Longchamp- made in China??

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#106
I bought my second Longchamp tote today at Nordstrom and luckily it's made in France. I found an article that may answer the OP and other peopl's question...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-08/28/content_11218316.htm

SHANGHAI - French handbag maker Longchamp Co Ltd expects China to be among the top five global markets by 2013, a top company official said on Friday.

"The Chinese market has the biggest potential," Jean Cassegrain, managing director of Longchamp, told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "The growth in the Chinese market has been over 30 percent in the last five years and we expect the momentum to continue."

Currently the company's five biggest markets by revenue are France, United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea. Cassegrain said China would probably overtake Japan and South Korea to be the top market in Asia.

China is now the world's second biggest luxury goods market, with sales averaging €6.6 billion in 2009. It also accounts for 4 percent of the global market, according to consultancy company Bain & Co.
Sales in China are expected to reach $14.6 billion in the next five years, making it the world's top luxury market.

Longchamp has 14 stores in China and Cassegrain said the company intends to grow it to around 40 by 2015. The French company has 130 stores worldwide.

Cassegrain, however, declined to comment on how much the company intends to invest in China as well as its current sales figures.

The company makes most of its products in France, with only a fraction - less than 10 percent - being made in China.

But Cassegrain said the company will increase manufacturing in China along with growth here. At the same time the company will also take steps to ensure that the quality of the products manufactured in China are in no way different from other regions.

Earlier this year, Longchamp bought out its Chinese distributor and localized the management, in line with its long-term development goals in China, said Cassegrain.

The buyout was also part of a broader move by international companies to gain control of their luxury brands from Chinese partners, analysts said.

In July, Burberry said it plans to buy its network of 50 China stores in 30 cities for 70 million pounds ($107.5 million), a deal likely to add up to 20 million pounds to its 2011-12 operating profit.

Polo Ralph Lauren has also bought back its distribution rights in China from Dickson Concepts.
 
#107
I've read and seen news reports about poor labour conditions (eg sweatshops, child labour) in China and other countries. I do not approve of, nor wish to support, these terrible conditions but acknowledge that these people at least have work which hopefully enables them to have food/shelter as a mimimum.

That being said, I buy certain brands believing I am buying something special; that it was made in that country known for this quality product and that a local trained craftsman made this product. That's why you expect to pay more than for a mass produced lesser quality article, IMO.

So even if it's made in China by a skilled craftsman, who may/may not be trained in age old traditions, the costs involved are not the same. And maybe, the quality is not the same.

When I purchased my Pierotucci bags, I went through the factory, saw the workers actually making the bags, and was told that they'd all been doing this work for between 25 and 30 years. With all due respect, none of the workers looked to be aged below 50! I know that what I have is something special.
 
#108
ucsfmd said:
I bought my second Longchamp tote today at Nordstrom and luckily it's made in France. I found an article that may answer the OP and other peopl's question...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-08/28/content_11218316.htm

SHANGHAI - French handbag maker Longchamp Co Ltd expects China to be among the top five global markets by 2013, a top company official said on Friday.

"The Chinese market has the biggest potential," Jean Cassegrain, managing director of Longchamp, told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "The growth in the Chinese market has been over 30 percent in the last five years and we expect the momentum to continue."

Currently the company's five biggest markets by revenue are France, United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea. Cassegrain said China would probably overtake Japan and South Korea to be the top market in Asia.

China is now the world's second biggest luxury goods market, with sales averaging €6.6 billion in 2009. It also accounts for 4 percent of the global market, according to consultancy company Bain & Co.
Sales in China are expected to reach $14.6 billion in the next five years, making it the world's top luxury market.

Longchamp has 14 stores in China and Cassegrain said the company intends to grow it to around 40 by 2015. The French company has 130 stores worldwide.

Cassegrain, however, declined to comment on how much the company intends to invest in China as well as its current sales figures.

The company makes most of its products in France, with only a fraction - less than 10 percent - being made in China.

But Cassegrain said the company will increase manufacturing in China along with growth here. At the same time the company will also take steps to ensure that the quality of the products manufactured in China are in no way different from other regions.

Earlier this year, Longchamp bought out its Chinese distributor and localized the management, in line with its long-term development goals in China, said Cassegrain.

The buyout was also part of a broader move by international companies to gain control of their luxury brands from Chinese partners, analysts said.

In July, Burberry said it plans to buy its network of 50 China stores in 30 cities for 70 million pounds ($107.5 million), a deal likely to add up to 20 million pounds to its 2011-12 operating profit.

Polo Ralph Lauren has also bought back its distribution rights in China from Dickson Concepts.
Click to expand...

that is such a load of crap. interesting article though
 
#110
Just a note, if an item says 'made in France', it just means it was assembled in France. Laws do not dictate that a company needs to make full disclosure of where its materials are sourced from. From Longchamp site, majority of its materials are sourced from France, Italy and Uruguay. Note "MAJORITY".

It depends on your own personal belief afterwards.


And to say that at least people have minimum food and shelter even though it might be sweatshop condition? I'm sorry to be rude but that's just bull, and I'm angry with people always saying that. It's easy to make us feel better by saying so, but many countries (China, Africa, etc) are self-sufficient if not for globalisation and commercialisation driving conglomerates to make more profit and turn their operations there.

You forget the intangibles, the pollution and the false economy. The real cost of your one bag. Sure, the country's GDP goes up and everyone else is happy. But the money goes not to the people. People who might have been displaced and forced to work in inhumane conditions.


This is not targeting Longchamp or poster/s per se, just thought that the flawed logic of sympathising with sweatshop workers is incredibly ignorant. Globalisation may have helped people in the end because of international aid, but how much has been accomplished? Balance that with the damages and it always tilts to one side.
 
#111
Really, everything is made in assembly lines these days; there's no big difference where something was made. Louis Vuitton, Coach, or some nameless brand, they're all made by people that only know how to sew one part together or operate one machine. The only way you're going to find a significant difference in quality is if you buy Hermes, where an entire bag is crafted from a single skilled craftsman.
 
#112
I have 4 Longchamp bags (small light blue leather, black coin purse, black leather clutch and a burgundy cosmetics bag) and they all say Made in France. I think they are very good quality and look good after years of use. I never looked for the tag before, but I will now because whatever brand I buy, I prefer to buy one that is made in that country if at all possible.
 
#115
I was just wondering..it seems that so many of you do not support Chinese manufacturing because of its environmental issues or sth like that, why would you keep purchasing the product? I mean, do you think the environmental issues occurred because those bags are made in China? I think environmental issues occurred because those bags are made in this world, no matter in China, or France, or U.S.A.
 
#116
I cannot agree you more,Ryvyan! Those people think they know exactly what happens in other countries need go back to college to take some classes that meet international perspective or globalization perspective, and then they will understand never judge a country or a nation simply based on what others/the media say about it. It can not be a truth when you see it sometimes, let alone just hear it from somebody.
 
#118
jvlin said:
Really, everything is made in assembly lines these days; there's no big difference where something was made. Louis Vuitton, Coach, or some nameless brand, they're all made by people that only know how to sew one part together or operate one machine. The only way you're going to find a significant difference in quality is if you buy Hermes, where an entire bag is crafted from a single skilled craftsman.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a difference. I inspected the stitching between my french made le pliage and the chinese made and the quality is very different.
 
#120
I recently bought a medium long handled Bilberry and I noticed that the nylon was a LOT softer and flimsier than my lilac one. =(

I don't see any problems with the stitching (looks exactly the same as my older one). When I put the bag down it just collapses, compared to my old lilac one that would onlu collapse a little but would generally keep its shape. The bottom of the bilberry one sags more as well.

Has anyone noticed this with the bags they have that are made in China?
 
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