Where Are Authentic Luxury Goods Produced? (Part 2)

Where It’s Made, and Why It Matters

In part two of this series, we’ll uncover answers to the leading questions surrounding the production of luxury goods that our WGACA readers and avid luxury consumers are most curious to know. From “Where are designer handbags made?” to “Why do so many brands emphasize a ‘Made in Italy’ label?”, we’re diving deeper into the behind-the-scenes world of luxury manufacturing. Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to shopping pre-owned designer, understanding where and how luxury items are made can add valuable context to your buying decisions.

In this post, we’ll also explore how factors like craftsmanship, materials, tariffs, and transparency play into luxury brand operations. If you’ve ever paused while inspecting a product’s country of origin or wondered whether location impacts quality or authenticity, this guide is for you.

Are Any Louis Vuitton Products Made in China?

No, there are currently no Louis Vuitton products that are manufactured in China. Louis Vuitton manufactures products primarily in France, Spain, Italy and the United States. However, some Louis Vuitton product lines are made in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Which Designer Brands Are Made in China?

The primary luxury brands carried by WGACA that manufacture goods in China are Prada, Miu Miu and Burberry. Vintage Celine and Loewe items were once produced in China, however, all current production for Celine and Loewe has shifted to Italy and Spain. Additionally, some new production of Judith Leiber handbags are manufactured in China. However, all old production of Judith Leiber is manufactured in Italy.

Why Do Brands Emphasize 'Made in France' or 'Made in Italy'?

As mentioned in part one of this series, luxury brands tend to emphasize a ‘Made in France’ or ‘Made in Italy’ label because consumers often believe that the country of origin is synonymous with the item’s level of quality.

Many luxury consumers assume that the country their luxury goods were produced in determines the value. This is a vast misconception. The country of origin for luxury goods never dictates the quality of materials or craftmanship. Whether your Prada bag was manufactured in Italy, Romania, Turkey or China, they hold the same value and were made with the same quality materials and craftsmanship. For a more detailed breakdown on this topic, refer to part one (hyperlink) of this series.

Is the Quality the Same for U.S.-Made Louis Vuitton Bags?

Yes, Louis Vuitton bags made in the United States are of the same quality as those made in France. Louis Vuitton bags that are made in the United States are made from imported materials and will have an interior tag that reads “Made in the United States from imported material.”

How Do Luxury Brands Ensure Quality Control?

Luxury brands ensure the quality of their leather goods through various methods. The first step a luxury brand takes in ensuring the quality of their leather goods is by sourcing the finest quality leather. This is achieved by taking into consideration the following factors: the animal’s environment and living conditions, the atmosphere of the production facility (think storage conditions, warehouse temperatures and safety in transportation), and hiring properly trained and highly experienced artisans for their craftsmanship.

How What Role Do Tariffs Play in Luxury Manufacturing?

The impact of tariffs imposed on luxury items typically results in a disruption to the supply chains and more strict custom checks at the U.S. border. This often leads to significant delays in arrival and increased prices overall. Tariffs increase the cost of imported luxury goods for designer brands, who are then forced to raise prices for consumers to create a profit margin. Some luxury brands may attempt to absorb some of the costs, while others may experiment with relocating production or outsourcing to countries with lower or no tariffs.

Are Luxury Brands Transparent About Where They Manufacture?

There’s a wide range of transparency levels among luxury brands regarding their manufacturing processes. Many designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu, Christian Dior, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Valentino and Burberry are taking steps to shed light on their supply chains and raw materials by using blockchain technology for traceability.

In April 2021, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) together with Prada and Richemont-owned Cartier, launched Aura Blockchain Consortium, a global platform that gives unique digital identities to products, allowing customers to verify the authenticity of their luxury goods. From where the raw materials originated, to the specific location and working conditions an item was created in, blockchain technology provides transparency from the fashion industry supply chain.

Blockchain technology is a distributed database which maintains a growing list of records, called blocks. Each digital block is encrypted and contains a set of data with a timestamp and a link to the previous block. Once data is recorded in a block, it cannot be altered.

As these encrypted blocks are connected, they provide a secure means of sharing information throughout an entire network in a verifiable and traceable manner. For the fashion world, this means we can now digitally track each point in the supply chain in an easily accessible way; by simply scanning the item’s NFC tag through the brand’s app.

Blockchain technology is used for recording and securing data, while NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless technology used for communication and data transfer between devices. While blockchain and NFC are often combined and utilized together, they are not the same thing. 

Do Luxury Brands Shift Production Based on Demand?

Luxury brands will sometimes adjust production to meet demand, occasionally moving to different locations or adopting an on-demand manufacturing system of only producing goods when a customer places an order. This is utilized to balance supply with consumer demand, minimize overstock, and maintain brand exclusivity.

Production relocation is typically implemented for other reasons besides demand. Luxury brands often shift production to countries with lower labor costs, increased expertise on specific product lines, and better access to materials. For example, Hermès chooses to produce buffalo horn jewelry in Vietnam due to the prevalence of buffalos in Vietnamese culture and the expertise native Vietnamese people possess for crafting jewelry and other goods out of buffalo horn. To read more in depth about this topic, refer to Part One of this series.

Further examples of this are Gucci outsourcing the production of espadrilles to Spain due to the shoe’s historical and cultural significance and Prada manufacturing raffia handbags, hats and shoes in Morrocco and Madagascar for the country’s female artisan expertise in weaving and processing raffia and Madagascar providing 80% of the world’s raffia supply.

Does the 'Made In' Label Impact the Value of a Luxury Item?

While most luxury consumers assume that the country listed on a product’s ‘Made in’ label directly affects a luxury item’s value, the mere truth is that it does not. While the country of origin may affect the item’s perceived value by a customer, it’s important to note that this is a common subjective evaluation done by luxury consumers.

‘Made in’ labels often tap into a country’s existing reputation, making countries such as Italy and France the preferred manufacturing locations for luxury consumers, as they likely associate Italy and France with the highest quality luxury goods. Don’t be fooled, an authentic luxury item manufactured in Italy holds the same exact value as an authentic luxury item manufactured in China.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going

Still have questions about where your favorite luxury items are made? Check out Part One of this series, and stay tuned for part three. Want us to address something specific? Submit your questions on Instagram @whatgoesaroundnyc, and we may include them in the next post!

In the meantime, shop authenticated pre-owned luxury bags and accessories at What Goes Around Comes Around.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do some luxury brands produce items in multiple countries?

Luxury brands often manufacture in multiple countries to optimize craftsmanship, labor costs, material sourcing, and logistics. While leather goods may be crafted in Italy, other components or product categories, like hardware, eyewear, or ready-to-wear, might be produced in countries known for specific expertise.

2. Can luxury items made outside of Europe still be authentic?

Yes. Authentic luxury goods can be made in a range of countries, not just Italy or France. Brands like Prada, Burberry, and even Louis Vuitton operate production facilities around the world, and authenticity is determined by quality control standards and brand oversight, not geography.

3. What are common misconceptions about the ‘Made in China’ label on luxury goods?

Many consumers assume that a “Made in China” label means lower quality, but this is outdated. Major luxury brands like Prada and Burberry maintain strict quality control across all facilities, regardless of location. The country of origin does not determine authenticity or craftsmanship.

4. Why do luxury brands choose specific countries for certain materials or techniques?

Luxury brands often select production locations based on regional expertise or material sourcing. For example, Hermès produces horn jewelry in Vietnam due to traditional craftsmanship, and Prada manufactures raffia accessories in Madagascar, where the material is abundant and locally refined.

5. Are newer luxury items more likely to be made outside of Europe?

Yes, as global demand has increased, many luxury houses have expanded production to countries beyond Europe. Strategic outsourcing to places like China, Romania, or Vietnam allows brands to maintain supply, integrate regional expertise, and streamline global distribution, all while upholding their standards.

Where Are Authentic Luxury Goods Produced? (Part Two)