Vintage Shopping in Shanghai: Louis Vuitton Epi leather find!
First of all, everyone talks about vintage shopping in Japan... but maybe that’s because they’ve never been to Shanghai. The vintage scene here is on another level! Imagine tiny streets packed with unique shops, each one a treasure trove of design history. There’s even a chain of stores called ZZER (只二), which is like a department store but exclusively for vintage. Bags, jewelry, shoes, accessories, clothes—you name it, they have it.
Now, let me confess: before coming to Shanghai, I had zero experience with vintage shopping. My mom raised me with the mindset of “always buy new,” so the idea of choosing a vintage bag was a completely new quest for both of us. It wasn’t until I met a vintage expert friend here that I started to appreciate this whole other world. Creating my own opinion about it, some pieces hold significant design history or are just plain cool—and they’re no longer available anywhere else. That’s where my newfound appreciation for vintage comes in.
However, I’ll admit, I still hold onto some of my mom’s “buy new” philosophy. If a design is still available in stores and the secondhand price difference is just a couple hundred, I’d rather go for the brand-new one. But for rare or discontinued pieces? That’s where vintage shines.
The Quest for the Perfect Bag
So, picture my mom and I wandering through ZZER, combing through its enormous inventory. It’s one of those places where you need to hunt—it’s not organized like a luxury boutique. Eventually, we found the Louis Vuitton section, and that’s where the magic happened. My mom spotted a very old LV design that looked as though it had just come off the shelf last season. Long story short, I bought it on the spot without thinking twice.
Now, here’s the twist: I can’t find much information about this specific model online. Even my go-to “Saint ChatGPT” confuses it with the Turenne, which makes sense since there’s barely any info out there! What I do know is that the design is really old and was re-released in the 2000s.
Let’s Talk About Epi Leather
While the bag’s exact history remains a mystery, the Epi leather it’s made of is a different story—I have all the details you need.
Epi leather was introduced by Louis Vuitton in 1985 as the brand’s first permanent leather line. But its origins go even further back: the 1920s, when grained leather was used on LV travel luggage.
Here’s what makes Epi leather special:
Dyed Through: Each piece is dyed all the way through, ensuring vibrant, long-lasting color that resists fading.
Grainy Texture: The unique embossed texture not only adds a luxurious look but also enhances durability, making it resistant to wear and weather.
Color Variety: Over the years, Epi leather has come in a wide range of shades, from classic black and ivory to bold reds, blues, and greens.
Epi leather was designed with modern travel needs in mind—durable, water-resistant, and stylish. It’s no wonder it became one of Louis Vuitton’s iconic materials.
A Hidden Treasure in the Resale World
While researching my bag, I stumbled upon an auction listing from 2020 featuring a black Epi Turenne PM from 2007. The starting bid was only 31 EUR, and the highest bid? Just 130 EUR. Yes, you read that right—a hundred and thirty euros. Meanwhile, similar bags in today’s resale market go for over 1,000 EUR! It’s crazy how undervalued some pieces can be.
These pics are from different bags I found scrolling online.
Shanghai’s vintage scene opened my eyes to a new way of appreciating fashion—one that’s steeped in history, design, and, yes, the thrill of the hunt. Stay tuned for more posts about my adventures with vintage, fashion, and all the things that inspire me.
