A recent viral TikTok claims that luxury bags are actually made in China. But how true is this statement? From the iconic French house Hermès to other popular luxury brands, Newsweek breaks down where the biggest names in fashion really manufacture their bags.
Newsweek has reached out to Hermès via email for comment.
What Did The Viral Video Claim?
A TikTok from the account senbags2 claiming that 80 percent of luxury bags are made in China, has gone viral online, receiving over 10 million views as of press time. “They take almost finished bags from China factories and just do the repackaging and logo installing. Something like that,” the social media user claims in the video.
Hailey Bieber is seen on February 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California, Irina Shayk is seen on April 1, 2025 in New York City. Hailey Bieber is seen on February 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California, Irina Shayk is seen on April 1, 2025 in New York City. SMXRF/Star Max/GC Images/XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Are Luxury Handbags Really Made In China?
For the most part, the answer is no, at least when it comes to the major players in the luxury fashion industry.
It’s important to note that luxury fashion is a broad and expansive space. A 2023 Statista report identified between 200 and 250 fashion and accessory brands around the world that are categorized under the ‘luxury,’ label. There are around 70 to 100 globally recognized luxury fashion brands which are considered to be at the top of the tier. These brands are often owned by luxury conglomerates like LVMH and Kering.
A guest seen wearing a winered Hermès birkin bag with colourful bag chains outside Miu Miu Show during the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024/2025 as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2024 in Paris, France…. A guest seen wearing a winered Hermès birkin bag with colourful bag chains outside Miu Miu Show during the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024/2025 as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2024 in Paris, France. Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Hermès for their part, do not manufacture their bags in China. Its bags are made in France, and the brand has workshops in regions including Pantin, just outside of Paris, Ardennes, Lyon and Normandy, among others.
It can take between 15 and 40 hours to create a single Hermès bag. For styles like the Birkin, Kelly or Constance, artisans can train for up to 5 years before they are able to make one. Hermès uses its own tanneries to ensure quality control all the way from hide to handbag. Hermès bags are authenticated with hot-stamped artisan codes, which are typically under the flap or in the inside of the bag. These indicate the year and the workshop.
Emily Ratajkowski is seen walking on June 28, 2023 in New York City, Kendall Jenner is seen during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2020-2021 on February 20, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Emily Ratajkowski is seen walking on June 28, 2023 in New York City, Kendall Jenner is seen during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2020-2021 on February 20, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Raymond Hall/GC Images/ Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images
But what about other popular luxury handbags? According to the Lyst index for Q4 of 2024, the top three most popular luxury fashion brands in the world were Prada, Miu Miu and Saint Laurent.
Prada is owned by the Prada Group, as is Miu Miu, which is Prada’s sister label. Both labels manufacture their handbags in Italy and those familiar with the Prada-sphere will know that the company’s Valvigna complex in Tuscany, Italy is a key site for the brand’s production. Saint Laurent manufactures in France and in Italy and has a leather goods manufacturing facility in Tuscany’s leather handbag district where popular luxury brands like Gucci and Dior also have manufacturing factories.
What are the U.S. and EU Labelling Requirements?
While the TikTok video claims that luxury bags are made in China, this is also very unlikely under labelling regulations in the U.S. and in the EU.
For a product to be labelled “Made in USA,” it must meet the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Rules “all or virtually all,” standard. This means that all significant parts, processing and labor of a product must be of U.S. origin. Final assembly must occur in the U.S., the product cannot have been “substantially transformed abroad.”
Labelling in the EU is governed under EU Regulation 952/2013. But France and Italy have stricter guidelines to protect their luxury and artisan industries.
A product can be labelled “Made in Italy” if the last substantial transformation of the product took place in Italy, meaning the main part of the manufacturing process took place in Italy.
To be labelled “Made in France,” a product must have undergone its last substantial transformation in France, meaning the last major manufacturing step must have occurred in France.
French fashion brands, including Hermès, will often go beyond this, ensuring design, material sourcing, cutting, assembly and finishing are all done in France. Many brands adhere to the Origine France Garantie (OFG), which is an even stricter national certification, requiring that the essential characteristics of a product are created in France and 50 percent of the unit cost price comes from French operations.
