| Most of us do not associate “Made in China” | | | | Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Bally and Prada, to |
| with luxury or designer brands but more and more of | | | | name a few brands. But not all of these companies |
| those fancy Italian shoes you like so much are actually | | | | are willing to publicize this new base of operation. In |
| made in China. You just may not find a tag inside the | | | | fact, in some of these shoes you will find a “Made |
| shoe saying so. | | | | in Italy” label where perhaps a “Made in |
| Especially in the current economic market, the sales of | | | | China” label should be instead. This is possible |
| luxury items have decreased significantly and some | | | | thanks to some very flexible labeling laws which base |
| designer brands are suffering. One of the most | | | | a product’s label on the final point of production. |
| effective ways to cut costs is to move the base of | | | | So shoes made in China will have a leather sole |
| operation overseas, and China provides one of the | | | | attached in Italy and Voila! The shoes are legally |
| most appealing markets to set up shop. | | | | “Made in Italy”. |
| The fact that “American” or “European” | | | | That is not to say that these shoes are worse quality |
| shoes are made in China is no secret. Nike has long | | | | now than when they were manufactured in Europe. |
| been associated with “Made in China” shoes; in | | | | The claim is that workers in China are fast and |
| fact, approximately one in three of Nike’s sneakers | | | | precise. That is, they are capable of making equally |
| come with a “Made in China” sticker. This | | | | high-quality shoes just in less time and for less |
| compromise is trickier for designer brands such as | | | | money. |
| Chanel, Prada and Armani that have built the success | | | | According to Giorgio Bonacarso - a chemical supplier |
| of their brand on “European craftsmanship” | | | | who sells products to Chinese factories that |
| through and through. One of the reasons that | | | | manufacture Italian shoes - nine out of 10 of the |
| someone might spend an extra 300 dollars on a Prada | | | | high-end Italian shoe companies are now making at |
| shoe is that they want a piece of artisanal Europe. | | | | least part of their shoes in China. You, the consumer, |
| They want to believe that what they are purchasing is | | | | may not be aware of it, and that is because the |
| the real deal – an Italian leather shoe built by | | | | designer brands are afraid of backlash and losing the |
| someone who knows and loves the art of | | | | image that made them stand out from the pack in the |
| shoemaking, not by a factory worker in China. | | | | first place. |
| So which companies have jumped continents? | | | | |