October 5, 2005

  • Gucci in China


    China's Gucci Team

    The Gucci brand has such an aura amongst the local Chinese. Everybody loves Gucci. Everybody wants Gucci. But not everybody can afford Gucci. This has contributed to the vast network of counterfeit Gucci's throughout the motherland. You can find fake Gucci products in the most random places, and EVERYBODY knows Gucci, although they may not necessarily know how to properly pronounce it or spell it. (Many I know here call it Koochee)

    I personally think the proliferation of these brands through the counterfeit markets does more good to the luxury brands in the short term than in the long term. It is unavoidable at this point mostly because of the number of people that it employs. From the hundreds of factory workers to the thousands of street hawkers. The markup is easily at least 100% and should a foreigner come by and buy a couple of items, we're looking much more in returns. It just makes sense right now for the locals to continue doing it. And why would the government put a stop to it overnight? You know they COULD if they really wanted to. China is great that way, don't really need much debate in parliament and then ask the people. I've seen Shanghai transformed overnight because a delegation of foreigners were coming into town. When I went to bed, the streets were filled with litter, dying plants and street hawkers. The next day, entire flower beds were replanted, roads repainted and litter completely gone. It would take a decade for some of these things to be done in other countries.

    I have seen fake everythings here: Coach, LV, Ferregamo, Armani, Hugo Boss, Cartier, IWC, Panerai... you name it they got it. Mind you the quality may not be the same, but the locals and some foreigners don't mind at all. For a fraction of the prices, the feelings that one gets when owning a Gucci are worth it. And I am certain that if people could afford it, and really wanted it, they would stop at nothing to go for the real thing.

    So although the battle seems quite uphill, the people behind it I'm sure are working hard to make sure the the aura of Gucci continues to live on. Go kooocheeeee!