Prada Bags: Now Made in China for Italian Made Prices."

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#781
Skynet10 said:
I think what the Prada management team is doing is watering down their brand. When it isn't exclusive anymore and is made like the rest of the bags from China then you're just damaging your brand. I.E Coach.
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I agree.

I believe that Prada (as well as Burberry) have made what they thought were good long term decisions for profitability that can tarnish their brand image and require years of undoing if they ever need to upscale by changing their market position. It may even be difficult to keep their current level of luxury if they continue to produce in China.

From a business standpoint, it may make sense to produce in China to maximize profits, but at the end of the day, a luxury brand is there to sell a name. If the name gets tarnished, then it won't be as easy to sell the products without heavy discounting.
 
#782
Skynet10 said:
I have the answer to this question. There is an article on Yahoo about it today:

http://news.yahoo.com/fashion-made-china-fine-everyone-chinese-071434972.html
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It's interesting to hear Miuccia saying that sooner or later everyone will be doing it, because a lot of her peers (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, etc. Namely LVMH brands) have opted not to do it. Instead, these brands have decided to upscale by making more all-leather handbag offerings and higher price points while keeping production largely in Europe (namely Italy). These brands will have a potential of holding up the status of their name for years to come while it may be more difficult for Prada to achieve this.

Miuccia may have a gift with predicting fashion trends, but I'm not so sure that she has a gift at predicting market trends.

And what bothers me the most about this is that Prada goes to lengths hiding their "Made in" label now by putting the label in hard-to-see or hard-to-reach places on their product. They are trying to deceive their customers by pretending that their products are still manufactured in Italy when in fact they are manufactured in China or India.
 
#783
averagejoe said:
It's interesting to hear Miuccia saying that sooner or later everyone will be doing it, because a lot of her peers (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, etc. Namely LVMH brands) have opted not to do it. Instead, these brands have decided to upscale by making more all-leather handbag offerings and higher price points while keeping production largely in Europe (namely Italy). These brands will have a potential of holding up the status of their name for years to come while it may be more difficult for Prada to achieve this.

Miuccia may have a gift with predicting fashion trends, but I'm not so sure that she has a gift at predicting market trends.

And what bothers me the most about this is that Prada goes to lengths hiding their "Made in" label now by putting the label in hard-to-see or hard-to-reach places on their product. They are trying to deceive their customers by pretending that their products are still manufactured in Italy when in fact they are manufactured in China or India.
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ITA! I have a problem with them mass manufacturing in China and charging what they do for an item. I think many of their items still "look" lovely, but I just won't pay full retail anymore for items mass produced in China. That goes for many other designers as well. I am so turned off when I see a "made in China" label these days.
 
#784
I just purchased a preloved Prada Tessuto Nylon Satchel Crossbody Bag from a reliable online retailer.

Everything looks pretty ok - all the markings seem to be in place except the leather parts doesn't feel as luxurious as my other boutique-bought Pradas.

There is one particular thing which seems to trouble me - there's a black tag behind the white number tag that says Made in China. I guess that explains why the bag doesn't feel as luxurious as a Made in Italy bag.

My question is - does Prada produce their bags in China? I read some comments online that Prada does produce some of their bags in China. Is this true?

Does any of you own a boutique-bought Prada that has a tag that says Made in China?

I have seen some ebay sellers posting a similar model of the bag I purchased but with Made in Italy tags. The pictures of the bag also seem to look nicer than the one I just received.

My guess is this - if it's true that some Prada bags are Made in China, then maybe they are sold at the Prada outlets while the boutiques sell only Made in Italy versions.

Can anyone help throw some light on this?

Any help is much appreciated! :smile1:;)
 
#789
saintgermain said:
I think Chinese quality is not as laughable as it used to be. Although, I agree the prices charged for Prada is not right for made in china items. Contemporary brands like Alexander Wang or Tory Burch makes their items in China but they charge a lot less than Prada
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also, their items are not attached in an Iconic way to one country
like Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Prada…

Prada is supposed to be the epitome of Italian Design
and Craftsmanship….
Their Story, their HISTORY is steeped in Italy…
Just as Louis Vuitton's is FRENCH History…. Old world craftsmanship…


I am just as upset over Louis Vuitton being made in the USA,
as I am Prada being made in China….

These companies Prada, Louis Vuitton have used their countries HISTORY to create
the brand image they are attached to the countries...…..

Wang and Burch, do not have this kind of history…
so, I don't mind where they are made….
Though, truth be told, I don't buy bags or shoes made in China…

I think it is crazy to pay UPWARDS of $500 for shoes or handbags made in China..

I buy my things for the quality, NOT the name…

I bought my first Prada at Barney's NY in 2008 on sale for $300….
that bag was literally indestructible….
It was a a basic nylon tote that was popular in the 1990's…

I LOVED that bag, and after 10 years and using it when my daughter
was a baby, and carrying it EVERY DAY for over 5 years,
not ONE stitch came undone…. not one snag in the nylon….
It looked exactly the same as the day I bought it….

I still own a few Prada bags now, but, ONLY Made In Italy…


Prada has that name, and is supposed to be OLD WORLD Italian Craftsmanship…

NOT imported from China….

Are women buying these expensive Luxury items for the NAME or the quality???

I just do NOT understand why some people don';t mind that
their Prada is being made in China…. That is just not something I understand…

It makes me question whether they understand the HISTORY of Luxury goods at all….


Personally, I care MORE about the quality, than the name…

There are a LOT of companies in Italy making shoes and handbags that do NOT outsource
their manufacturing…..

I will spend my money with THOSE companies…

I just hope that some of these fashion houses wake up, before it is too late…



just as I won't buy Prada made in China..
I would not buy Cloisonne made in the USA or Italy….
 
#790
skybluu said:
Thanks Jaye18.

I did more research online and I found this article from 2007:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23thomas.html?_r=0

Gosh.. I really didn't expect that Made in China Pradas existed since that many years back.
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I LOVE the last paragraph….

Luxury brand executives who declare that their items can be made only in Western Europe because Western European artisans are the only people who know what true luxury is are being not only hypocritical but also xenophobic.

They are not selling “dreams,” as they like to suggest; they are hawking low-cost, high-profit items wrapped in logos. Consumers should keep in mind that luxury brands are capable of producing real quality at a reasonable price. They know better, and so should we.

 
#791
I wouldn't mind a made in China,If they retail much less than made in Italy items... Although it still disappointing that items are made in China. Maybe Prada should have created a cheaper label line for Made in china items.
 
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