look at every label now and will not buy a cheap China made purse .. Not to mention that little children are probably making these purses for pennies a week … Shame on you Vera Bradley executives !!!!!!!
beth on Thu, 31st Dec 2009 3:51 am
as with all compnays they were looking for a better bottom line.so they produced it out of country. we saw alot of damages and poor quality of product. that has since improved , when the plant opened in indiana. if you have gone to shop at your favorite store and its no longer there. thats because they wouldnt buy fixtures from vera bradley to house the merchandise. if you want to keep the product you must use only there fixtures. doesnt matter if you are an account doing over a hundred thousand dollars with them, no fixtures no will sell to you. when they were up and coming it was the mom and pop stores that helped them to get going. now they are doing away with them if they want comply with there dictates. you can only go so far up until you start back down. and from the sales last year till the end of this year if truth were to be told the business is down.
Jackie on Thu, 31st Dec 2009 2:12 pm
I just ordered a bag directly from vera.com when it arrived the quality was pathetic. I called cs. and was told I had to take to an authorized Vera dealer to verify that it was poorly made(?)(like they don’t think I the idiot customer can tell). Then, the dealer must return to Vera on your behalf. That is where I learned about the china/us label. I will NOT be buying anything vera made in china and plan to tell everyone i know about my experience. I am still waiting for credit for the returned bag…………………….
Angela C. on Mon, 11th Jan 2010 4:22 pm
I have roughly 10-12 Vera Bradley’s, and have bought tons for my sister, nieces, and my sons’ girlfriends. Recently I purchased one for myself and it has fallen apart! I didn’t even carry it that often, as I change purses frequently. It was one of those made in China….and what a disappointment! I too will no longer purchase anything from VB made there as it is POOR QUALITY at BEST….Come on VB-Bring back the quality we are used to!
Sharon Suchak on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 8:31 pm
I recently purchased a Stephanie Dawn handbag….made in the USA! Stephanie Dawn just happens to be Vera Bradley’s grand daughter. The designs are fresh as are the styles, bonus, they are less expensive too! They are every bit as pretty as Vera’s and you can be assured they are all made in the USA!
Goodbye Vera hello Dawn!
Megan on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:14 pm
I have also discovered Stephanie Dawn and love them! Although I do not believe she is the grand daughter of VB. I do know the quality is great and everything is 100% made in the USA. They have a great colors and their story is here: http://www.stephaniedawn.net
I love purchasing items that say Made in USA:o)
Kathleen on Mon, 1st Mar 2010 5:07 pm
I am a locovore in Indiana and DO care where things are produced. I buy from locally-owned vendors to support my community and reduce my carbon footprint. Even if the quality of an item from China is “as good” as something made closer to home, we must ask ourselves ‘at what price?’ How much fuel does it take to ship across the Pacific Ocean an item that was until recently made in my backyard? Why didn’t Vera Bradley just hire more workers in Indiana when demand went up? Or maintain their integrity by simply producing what they could, supplying their original customers/vendors and maintain their cachet? Just because a consumer “wants” something, must it always mean a company has to sell its soul to make a profit? I stopped buying Vera Bradley the first time I saw a “Made in China” label on the inseam. We can vote for or against a system’s form of government and human rights and environmental record with our wallets.
patricia lawing on Sat, 13th Mar 2010 9:31 pm
I do not like anything made in China and would be prouder of a bag made in the US even if I had to pay a few dollars more but if they are made in China at lower labor costs why aren’t the bags cheaper? Bottom line is profit for Vera. I would like to see these bags made in US. I used to buy seasonal Vera but no longer because I look for made in the USA tags that are proudly displayed so now I don’t purchase Vera any more even tho I love her bags. I am finding more and more products made in the US and even now we have a furniture factory that sent jobs to China but due to protests it is now back. I will purchase this furniture at a higher price tag just to support my country and to keep jobs here. Thank You
Pat Lawing
Kathleen on Fri, 30th Apr 2010 4:10 pm
Thank you, Megan, for sharing the Stephanie Dawn website. There is a locally-owned story that is starting to carry SD products and is less than 5 miles from my home (bike-able distance!) The store-owner told me Stephanie Dawn is made in Ohio (way closer than communist China and, despite a history of corrupt election practices is, in principle, part of a democracy). Can’t wait to check them out.
Tracy whittle on Sun, 2nd May 2010 12:25 am
I will not buy Vera Bradley again if it stays in China. The quality has dropped considerably. I just bought a wallet and the zipper sticks. The bag I bought has skipped and crooked seams. The material is cheap and thin.
They do not deserve our money. They have sold out. Stephanie Dawn bags are beautiful.
Jean Holinbaugh on Tue, 11th May 2010 10:08 pm
My niece gave me a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag for Mother’s Day. I was so thrilled to see that it was made in the U.S.A that I bought a matching wallet and handbag today. What a disappointment, after bringing them home and then checking the tag to see that the handbag was made in China! Had I checked it sooner, I would not have bought it!!
Kristy on Thu, 13th May 2010 5:08 pm
I found out about the China connection last month and I am thoroughly disgusted with VB. I do not believe for one minute that it was because they couldn’t meet demand I am certain it was just another case of greed. I was willing to pay a higher price for MADE IN THE US but I refuse to pay $50 for a purse made in China. VB has lost this customer.
Elena Danylchuk on Sun, 30th May 2010 9:41 pm
I agree with Kristy. VB lost me as a customer for the same reason–made in China.
bernadette sugget on Thu, 3rd Jun 2010 5:55 am
hi everyone
after visiting my girlfriend of 25 years, in her home town / kentucky, i spotted a “vera bradley” bag her friend was using, and i had to have one. our aussie dollar was not as strong as the us, and my dream was not realised. however my husband surprised me a few months later after securing one on ebay, it was still extremely expensive, but I LOVE IT . it has travelled the world with me, as well as daily home use.
as the straps are now too fraided to torcher her on another trip, i am retiring her from o/seas travel.
along came my recent ebay purchase, not till today after reading an article on “made in china” did i race to my bag, to check the label,,,,,,,,,,,,OH NO : MADE IN CHINA” i will still “sort of love ” my bag , but i will not be buying any more on ebay, as i cannot check the label!!!
i have “boycotted” chinese made things for a while now, ever since they added melamine to their OWN childrens baby formular, what are they selling the rst of the world? i have saved a lot of money, as i live in australia, there is truely not much which is not made in china, korea, thailand.
come on vera , do the right thing,at least give a a choice to “pay more” or reduce your “china made bags” xx
Jill on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 6:02 pm
China… My brother has an interesting theory. For China to emerge from communism, capitalism will need to rise. For capitalism to rise, the private business owner will need to be wealthy enough to push back on the government. Basically over throw communism with the rich company leaders who no longer stand for the suppression. So if you boycott “made in china”, then you prolong the control of communism in china.
Human rights? Viewpoints are interesting. Imagine you live in china and are trying to survive. You hear that people in the US won’t buy from china, because of the treatment of people. So less money comes in, and you don’t even get a chance at the poor factory job. How does that help the poor resident of china? Ahh yes population control. Probably suggested from the same who are pro-life.
Now if you are just saying quality, then that may be true. Otherwise, try someone else shoes for a while. If you consider yourself religious, should only people in the US should have a chance to live a good life.
Mandy on Tue, 8th Jun 2010 2:15 am
My sister and I compared bags to find that HERS was made in China and mine in the US. Our issue is this: we pay a good amount of money for the bags — we want that money to be paid to US (even better, IN) workers. We also see so many of our neighbors and family scrambling for any job; one of the main appeals of Vera Bradley for us was that the money we spent was relatively local as we live in IN.
We agreed that we would stop buying, and we have. I am going to look into the New Haven factory info. I hope that it’s true, but I’m afraid that Vera Bradley can’t be trusted any more than any other company which is that large. I intend to hunt for my next new bag at markets and art fairs.
Mary Beth on Sat, 12th Jun 2010 5:09 pm
So what’s the latest? Still producing in China? When are the new VB factories opening and up and running in the US and will that end production in China?????
dorothy sunderland on Mon, 14th Jun 2010 10:31 pm
I am very disappointed to discover the last 2 handbags I purchased at the big sale in Ft. Wayne, Ind. in April were made in China. You have lost my business–this was one of the main factors in purchasing Vera Bradley–the fact that they were made in the USA.
Christy Schuster on Sat, 19th Jun 2010 1:19 am
I just got a new VB bucket tote and had to actually search the labels of the store where I bought it to find one made in USA. I was really bummed to see so many made in China. I will not order from their site or anywhere as I can’t check the label. If they all become made in China I think I will no longer be a customer. I want to support my own people.
Jody Carney on Thu, 29th Jul 2010 11:40 am
I agree about the made in China discussion. I never really paid attention and assumed they were all made in the USA! Something to think about!!!
Mary on Sun, 8th Aug 2010 9:53 pm
Found this discussion while searching out info on “Vera vs. Dawn”. While on holiday I discovered Stephanie Dawn in a little Ocean City, NJ gift shop. I was trying to decide if I should spend the money on a darling little lunch bag when I saw the “Made in USA” on the tag. That was the deciding factor. The clerk informed me that Stephanie Dawn was created by a designer who worked for Vera Bradley, and who decided to launch her own product line based in the US to preserve American Jobs.
Audrey on Mon, 16th Aug 2010 8:03 pm
I like Vera Bradley. Got sucked in w/a “Vera,” a large, well-constructed, comfortable to carry tote bag. I buy LOTS of Veras.. for myself, one of my daughters, and a few of her friends. I discovered on 8/14/10 that a portion of Veras are made in China. This news came to me via the VB page on facebook. In commenting, I was attacked and called names by various people from F.W. because I said I wouldn’t purchase Veras made in China. After being verbally attacked and ridiculed for my point of view, I won’t buy Vera at all. I was actually standing UP for the workers in F.W.,I. and anywhere ELSE in the US that Vera would build a plant.. Disgusting.