Hi lilacgal,
My boy is so notti, kept trying to pop through my braided leather handle. he is so captivated, he like to do the same to his sister's hair when i braid her hair.
I ask the same thing too, she said it's not true that factory outlets are defects, she said some models are made especially for outlets. Most are past season stuff. She quoted me the example of the beaded tote. She said that when they pulled out the berry colour one, everything went to outlets. The straw tote now on sale in DFS and boutiques for 30%, she said it's in the outlets on her last US trip 3 weeks back. You can just write to her to ask her more. I always got trouble retaining what she tells me.
She told me she got more hobo coming, white handle, brown handle, black expect full white which is easily dirtied, so no no for her! I got my small hobo at about 35% off local price.