Translate

May 06, 2016

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

JESSIE.LAU@SCMP.COM

UPDATED : Friday, 06 May, 2016, 4:24pm

Paper tomb offerings are traditionally burned at funerals as gifts for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife. Photo: AFP

Luxury brand Gucci and its parent firm Kering have apologised for sending letters to six Hong Kong stores earlier this week warning them not to sell fake paper Gucci handbags and fashion items for the deceased.

In an abrupt and unexpected about-turn on Friday, the luxury group issued a statement expressing its “utmost respect with regards to the funeral context”.

The Italian fashion house said the stores did not have any intention of infringing intellectual property rights, and it would not pursue any legal action or seek compensation.


Many paper offerings are lookalikes of popular products, including luxury goods and even cars. Photo: AFP

“We regret any misunderstandings that may have been caused and sincerely apologise to anyone we may have offended,” the statement said, explaining that the letters were sent as part of the company’s efforts to protect their global intellectual property.

Charlotte Judet, a spokeswoman for Kering, told the South China Morning Post that the company recently had a “constructive dialogue” with the store owners and had received feedback from them.

Paper tomb offerings are traditionally burned at funerals as gifts for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife. Such items – ranging from paper phones to paper money – are also burned at festivals like Ching Ming, or tomb-sweeping day, as a way to symbolically pay respects to the dead. Many offerings are lookalikes of popular products in China, including cigarettes, luxury goods and even cars.

“It’s the first time I’ve encountered this problem,” said Tai Wai-man, who has run a funeral store on North Point’s Marble Road for about three decades and did not receive a letter. “I think they have good reasons for doing this. [But] to not report us would be better.”

Tai’s shop carried a few Gucci replicas at the time the letters were sent, but he quickly sold them after hearing about the controversy.

Another shopkeeper in her 40s, who manages a store on Java Road, North Point, said she was glad Gucci apologised, although she did not receive a warning letter.

“Everyone sells this stuff. If you can’t sell one type of brand, then you can’t sell any of them,” she said. Her shop currently does not stock luxury lookalikes, but did so in the past. Paper Gucci bags cost about HK$10 to HK$20, or about HK$50 with shoes.

“I’m not worried,” she said, adding that the designer goods were not more or less popular than other items. “We’re still going to sell [the goods]. If one of us gets in trouble, we’ll all be in trouble together.”

Pro-democracy group Civic Passion said it would hold a protest on Sunday outside the Gucci store at Queen’s Road, Central to demonstrate against the company’s actions.

http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1941661/gucci-apologises-sending-warning-letters-hong