Made in China? The Story Behind Luxury Leather Items

You may have recently seen viral videos claiming that “80% of luxury leather goods are made in China.” But is this how high-end brands — like Hermès, Chanel and Prada — work in practice?

It's a complex question. While some argue that rigid “Made in” tags keep luxury leather goods in China at bay, the reality is more complex. In Italy and France, for example, many rules make the origin label dependent upon where the last substantial transformation occurs. This means that even if components are made elsewhere, the product can be legally labeled “Made in Italy” if the final assembly happens there. 

Clearly, practices differ throughout the industry. Some, including Hermès, emphasize that production is almost entirely within Europe. Others use some kind of hybrid, in which different products or components might come from different places — not necessarily China. For instance, Japan’s YKK zippers, famous for their high quality, are widely reported to be used by brands like Gucci. 

I’m not always one to be pulled in by luxury brand products, personally – I find their price tags usually a bit divorced from the cost of making them. This has got me thinking that it should not all be about where a product is made or the brand label, but on the sound leather craftsmanship and the quality of the materials used . This is precisely why so many of the best luxury leather brands continue to use high-quality European leather from some of the world's best tanneries—it's the material that matters when it comes to REAL luxury leather items.

Our Philosophy at O2 Leather

We are Passionate about High-Quality Leather. This appreciation of lasting quality, transparency and quality leather workmanship also drives us at O2 Leather.

We opt to work with a selection of reliable, European-standard tanneries based in Istanbul. This is a place with a long-established association with leather, combining European-style techniques and standards with generations of knowledge. We choose these leathers for their quality, strength, character and grain - all of which are important to us when making the best quality leather goods. It is this premium leather that allows us to create a variety of luxury leather goods for you including handcrafted premium leather Apple watch bands, and tough luxury leather iPhone cases to name a few. Our commitment to genuine artisans and real leather is very apparent in all our luxury leather products.

Just so we’re totally transparent, you can access detailed test reports for our leather, by a world leading Swiss testing company, on the FAQ page of our site. That’s all a part of our commitment to you when you trust O2 Leather for your luxury leather products.

We appreciate you being a member of our community and choosing O2 Leather.