People working in the fashion industry in Paris are wondering how they managed to get caught in the crossfire of the China-US trade war.
Amid rising trade tensions with the United States, English-language videos posted on TikTok by the operators of Chinese factories have showcased the country’s manufacturing prowess, going viral with claims that many expensive, high-quality European consumer goods are actually made in China.
The videos suggest many bags sold by luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes are made in China at relatively low cost before being shipped to Europe for a final “Made in France” stamp – and huge mark-ups.
Those claims have been rejected by Benedicte Epinay, the head of Comite Colbert, a body that represents the French luxury goods industry, and current and former industry participants in France.
A tailor who worked for Dior for 17 years said: “I have never heard of us having a factory in China.
“It’s not something that one can learn in just months. It takes at least five years to train a craftsman at Dior. There is actually a severe labour shortage in the industry.”
LVMH group, which owns Dior, said it has 120 workshops in France, 66 in Italy and employs 58,000 people.
