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

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#528
VernisCerise said:
1+

Well most Chanel handbags don't even belong to haute couture, because one of the rules is that the item has to be 80% (I believe:) made by hand, which the bags are not.
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Ok! The only reason I thought Chanel handbags belong to haute couture was because an earlier post said:

France has stringent regulations regarding couture and some of the strictest employment laws in the EU.

I misunderstood and thought that comment was related to Chanel purses or whether they are made in China.
 
#529
Lawseenai said:
Ok! The only reason I thought Chanel handbags belong to haute couture was because an earlier post said:

France has stringent regulations regarding couture and some of the strictest employment laws in the EU.

I misunderstood and thought that comment was related to Chanel purses or whether they are made in China.
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It's alright:)
I'm surprised this thread is still going on and got even confusing because of haute couture
 
#530
I may have said this elsewhere in this thread but other luxury brands do not import pieces of product or products, but rather import the labour - there are huge workshops in Italy full of Chinese workers that come to work for a lot less of course than a European worker, to make xx bag. My uncle works in this industry and he saw this himself. Can't speak for Chanel but anything is possible.

I would think that decline in quality is also directly related to the constant need for multiple new collections - they just don't spend the time on the product anymore, plus many people are not interested in keeping an item for more than a certain length of time before they get bored and want something or several somethings new.

call it podium order, special order, act 1, act 2 etc - at the end of the day this is just part of a very clever sales strategy, and only a few months later the new collection has to be viewed/ purchased etc. no judgment, just stating the obvious - we can't be upset with the monster we are creating LOL
 
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#531
pkuyken said:
So what if parts or pieces or fabrication is done in China and then shipped to Europe to assemble? Why is that a bad thing? Many different things are raw materials are made in China and sent all over the world. I have several China based companies that are my clients in Houston.... All my iPhones and iPads are made in China. Remember the Bru-ha-ha when Ralph Lauren had the US Olympic Team Opening Ceremony uniforms made in China? do you wear any Ralph Lauren clothes? Maybe if Chanel allowed more of the assembly done in China they could stop price increases. I haven't bought anything Chanel since 2010, because I have 4 Chanel Handbags that I use all the time and don't really want any more.. but where they are made doesn't matter to me. Sorry. If we are a true "global" economy I don't get why it matters.
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It is the notion of what is associated with the brand's background - as such I agree but if I pay for a French craftsperson well trained in their trade and highly qualified (through the high price they charge),then that is what I want.

price increases of these luxury brands have nothing to do with where the item is made - none of the workers get salary raises three times a year, neither do prices inflate at that rate (according to how these brands raise their prices) - this is all going straight to the bottom-line. so it wouldn't change no matter where they produce as long as consumers are willing to pay their prices, they will raise them.
 
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#532
lara0112 said:
It is the notion of what is associated with the brand's background - as such I agree but if I pay for a French craftsperson well trained in their trade and highly qualified (through the high price they charge),then that is what I want.

price increases of these luxury brands have nothing to do with where the item is made - none of the workers get salary raises three times a year, neither do prices inflate at that rate (according to how these brands raise their prices) - this is all going straight to the bottom-line. so it wouldn't change no matter where they produce as long as consumers are willing to pay their prices, they will raise them.
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Well said
 
#534
I've decided to strictly buy vintage because of the decline in quality. Also, I have not been treated kindly in boutiques before. They assume that I was there to waste their time, since I do not "look" like I can afford their bags. It's just left me with an uneasy feeling when I walk into any sort of high-end store and I can't shake it off.

However, I understand people's frustration with the misleading "made in" labels. But at the same time, I acknowledge that those workers in China are genuinely some of the best. I have purchase jewelry directly from China in the past (purchased one very beautiful blouse as well)and I was honestly impressed by the quality. The jeweler and blouse designer knew what they were doing. The stitching was on point and the jewelry was properly closed (finished?) with care. A luxury designer would not hire workers to create their products if they not think they would do the line justice. Despite this, they're also cutting corners to save their money by underpaying their very talented workers and using cheaper materials that lead to the visible decline of quality and loose threads. If they choose to move their productions elsewhere, I would hope they did not skimp on what they're using to create their items.
I would not mind purchasing a product if they admitted where it was made, as someone mentions, but lying to their faithful customers rubs me the wrong way.
China means cheaper, but it doesn't have to mean "CHEAPER" when you're still selling at a markup. Ugh.

Sorry if any of this is worded funny. :(
 
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#535
Hi ladies, I know this is an old thread, but I just got my 17B caviar mini and got shocked by the chemical smell from the leather itself. I absolutely love this darker red of 17B, but this unusual smell....scary to think but just reminded me of this thread and I searched now. Thanks for letting me allow to ask here.

This is a serious concern of the sources where this material is from and how / what leather really was made from...this unusual smells makes me doubt. I can tell this smell comes directly from this leather itself. It's type of cheap leather smells and I'm shocked. Seriously, I've never ever had this issue from my brand new Chanel before. I am wondering and wish I could find out where is their Factory now.

Hope some of you ladies could share the information. I really appreciate it, Thanks.
 
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#536
lara0112 said:
I may have said this elsewhere in this thread but other luxury brands do not import pieces of product or products, but rather import the labour - there are huge workshops in Italy full of Chinese workers that come to work for a lot less of course than a European worker, to make xx bag. My uncle works in this industry and he saw this himself. Can't speak for Chanel but anything is possible.

I would think that decline in quality is also directly related to the constant need for multiple new collections - they just don't spend the time on the product anymore, plus many people are not interested in keeping an item for more than a certain length of time before they get bored and want something or several somethings new.

call it podium order, special order, act 1, act 2 etc - at the end of the day this is just part of a very clever sales strategy, and only a few months later the new collection has to be viewed/ purchased etc. no judgment, just stating the obvious - we can't be upset with the monster we are creating LOL
Click to expand...

My understanding is that sometimes the leather is cut (by a die cut style machine) in factories in China, or other eastern countries, then assembled in a sister factory (Chinese owned or managed) in Italy (near Florence). It is also my understanding, from discussions with textile students and international business students, and my cousin who was an intern at Dior (many, many years ago), companies like Chanel do not necessarily have a "Chanel factory". Sometimes product manufacturing is farmed out to other factories to help deal with high demand.

I watched a "60 Minutes" segment on Luxotica, a Swiss company with factories based in Italy. They manufacture ($300+) Chanel and other luxury brand sunglasses out of the same materials and on the same machines that manufacture $50 sunglasses. The company also owns Sunglasses Hut. They said ithe price is all about the luxury brand name, not the quality. I haven't bought Luxotica made sunglasses since I watched that segment. I buy LV, who has their own factory and uses better materials, or Moncler, or other Non-Luxotica owned brands.
Luxury is no longer better, luxury just means one is paying for the history of the name.

Now, there are exceptions. There are still brands out there that create their handbags by hand the old fashion way- one artisan at a station in a factory who completes the whole bag. Hermes upper end bags, approximately $7000+ , are done this way. The lower end Hermes products/bags, if I heard correctly, are not done using one artisan for the whole product.

I realized years ago, when it comes to handbags, I'm paying for the name and history, if I buy the newer bags. The prices are getting so outrageous, I've all but given up. I'd rather spend the $$$$ traveling, giving my daughter wonderful memories and not thinking about how much I spent this month. I need to use and enjoy my two bags I've kept.
 
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#537
I'm oftenly confused that is it or isn't it Chanel bags are made by hand ? One time I was questioning a Chanel SA cuz I've seen 2-3 minis (pretty much all they have in store ) had a bit or quite slanted flaps. She told me it's brcause all thee bags are handmade that's why they have flaws and they are not identical to each other
 
#538
Stella0925 said:
I'm oftenly confused that is it or isn't it Chanel bags are made by hand ? One time I was questioning a Chanel SA cuz I've seen 2-3 minis (pretty much all they have in store ) had a bit or quite slanted flaps. She told me it's brcause all thee bags are handmade that's why they have flaws and they are not identical to each other
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Chanel bags are sewn by hand, but the leather is cut by machine for uniformity. Sewn by hand doesn't mean one bag is manufactured by one artisan from start to finish, as you would see at an artisan's table who makes Birkins. With Chanel, you would probably see some artisans sewing, another group placing hardware or shoulder straps. It's just different.
 
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#540
Sourisbrune said:
My understanding is that sometimes the leather is cut (by a die cut style machine) in factories in China, or other eastern countries, then assembled in a sister factory (Chinese owned or managed) in Italy (near Florence). It is also my understanding, from discussions with textile students and international business students, and my cousin who was an intern at Dior (many, many years ago), companies like Chanel do not necessarily have a "Chanel factory". Sometimes product manufacturing is farmed out to other factories to help deal with high demand.

I watched a "60 Minutes" segment on Luxotica, a Swiss company with factories based in Italy. They manufacture ($300+) Chanel and other luxury brand sunglasses out of the same materials and on the same machines that manufacture $50 sunglasses. The company also owns Sunglasses Hut. They said ithe price is all about the luxury brand name, not the quality. I haven't bought Luxotica made sunglasses since I watched that segment. I buy LV, who has their own factory and uses better materials, or Moncler, or other Non-Luxotica owned brands.
Luxury is no longer better, luxury just means one is paying for the history of the name.

Now, there are exceptions. There are still brands out there that create their handbags by hand the old fashion way- one artisan at a station in a factory who completes the whole bag. Hermes upper end bags, approximately $7000+ , are done this way. The lower end Hermes products/bags, if I heard correctly, are not done using one artisan for the whole product.

I realized years ago, when it comes to handbags, I'm paying for the name and history, if I buy the newer bags. The prices are getting so outrageous, I've all but given up. I'd rather spend the $$$$ traveling, giving my daughter wonderful memories and not thinking about how much I spent this month. I need to use and enjoy my two bags I've kept.
Click to expand...

Sourisbrune said:
Chanel bags are sewn by hand, but the leather is cut by machine for uniformity. Sewn by hand doesn't mean one bag is manufactured by one artisan from start to finish, as you would see at an artisan's table who makes Birkins. With Chanel, you would probably see some artisans sewing, another group placing hardware or shoulder straps. It's just different.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for sharing this, Sourisbrune. I really appreciate for you. I did not know this much and helps me so much.
I agree and I trust H for this reason.
 
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