Mulberry: Spring 2011 Ad

This past fall season consisted of Mulberry for Target, where we were all shocked to see that they knocked off their own bags in plastic! Can we be upset at them for trying to make a dollar in this rough economy? Absolutely not. Can we be upset at them for producing a cheaper version of their $1,000 plus handbags and selling them at a tear-jerking $40? Most definitely. Branding is everything in the luxury world. Why would anyone be swayed to purchase the real thing if they can get it in plastic for a fraction of the price? Nevertheless, I understand. The fashion industry has taken a huge hit with the economy in the dumps and everyone is just trying to make it out alive. Mulberry has actually even raised its profit forecast for the third time in four months. The company said that its annual pre-tax profits will grow by 16.5% to 18.5 million pounds (the current financial year ends March 31st). 

Now, it's on to the next season. Have you seen Mulberry's Spring Ad? It looks as if a garden tea party has browsed in and slapped me across the face! The ad features flowers galore, feminine pinks, blushes and creams, a classic countryside home and even piglets. As frilly as this may be, I love the garden tea party theme. In fact, I think I'm tempted into getting my own piglet! My questioning in this season's ad campaign resides in just a couple images that force me to hardly focus on the bag itself. From the electrified hair to the pink zebra-printed apparel to the pink zebra-printed bag, the focus is not the product itself but rather on...other frightening things. Yes, I just said "frightening."

From a company who has said to be "expanding its factory by nearly a third to meet rising demand" and has reached "a valuation of nearly $1.2 billion," Mulberry seems to be heading in the right direction. Too bad pink zebra stripes just aren't my thing. Piglets on the other hand...