Louis Vuitton and Burberry are both luxurious, sought-after brands, but which of the two is more expensive?
Louis Vuitton is consistently more expensive than Burberry, which is a substantially high-value brand itself. Although Burberry has a similar range to Louis Vuitton, the latter fashion house is more valuable and expensive overall.
Read on to learn more about Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and their competitive placing in the luxury fashion industry.
Ancient Powerhouses Of Fashion
Louis Vuitton is the oldest fashion house out of the two, but only by two years. The French label was founded in Paris in 1854 by Louis Vuitton, who had the extravagant vision of an iconic and instantly recognizable fashion brand.
In the last two centuries, Louis Vuitton has risen to become the most valuable luxury brand in the world, boasting a staggeringly huge dominance in the market. It’s estimated that the annual revenue for Louis Vuitton exceeds fifteen billion dollars.
The beloved French brand is owned by LVMH, one of the richest luxury conglomerates on the planet. It is closely joined by brands such as Moet et Chandon, Dior, Fenty, Givenchy, and TAG Heuer, offering a diverse and dramatically wealthy portfolio.
It’s no secret that Louis Vuitton is synonymous with wealth, status, and fine items, with some of its products boasting extremely high price tags. Although Louis Vuitton started with nothing but leather bags and luggage, the company has moved on to manufacture and distribute all manner of clothing and accessories.
Burberry, on the other hand, was founded in England in 1865 by Thomas Burberry, who immediately focused on the production of outdoor clothing. However, like Louis Vuitton, the brand expanded over a series of decades and now manufactures a wide range of products.
Although Burberry isn’t as expansive or valuable as Louis Vuitton, it certainly competes effectively to be one of the top fashion labels in the world. In 2020, it was estimated that Burberry’s revenue was almost four billion dollars in total.
While Burberry has a smaller presence within the fashion industry, it’s still a strong contender and is often rated as one of the best labels money can buy. Its product lines may not be as expensive or exclusive as Louis Vuitton, but it’s still a symbol of status and wealth.
Let’s Talk Money, Shall We?
Burberry isn’t a cheap brand by any means, and you’ll regularly be paying anything from two to four thousand dollars for a handbag, for example. However, Louis Vuitton’s products are more high-end, and you’ll easily pay a higher average price per product.
At the top end of the spectrum sits a $150,000 Louis Vuitton handbag, a bizarrely unique designer creation made from recycled items. However, the most expensive Burberry bag is quite affordable by comparison, coming in at just under $40,000.
This bag is hand-painted and crafted from the skin of an alligator, a common leather where luxury and exotic handbags are concerned. It’s a controversial market, but nothing is worth more in the fashion world than a unique and exotic skin.
Furthermore, Burberry isn’t just cheaper, it’s also more accessible as a brand. Although it’s not as readily available as some minor labels, it’s much easier to get your hands on a Burberry product than it is to purchase a brand new Louis Vuitton item.
Burberry also holds sales, offering discounts on products at certain times of the year, such as on Black Friday. This isn’t a practice that Louis Vuitton engages in, instead opting to completely destroy any unsold products, as opposed to selling them at a discounted rate.
This, in turn, drives up the level of scarcity where Louis Vuitton products are concerned, subsequently making them more sought-after and expensive. If you can purchase a Burberry item in a sale whenever you so desire, it instantly loses that ‘rarity’ appeal that is so common in the fashion world.
In an article by Vogue Business, it was revealed that Louis Vuitton boasted the highest median price, and also offered the industry’s most expensive product. However, it also revealed that Burberry’s ‘mid-tier’ merchandise was more accessible than any other label in the business.
Ultimately, it’s a subjective debate, as there are people who would rather pay more because they’re simply a bigger fan of Louis Vuitton. Although, if you want to save a few thousand dollars and still partake in the luxury fashion industry, you can opt for Burberry, instead.