Gucci apologises for sending warning letters to Hong Kong shops over paper handbag offerings
Italian luxury brand issues statement expressing ‘utmost respect’ for ‘funeral context’, says no legal action will be taken
Luxury clothing brand Gucci apologised on Friday for sending letters to six Hong Kong stores earlier this week warning them not to sell replica paper handbags and fashion items bearing its brand to burn at Chinese funerals.
In a surprise U-turn, Gucci and parent company Kering expressed “utmost respect with regards to the funeral context”.
The Italian fashion house acknowledged that the stores in question had no intention of infringing intellectual property rights, and promised not to pursue any legal action.
“We regret any misunderstandings that may have been caused and sincerely apologise to anyone we may have offended,” the company said in a statement, explaining that the letters were sent as part of efforts to protect its valuable global trademark.
Charlotte Judet, a spokeswoman for Kering, said the fashion house had not received complaints about offending traditional Chinese customs and was acting on its own initiative. She said Gucci had recently had a “constructive dialogue” with the store owners and received feedback from them.