Quince vs. Monos: Which brand should you buy?

Quince excels at providing affordable luxury essentials, offering high-quality clothing and home goods with a focus on value. Monos, however, is a premium brand specializing in sleek, durable luggage and travel accessories designed for modern travelers. The core difference lies in their product categories and price points: Quince focuses on accessible, everyday style, while Monos delivers long-lasting, investment-level travel gear.

Let's compare everything you need to know to decide which brand is right for your purchase.

Quince: The Affordable Luxury Essentialist

Quince is a direct-to-consumer brand built on offering high-quality clothing, home goods, and accessories at radically fair prices. They achieve this by eliminating middlemen and maintaining transparent sourcing from reputable factories. Their target customer is someone who seeks a minimalist, timeless aesthetic and values premium materials like cashmere and silk without the traditional luxury markup.

• Product mix: A wide range of womenswear and menswear, including their popular cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, linen pants, and washable silk pajamas. They also offer home items like Turkish towels and bedding.
• Price point: Exceptionally competitive for the quality. For example, Mongolian cashmere sweaters are typically priced around $50-$100, and 100% silk blouses often sell for under $70.
• Quality & Materials: Quince uses high-quality materials like 100% cashmere, mulberry silk, European linen, and organic cotton. Products are known for their softness and durability when cared for properly.
• Style & Aesthetic: The focus is on minimalist, classic, and versatile pieces. The color palettes are often neutral, making their items easy to integrate into an existing wardrobe.
• Sizing/Fit: Quince's apparel generally runs true to size. They provide detailed sizing charts and fit descriptions on each product page to help guide customers.
• Return policy: Offers a straightforward 30-day return policy for most items.

Quince delivers remarkable value by making high-quality materials and simple, elegant designs accessible for everyday shoppers.

Shop Quince: www.quince.com

Monos: The Premium Travel Companion

Monos is a premium luggage and travel accessories brand focused on thoughtful design, durability, and a minimalist style. The brand's mission is to create stylish, high-performance travel gear that stands the test of time. Monos targets design-conscious travelers who value both form and function and are willing to invest in luggage that will last for years.

• Product mix: A curated collection of travel gear in clean, sleek colors, including carry-on and check-in suitcases, backpacks, duffels, and smaller travel accessories like packing cubes and folios.
• Price point: Positioned in the premium market, with suitcases ranging from about $200 to over $600. Their prices reflect the high-end materials and construction quality.
• Quality & Materials: Monos suitcases feature aerospace-grade Makrolon polycarbonate shells, which are remarkably lightweight, resilient, and impact-resistant. They pair this with sturdy telescopic handles, smooth-rolling wheels, and high-quality zippers.
• Style & Aesthetic: Characterized by sleek, modern minimalism. Designs feature clean lines and a sophisticated, neutral color palette that looks polished and timeless.
• Sizing/Fit: Luggage sizes are standardized for different travel needs, such as Carry-On, Check-In Medium, and Check-In Large. All dimensions are clearly listed to meet airline requirements.
• Return policy: Offers a generous 100-day trial period, giving you ample time to test out the luggage at home before committing.

Monos is the go-to for travelers who want beautiful, incredibly durable luggage backed by an excellent trial policy.

Shop Monos: www.monos.co

Quince vs. Monos Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a stark price difference between the two brands because they serve completely different markets. Quince is built around affordability. You can build a versatile wardrobe of high-quality basics, such as a silk top for $60 and a cashmere sweater for $50, without breaking the bank. Their value proposition is delivering department store quality at a fraction of the cost.

Monos operates in the premium travel space, with prices reflecting a long-term investment. A carry-on suitcase might run you approximately $250-$300, while larger checked bags can exceed $400. This price is for the durable, thoughtfully designed construction that frequent travelers need.

Quality & Materials

Both brands prioritize quality but focus on different materials for different uses. Quince uses soft, natural fabrics like silk, linen, cashmere, and organic cotton for clothing and home goods. Their quality is excellent for the price, providing a luxurious feel and solid durability for everyday wear and use.

Monos focuses on performance and resilience. Their signature use of German Makrolon polycarbonate creates luggage that is both lightweight and highly resistant to cracks and dents common with air travel. Every element, from the aluminum handle to the whisper-quiet wheels and vegan leather details, is chosen for longevity and performance.

Style & Aesthetic

Both brands share a minimalist, timeless aesthetic, but for different contexts. Quince's style is about creating a functional, classic wardrobe. Their designs are simple, understated, and versatile, meant to be worn for years without going out of fashion.

Monos applies that same minimalist philosophy to travel. Their luggage features clean lines, a gentle matte finish, and a sophisticated color palette, creating a cohesive and polished look for traveling. Their style is less about trends and more about modern, functional elegance.

Shopping Experience

Both brands are online-only and offer user-friendly shopping experiences. Quince provides free shipping and a standard 30-day return policy, which is hassle-free and straightforward for shoppers.

Monos elevates its shopping experience with an exceptional 100-day trial period. This allows you to truly see how the luggage fits into your life before making a final decision, a significant advantage when purchasing a high-cost item. They also offer free shipping on a minimum spend basis.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands integrate responsible practices into their models. Quince focuses on supply chain transparency, sourcing from factories that provide fair wages and safe working conditions. They also lean toward eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and linen and use minimalistic, plastic-free packaging.

Monos approaches sustainability through the lens of longevity - creating products that last longer reduces waste. They are also a Climate Neutral Certified brand, source vegan materials, and donate a portion of their proceeds to environmental causes.

Which One Should You Choose?

Your choice depends entirely on whether you're shopping for your wardrobe or your next vacation, as both brands excel in their respective categories.

Choose Quince if:

• You're building a high-quality capsule wardrobe with timeless basics.
• You want luxury materials like cashmere and silk without the designer price tag.
• You value supply chain transparency and classic, versatile designs.
• You are shopping for wardrobe essentials, bedding, or simple accessories.

Choose Monos if:

• You're a frequent traveler and need durable, dependable luggage.
• You appreciate a sleek, minimalist aesthetic in your travel gear.
• You're looking to invest in a piece of high-performance luggage that will last for years.
• You want the peace of mind offered by an exceptional 100-day trial period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quince or Monos cheaper?

Quince is significantly cheaper. It's an affordable luxury brand specializing in clothing and homewares, with most items under $100. Monos is a premium luggage brand where individual pieces start in the $200-$300 range.

Which brand has better quality?

Both brands offer excellent quality, but for different product types. Quince provides high-quality natural fabrics like cashmere and silk that are impressive for their price point. Monos is known for its superior construction and durable materials like Makrolon polycarbonate, designed specifically for the rigors of travel.

What is Monos best known for?

Monos is best known for its minimalist, durable, and lightweight carry-on and check-in suitcases. Their thoughtful design features, sleek aesthetic, and 100-day trial period set them apart in the travel gear market.

What is Quince best known for?

Quince is known for making luxury essentials like Mongolian cashmere sweaters, washable silk blouses, and European linen accessible to everyone by selling high-quality items at transparent, affordable prices.

Do Quince and Monos ever have sales?

Quince's pricing is already low, so they don't frequently run major sales events. Monos occasionally holds sales during major holidays, such as Black Friday, but full-priced items are the norm.

What is Monos's return policy?

Monos offers an excellent 100-day trial period. You can test the luggage at home, and if you're not satisfied, you can return it within that window as long as it hasn't been used for travel.

What is Quince's return policy?

Quince has a straightforward 30-day return policy for unused and unwashed items with tags attached, making it easy to return anything that doesn't work for you.

Are these brands sustainable?

Both brands take steps toward sustainability. Quince prioritizes ethical sourcing, eco-friendly fabrics, and minimal packaging. Monos creates durable products designed to curb overconsumption, is Climate Neutral Certified, and uses vegan materials.