Zadig & Voltaire fashion boss apologises over China gaffe
Company founder Thierry Gillier said remarks had been taken out of context
The boss of French clothing firm Zadig & Voltaire has apologised for saying that Chinese tourists would not be welcome at an exclusive new hotel planned by the company in Paris.
Company founder Thierry Gillier told fashion industry journal Women’s Wear Daily late last month: “We are going to select guests. It won’t be open to Chinese tourists, for example.”
The article has since been amended to remove the reference to Chinese tourists and instead refers to “busloads of tourists”.
But that did not stop outraged Internet users posting angry messages on social media and websites in China.
“This is obviously racial discrimination. Not every Chinese is uncultivated, there are many more who are cultured,” said one user on popular portal Sina.com.
“I think this pretentious brand will lose an important market if it really turns down Chinese.”