Hi to you all, I am new here and have been reading the forum for a while, but loving my kipling bags have decided to register and write something.
I did not buy the recent TSV, but I have my favourite Defea, not bought from QVC, a New Raisin...ditto... And an Adley, bought from QVC when it was a TSV. Also a fan of the Brownie purse, and recently bought the Breezer set so I could give the purse, which I already have and use to death, as a gift to my mum. This prompted me to post about the exclusive to QVC Breezer, which I have owned previously, in a different colour, but gave away. Both Breezers, in different shades, bought a year or so apart, have the same quality issue that I have not noticed with my New Raisin, not bought from QVC.
Contrary to some posts I have read, I have not noticed differences in the quality of either the stitching or the kipling logo. Nor is there a difference in the thickness of the straps. From comparing my bags, there are slightly wider straps on those that cannot be removed. Removable straps are slightly thinner. However a big quality issue with the Breezer in particular is the fabric, as the picture shows. On the left is my cafe latte New Raisin (non QVC). You see the fabric is totally uniform and smooth. On the right is the exclusive to QVC Breezer, also in Cafe Latte. You will see the fabric seems almost bubbled and patchy, as if it has got wet. The bag is brand new, and I would have assumed it was just a faulty bag if I had not seen the exact same issue with the previous Breezer, bought over a year ago in a different colour. My conclusion? The exclusive to QVC Breezer bag seems to be using inferior quality fabric, at least in the quality of the dye. Maybe the fabric is of "seconds" standard because of the dyeing process going wrong with some of the fabric. Otherwise the quality and finish, and strap width is exactly the same. I think QVC should look into this issue, as unless customers, like me are fans of a particular colour of bag, and have it in various styles purchased from various places, this may go unnoticed.
On the topic of the TSV I now wish I had gone for the white one if it indeed is a creamier winter white. I didn't buy because I thought it would be to "stark".
Looking forward to chatting more with Kipling fans!