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cover of episode Are all luxury handbags really made in China?

Are all luxury handbags really made in China?

2025/4/21
logo of podcast What in the World

What in the World
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B
Blythe Milligan
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Jake Horton
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Jake Horton: 我调查了一系列声称来自中国制造业的视频。这些视频声称奢侈品牌，特别是奢侈手袋，几乎总是产自中国，然后运往欧洲。在欧洲或美国贴上品牌标志后，这些手袋就获得了“欧洲制造”的标签。许多奢侈品牌都看重其品牌历史，因此这是一个很大的争议点。我们采访了几位专家，包括供应链专家和版权法专家。他们表示，仅仅在产自中国的产品上贴上商标就将其作为欧洲制造的产品出售的说法并不属实。但并非完全没有在中国进行生产。专家们告诉我们，许多生产环节是在中国完成的，但产品的最终组装是在欧洲完成的。欧盟法律对此有规定，要求产品要贴上“欧洲制造”标签，其最后一次重大加工必须在欧洲国家进行。但这些准则有些模糊不清，因此并不明确具体包含哪些内容。所有专家都告诉我们，仅仅在产品上贴上商标并不符合规定。在讨论奢侈品时，人们常常会谈到廉价版本、假货和仿冒品。我们很难逐一确定这些工厂是否参与假货生产，但我们知道，虽然有些公司确实为一些奢侈品牌生产和供应产品，但也存在大量声称属于大品牌的假冒商品。虽然表面上看起来可能一样，但如果在线上直接订购，最终产品看起来相似，但质量却不一样。我们知道存在一个庞大的假冒产业。奢侈品生产地难以追踪的原因在于，公司必须披露的信息很少，而且披露产品并非在欧洲制造并不符合公司的利益，因为欧洲制造的产品更具声望。他们无需披露其生产地，因此许多公司很少提供其在欧洲以外的生产信息。 Blythe Milligan: 许多国家在几十年前就开始将生产外包到新兴国家，因为这些国家的劳动力成本低，而且拥有制造这些工艺品和产品的专业知识。对于许多公司来说，这是一种双赢的局面，可以节省生产和加工成本。供应链不仅仅指产品的原材料来源，还包括产品的制造、运输和分销等各个环节。供应链的后端包括产品的组装和运输，前端包括产品的原材料采购和设计。制作手袋的过程包括设计、采购、试样、大规模生产等环节。虽然直接从供应商处购买产品的成本较低，但这并没有考虑设计、市场调研、营销等成本。贸易战正在重塑全球供应链，并引发了关于全球供应链安全的讨论。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the viral TikTok videos claiming luxury handbags are made in China and then relabeled as European-made. It examines the claims, responses from brands, and expert opinions on the truth behind these assertions.
  • Viral TikTok videos claimed luxury handbags are made in China and relabeled as European-made.
  • Many videos have since been deleted.
  • Brands offered little direct response; some stated their commitment to European or US manufacturing.
  • Experts confirmed some production happens in China, but final assembly is in Europe to comply with EU labeling laws.
  • The 'last substantial transformation' guideline for 'Made in Europe' labeling is unclear.
  • The possibility of counterfeit goods produced in the same factories was raised.

Shownotes Transcript

Over the past few weeks social media has been flooded with TikTok videos of people claiming that expensive European designer goods are actually made in China, and that you can buy the same luxury handbags and clothes for a fraction of the usual price. Many of these videos have since been taken down, but it’s led many to wonder if any of these claims are true. Are consumers being ripped off? And does President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on Chinese imports have anything to do with these videos?

We speak to Jake Horton, a reporter at BBC Verify, who’s been analysing these viral Chinese supplier videos. He’s reached out to both designers and copyright law experts.

Plus: we hear from Blythe Milligan, a supply chain expert and the host of the Everything is Logistics podcast, about why some products are manufactured in Asia. She also explains how supply chains work.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Emily Horler