I was taking a look at Longchamps at Bloomingdale's over the weekend and I noticed that the Pliage bags don't have "Made in France" imprinted in the leather on the back anymore. I thought that was funny, so I looked inside for the country of origin and I couldn't find it. I asked, and the woman showed me there is actually a small sewn-in tag made of frosted clear plastic (so it is hard to see) that does indeed indicate the country of origin. The large tote I was holding happened to be made in France. All of the medium totes that I looked at were made in China! (I looked at several) I asked her what the deal was and she didn't really know, she said that the stock comes in both ways (France and China). She even said that some customers will look through every bag and buy up the made in France ones! Maybe at the Longchamps store in Soho they would have a better understanding of the production (ie. which items are made in China and which in France) or if they source all of Le Pliage in both places and you have a chance to find a French one if you keep looking...
Anyway, I think it's pretty much an outrage. I don't want to buy a French bag that's made in China, certainly not for full price. It almost seems like an "authorized couterfeit".
Here are the two bags I was looking at:
Longchamps Le Pliage Large Tote ($145) and Medium Tote ($125).
The large tote is 19.25W (top) 13W (base) x 13H x 7.5D with a 10" drop for the handles.
The medium tote is 9.75W x 9.75H x 5.5D with an 8" drop for the handles.
I got my Le Pliage medium tote during a trip to Hong Kong sometime in mid-May. Mine has "Made in France" imprinted on the back. An outrage indeed if I were to find out that I'm paying full price for a French bag that's made in China!
Okay I'm just as upset as you are, but there's really nothing you can do about it. From my research and some common sense, it's easy to say a lot of these bags are made in China because the color you want, and millions of other people want, such as(brown, navy blue, black, etc.) are so high in demand, that manufacturing in France was not able to keep up unless they started manufacturing in other countries. Also probably, also, cheap labor.
Personally, they could've chose another country, but you can't exactly blame China for the bag's area of manufacturing. You should really blame Longchamp and if anyone is so against China and what they do and their inferior quality for the majority of their products, they should stop buying LongChamp bags all together, not buying things made in China.. because, in all reality, the brand is still in France and from France.
The material of the bag could've still be from China regardless. Plus, lets not forget that since high level companies want to make more from very little, sooner or later, all their bags will be made in China.
I wouldn't pay for a bag of lesser quality, but I would not where it's made, until I compare it to my friend's 2-3 year old one, and find any inferior craftsmanship, that's when I'll do an exchange for a real quality one or return it.
But if you're going to be picky and judge the tags of where it's made, even if the quality is the same or even better, then you'll never find a good luxury brand bag, because even LV isn't always made in France, and Coach is also made in China. And regardless of where it's made, people will still buy. I am pretty sure a lot of people know some Coach products are made in China, but still continue to buy it, as long as the quality is still superior.
I'll admit my bag feels a little bit cheap, like it's a $5 tote, but it's from Saks Fifth Avenue which sells authentic stuff. But having a tote bag that comes from China (and if the quality is bad compared to France made), makes it seem like a product off the department store sales shelf. I am picky with tags and where it's made, but I am trying to learn not to be. And it's a bag I've been wanting for ages.. so at least I have it.