
Temporarily, for sure. But for how long? Who knows.
Dang. This isn't good news. Louis Vuitton has had issues in China ever since the whole Olympic Torch Paris thing (and the backlash that followed)... I hope this has nothing to do with that- but it sure as heck sounds like it.
The local Commerce & Industry Authority went into the Hangzhou Boutique, inspected some items, and then "seized most of its products" according to Hangzhou's Today Morning Express newspaper.
According to the paper, last Friday morning, some Industry and Commerce Authority Officers dropped by the boutique for a spot check. Soon after, LV SAs cleared out the store of all customers. They then contacted the head office. After all was said and done, apparently the I & C officers "seized nearly all of the bags in the shop".
WOW!!! That does NOT sound right to me.
Apparently, back in May the Administration of Industry and Commerce did a check of the boutique and found that "some of the boutique's products did not measure up to standards". Louis Vuitton had 15 days from to request a re-inspection or dispute the charges. They had till June 6, but let the deadline lapse.
The Louis Vuitton China Director of Communications, Zhao Xiaojing said that the problem had something to do with the way that leather goods have to be marked in China. A small leather piece didn't have the proper material marking. Zhao said,
"All our leather accessories are produced in France and the mark is not required by regulations there."
So, for now the store is closed. You'll find the window display's gone and all the Louis Vuitton door logos completely covered.
Administration of Industry and Commerce did not order the boutique to shut its doors- but according to in internal source, Louis Vuitton "luxury products are generally made one-year in advance and then allocated to shops around the world, based on a reasonable need. Thus it is not possible to transfer stock from other cities or to get supplies from the source in a short time." Hmmm?
That doesn't make sense according to what we know about Date Codes. But interesting, none the less.
Hopefully, Louis Vuitton will figure out how to comply and the store will re-open before more stores in China meet the same fate.
It's got to be a nightmare manufacturing items for an international audience... making sure to keep in mind each country's individual customs, specific laws and regulations.