My professor told me Chanel bags are all made in China but assembled in Europe?

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#421
Has anyone ever seen some of the intricate seed bead embroidered bags Chanel puts out (or the Swarovski beaded bags with each crystal held on by a seed bead crystal with the knots individually done on the back, not glued with E6000)? Some of the boys that have weeks of embroidery work on them (and yes, this is a case where that embroidery is done by hand; I know because I've done this type of work, and no machine can do it). Can you imagine paying a highly paid worker to do weeks worth of work on one part of a bag, and how much that might cost? Say, 8 hours a day for 10 days (some may take more). Let's say for instance they get paid $50/hour (reasonable for this kind of work), that's $4,000 just for the embroidery part. Now finish the rest of the bag. Knowing that these things are sold with a markup of 100% by a store (i.e. a bag that costs $10,000 your local NM paid $5,000 for) and that sellers markup their goods by a lot more than they get from the reseller (so let's say that bag NM paid $5,000 for cost Chanel $500 to make--which is an off number as usually they charge quite a bit more than just this magnitude), imagine the cost for the bag.... With costs running to $5,000 to manufacture (only considering labor and materials, no PR and no advertising, etc.), then it would be sold to NM for $50,000 and to the customer at $100,000. I'm sorry, but that bag was not priced anywhere near this cost, nor was it near the "cost" sold to NM.

So how did Chanel manage to make a profit on this bag??? The only thing they can change is how much the worker is paid, and by a lot. Do you think French and Italian artisans will work for a huge reduction in their usual and customary local pay rate just to do Chanel a favor, or do you think it's just possible that they are paying someone other than a generations artisan whose family has been born and raised in France or Italy for generations? Chanel doesn't give these bags away just because they are pricey to produce; whatever the cost, they are going to make their same level of profit on the bag.
 
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#422
When I was at Saks yesterday I actually checked the "made in--" label for Prada shoes. I have bought many of their shoes in the past and so far have been pleased with the quality (not true of the most recent Prada bag I got). I was surprised to see that some pairs, the skater-types that are popular now, are made in Bosnia and another nearby country (sorry the name is slipping my mind now). They felt cheap to the touch, almost plasticy. Then I noticed the shoes that felt higher quality were made in Italy. I guess Prada still makes some shoes in Italy. I found this difference interesting. It makes me less inclined to buy online--it's like you have to feel and handle the merchandise to tell if it's well made or where it's made.
 
#423
Great thread. Reminds me of when I bought a D&G leather jacket (which i still love), but was dismayed to find a 'made in Turkey' label on the inside. Bought it from net-a-porter too, so it was not a fake.

I'm of the school of thought that I don't mind paying a premium if the workmanship/quality is there. We all know that Chanel is going to have a large markup, simply because of the brand. If the price was commensurate with the quality of the product, I'd have less issue paying for the "label". As it stands, I am now conflicted about whether to add to my collection (and, this upsets me greatly as I had only just started with Chanel :p).
 
#424
tutushopper said:
Show us the proof that they aren't...but without investigating, this is not possible. How many products today are made 100% in Europe (or the U.S.)? How many rely on parts from other countries, from workers from other countries. Chanel itself has admitted such in their letters of response. If there is doubt, check it out.
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But dear tutu-why not show us proof that CHANEL bags aren't made on the moon.? :smile1:
By underpaid, slave labour Martians... After all we do not know do we?
 
#426
I dunno, to me the email responses from Chanel say it all. If you don't source labor in China, why not say so unequivocally and dispel all doubt? I think I've been in denial about Chanel for a long time but this thread has finally knocked some sense into me.
 
#427
ladysarah said:
But dear tutu-why not show us proof that CHANEL bags aren't made on the moon.? :smile1:
By underpaid, slave labour Martians... After all we do not know do we?
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Did I say they were made on the moon? Did I say that in some bizarre world workers from Mars have come to work in the harsh environment of the moon? Hmmm come to think of it, it sounds about right. Importing the best workers from the closest planet known to support life into a most inhospitable place that supports nothing. Kind of reminds me of something...fashion. :) :graucho:

As to Chanel saying anything, they did respond in a letter to one of the posters that they DO in fact employ workers in China to make makeup brushes, because somehow that relates to calligraphy (which makes sense only in Karlizarro world). Kind of like the man in the moon relates to Martians. They also have not come forward and stated where things are exactly made. Investigative writers have shown that it's not all roses and daffodils in luxury land. But hey, if you want to keep dreaming of unicorns and rainbows, I'm all for it. I'll bring the leprechauns. :) :borg: :borg1: :greengrin: :alien: :robot:
 
#428
tulipfield said:
I dunno, to me the email responses from Chanel say it all. If you don't source labor in China, why not say so unequivocally and dispel all doubt? I think I've been in denial about Chanel for a long time but this thread has finally knocked some sense into me.
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I think it has to a few of us, tulip. I'm not drinking Karl's koolaid anymore personally. Up, up and away for me to other places where I can deal with transparency. I just can't do the hidden stuff anymore.
 
#431
chanelwish said:
Ladies, did i understand it right, chanel not only make hardware in china, but also leather parts ?
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At the very least they are supplying the parts; the bags might actually be assembled in China as well, with final touches made in France, Italy or Spain to allow Chanel to place the 'Made In ..' stamp in the bags.


Allegedly
 
#432
tutushopper said:
I think it has to a few of us, tulip. I'm not drinking Karl's koolaid anymore personally. Up, up and away for me to other places where I can deal with transparency. I just can't do the hidden stuff anymore.
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If transparency was a priority for more people, I am sure we would be living in a better world.

When companies moved their factories to China (to make higher profits, greed), many jobs were lost in the US and Europe. IMO, this contributed to worsen our economy. However, China has been profiting a lot with those factories. Parts of Beijing, for example, are now very modern with luxurious hotels, high end fashion stores ... impressive buildings and avenues (many changes in the last 10-15 years).

The bottom line, I am with you on transparency and I plan to pay more attention to future purchases.
 
#433
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tutushopper said:
Did I say they were made on the moon? Did I say that in some bizarre world workers from Mars have come to work in the harsh environment of the moon? Hmmm come to think of it, it sounds about right. Importing the best workers from the closest planet known to support life into a most inhospitable place that supports nothing. Kind of reminds me of something...fashion. :) :graucho:

As to Chanel saying anything, they did respond in a letter to one of the posters that they DO in fact employ workers in China to make makeup brushes, because somehow that relates to calligraphy (which makes sense only in Karlizarro world). :
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Well I still think that CHANEL bags are made on the moon, (my professor said so) by Martians and unless you can show me proof otherwise....:lolots:
Make up brushes have nothing to do with bags. CHANEL cosmetics are produced in huge volumes, a lot of people buy lipstick or nail varnish or powder . ( incidentally I don't buy CHANEL cosmetics, because they test on animals, which I find un- necessarily cruel) their bags though are produced (Not in china, but in Italy or France) in much more limited quantities, comparatively speaking. Comprendo?
 
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