Is MCM A Luxury Brand? Everything You Need To Know

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MCM is an iconic leather goods brand known for high-quality bags, often decorated with the MCM monogram. But is MCM a luxury brand? Find out everything you need to know here!

German brand MCM Worldwide creates a wide range of stylish bags, leather goods, accessories, and clothing for both men and women, that are loved by celebrities all over the world. Many of the bags and accessories are decorated with the famous MCM logo, similar to the Louis Vuitton monogram, making MCM pieces instantly recognizable.

However, there is a debate about whether MCM is a luxury brand. Some people consider MCM as a luxury brand because of the high-quality materials and trendy designs, but others do not see MCM as a luxury brand because of the price range of their luxury items and smaller brand presence.

To decide the luxury status of MCM, this article will consider the history of the popular brand, the quality of their bags and leather goods, and take a closer look at some of their best-selling bags before coming to conclusion on the question, is MCM a luxury brand?

Is mCM a luxury brand?

The history of MCM

The German leather goods maker, MCM, was founded in 1976 by Michael Cromer in Munich – which is how it ended up with the name MCM. The lifestyle brand and fashion label quickly became known for their MCM printed goods, which became popular in the 1980s when the flashy and ostentatious design aesthetic was considered trendy.

The popularity of the brand peaked in 1993 when there were over 250 MCM retail stores worldwide and the company recorded sales of $250 million. However, in the mid-1990s, Michael Cromer was under investigation by the German authorities and the brand began to decline.


Luckily, in 2005, the Korean fashion retail conglomerate, the Sungjoo Group bought the MCM brand and began to revitalize it. Sung Joo Kim, the owner of the Sungjoo Group, hired Michael Michalsky to be the creative director, and the brand was relaunched in 2006.

Michalsky is a German fashion designer with his own fashion brand, and his stylish and incredibly popular designs have helped to bring MCM back to prominence.

In 2019, Michalsky stepped down as creative director, and Dirk Schönberger was brought in as the head designer, with his first collection shown in fall/winter 2019. New stores began to be opened throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s in New York, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, and Toronto.

Now that the brand has been reinvented in the 2000s, the name no longer refers to the founder of the brand; MCM now stands for Modern Creation München.

In recent years, MCM has become a major name in the fashion world, and fans of the designer brand include Cristiano Ronaldo, Cindy Crawford, and Diana Ross, and even Billie Eilish was signed as a model for the brand in 2019. MCM is available through hundreds of MCM stores across the world and is stocked in department stores all over America.

The quality of MCM

To determine whether MCM is a luxury brand, we need to consider the quality of the brand by taking a look at the price range, materials, and craftsmanship.

1. price range

Let’s begin with the price range, as this will give customers a good idea of the quality of the MCM brand. MCM bags are available for between $410 and $1,890, wallets are sold for between $195 and $1,390, while the clothes range between $210 and $2,290.

These prices are down a little on the prices of bags and clothes from well-established luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Saint Laurent, and sit more in line with leather goods brands such as Tory Burch and Michael Kors.  

2. materials

MCM crafts their bags from a range of high-quality materials, including leather, canvas, and woven fabrics, such as monogram jacquard. The types of leather on offer include Nappa leather, Spanish calf leather, Italian leather, and lamb Nappa leather.

However, the brand is no doubt most famous for its cognac visetos, which is a tan color coated canvas decorated with the MCM logo. Many bags from MCM are available in this fabric, which looks incredible and is super durable too. The wide range of leathers available shows the luxurious nature of this brand, and the monogrammed coated canvas is similar to the LV coated canvas in which many of Louis Vuitton’s bags are made.

3. craftsmanship

In terms of craftsmanship, all bags and clothing from MCM are made in Korea or Italy. Many luxury brands in the fashion industry produce their bags and leather goods in Italy, and MCMs parent company, the Sungjoo Group, is from South Korea, so the brand has decided to them produce some of its accessories and clothing closer to home.

By choosing to make their luxury items in these countries, they can ensure the craftsmanship is top quality.  

Best-selling MCM bags

There are lots of chic and stylish designer bags available from MCM, so we have picked a couple of best-selling options that we think you will love to narrow down the choice – and perhaps you’ll find one to add to your own wardrobe!

1. tote bags
Affordable Luxury MCM Liz Tote bag
Get this on MCM | Nordstrom

A spacious tote bag is a must-have in any luxury bag collection, just like this stunning MCM Liz Reversible Shopper.

This bag is crafted from coated canvas which is decorated by the brand’s signature logo on one side, while the other features an optic-effect gingham check so you can pick the option that best suits your look!

The sides of the bag have super handy cinching straps, plus, the tote comes with a matching pouch that is big enough to use as an iPad case, or just worn as a clutch bag. Get your hands on this endlessly versatile bag for just $695 or $775, depending on if you go for medium or large.

2. shoulder bags
Black MCM Medium Klara Visetos Leather Shoulder Bag
Get this on Nordstrom

We love the minimalist look of the MCM Medium Klara Visetos Leather Shoulder Bag, made from high-quality leather embossed with the famous monogram design, which is durable and has a refined look.

This shoulder bag would make the ideal everyday handbag because of its elegant aesthetic, and practical design. This MCM bag has a relaxed silhouette with an adjustable, removable shoulder strap that can be worn across the body or on the shoulder for the ultimate versatility.

The top zip closure allows easy access to the roomy, lined interior with plenty of space for all your everyday essentials.

3. Bucket bags
Affordable Luxury Pink MCM Mini Drawstring Leather Bucket Bag
Get this on Nordstrom

If you are looking to add a little pop of color to your wardrobe, then this MCM Mini Drawstring Leather Bucket Bag is perfect for you. The bag is crafted from supple leather in a striking vibrant pink shade which has a subtle glossy sheen for a totally luxurious finish.

The MCM brand name is stitched onto the front of the bag, while the chunky gleaming gold chain top handle is the perfect finishing touch. The longer pink shoulder strap is removable so you can adapt the bag to suit you.

The MCM bag has a drawstring closure, which guarantees quick access to the compact interior, fitted with a wall pocket to help you remain organized.

Conclusion

There are lots of striking bags and leather goods available from MCM, so they really are a top range brand, but can they be considered a luxury brand? If we take into account the price range of the bags and clothes and the materials used, we can see that MCM is not a luxury brand but should be considered an affordable luxury brand or an entry-level luxury brand.

In the luxury brand hierarchy, MCM sits alongside other popular brands well known for stylish bags, such as Michael Kors, Coach, Guess, and Tory Burch. If you are looking for a trendy and chic bag that will really stand the test of time, but won’t do too much damage to your credit card, then MCM is a great brand to go for.

We hope you found this article answering the question, is MCM a luxury brand, helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.

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