It all started with friendship, a joint investment of 500 euros and a shared passion for vintage designer bags. These appear to be successful ingredients for the Vintasje company. After four years, the owners, Bo Janssen (29) and Cilla Verwimp (30), have achieved a turnover of one million in one year for the first time.
This turnover mainly means that the two ladies have sold a lot of bags. Although these are second-hand bags, each bag comes with a hefty price tag. The cheapest copy sells for 250 euros. Most valuable bags change hands for at least 3,000 euros.
The two bag entrepreneurs started during corona times. This was done from home with the attic as a storage room. The hobby took up more and more of their time, after which Bo and CIlla devoted themselves entirely to finding and selling wearable gems. They do not have a store, but they do have a site and an office at Strijp-S in Eindhoven.
Because there is a great need among their customers to see, feel and smell these designer gems, there is an occasional pop-up store from Vintasje, such as this Saturday. These are always visited by bag lovers who come from all over the world. This Saturday there will again be a crowd among the mainly female treasure hunters who visit the temporary store in Eindhoven.
The clientele is remarkably young. Many girls in their twenties marvel at the bags on display from Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. There is a bit of shame among the group of enthusiasts. “I realize that I am privileged that I can buy a bag for four hundred euros,” says Tare (22) from Oss, visibly uncomfortable. Frederique (21) from Valkenswaard feels less ashamed. “I work hard for it. I save money and skip eating out and drinks in the pub. I can enjoy a bag like that for much longer.”
All bag lovers on Saturday agree on one thing: those used bags are more beautiful than the new versions, precisely because they already radiate a bit of ‘lived in’. No one mentions out loud that the vintage version only costs a fraction of a new one.
Yet a vintage designer bag is sometimes an investment, says Vintasje entrepreneur Bo. “The quality of older bags is often better,” she begins her argument for the vintage bag. “Beautiful exclusive bags only become more valuable because of their rarity. In addition, it is sustainable because you give used items a new life.”
‘Vintasje’-Cilla is not surprised that there are relatively many young ladies wandering around the shop. “It is a trend, especially on TikTok you see all kinds of videos with designer bags. Sustainability is also very popular. Not only bags, but also sneakers and clothing are bought second-hand en masse. And don’t forget that investment. Your designer bag often retains its value and you can sell it again. Sometimes you even make a profit. Then you can no longer call it an expensive hobby.”