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Russian Influencers Are Destroying Chanel Bags In Protest Of Sales Ban, The Internet Puts Them In Place By Reminding About The War That’s Still Going On
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Russian Influencers Are Destroying Chanel Bags In Protest Of Sales Ban, The Internet Puts Them In Place By Reminding About The War That’s Still Going On

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In response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and despicable war crimes by the Russian army that shocked the whole world, French luxury giant Chanel has stopped sales of its clothes, handbags, perfume, accessories and other items to customers who were intending to use the products in Russia.

Chanel said it has “rolled out a process to ask clients” shopping abroad or “for whom we do not know the main residency” to confirm that the products they are buying “will not be used in Russia.” The fashion house has already shut its stores within Russia, following the steps of many other fashion brands.

“The latest sanctions from the European Union and Switzerland prohibit ‘the sale, directly or indirectly, of luxury items to any natural, legal person or entity in the Russian Federation or for use in the Russian Federation,’” the spokesperson at Chanel said in a statement on Tuesday, noting that it is “currently working to improve the procedure.

Chanel’s ban enraged Russian influencers like Victoria Bonya and Marina Ermoshkina, who have 9.3M and 300k followers respectively, so they are now filming themselves destroying their Chanel purses. They are now accusing the fashion house of “Russophobia” and the attempt to “cancel Russia.”

Image credits: jonnytickle

According to BBC, the French fashion house confirmed in a statement that it was complying with a ban initiated by Switzerland and the EU pertaining to the sale of luxury items to people who intend to use them in Russia.

“This is why we have rolled out a process to ask clients for whom we do not know the main residency to confirm that the items they are purchasing will not be used in Russia,” Chanel said. “We are currently working on improving this approach and we apologize for any misunderstanding this may have caused.”

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Victoria Bonya, a Russian Instagram model with 9.3M followers, stated she “has never seen a brand acting so disrespectful towards their clients as Chanel”

Image credits: victoriabonya

Image credits: victoriabonya

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Image credits: victoriabonya

Chanel’s decision enraged Russian owners of the brand’s handbags: models, television presenters and influencers who accused the brand of fueling hatred toward Russians. They deemed the ban “Russophobia” — echoing Maria Zakharova, Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, who said earlier this week that Chanel had joined the “Russophobic campaign” to “cancel Russia.”

Image credits: victoriabonya

To find out more about why exactly Russian influencers are cutting their Chanel purses with scissors as well as where the fashion industry stands in the context of the Russian war and its brutal crimes against Ukraine, we spoke with Lina Survila. Lina is a founder and editor in chief of the online cultural magazine “Abstract Stylist,” and a former L’Officiel fashion editor with a decade-long experience in fashion.

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“Fashion has always had a powerful impact on the economy. But, it also has always adapted according to the world’s needs. For example, many fashion brands expressed their position on the Russian war and its crimes in Ukraine,” Lina said and added that “As a result, luxury conglomerates and brands left the Russian and Belarusian markets, causing big losses.”

According to Statista, revenue in the Luxury Goods market in Russia amounts to US$2413m in 2022. To compare, most revenue is generated in the United States (US$74,674m in 2022).

Another Russian influencer named Marina Ermoshkina joined the wave of delusional protests claiming “she’s against a brand that supports Russophobia”

Image credits: amazing_marina

Image credits: amazing_marina

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Image credits: amazing_marina

Lina explained that “with many Russian influencers declaring propagandist views on the war, it became clear that all Russians must address their government and make a change from the inside. This is why the Chanel brand chose not to sell to Russians.”

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Russian DJ Katya Guseva also posted a video of herself destroying her Chanel purse

Image credits: djkatyaguseva

Image credits: djkatyaguseva

Image credits: djkatyaguseva

“Unfortunately, Russian influencers staying safe in luxurious places all around Europe don’t seem to acknowledge the propaganda of their home country and even spread it by showing no compassion for the people of Ukraine. The brand understands the power of image and does not want to be associated with influencers spreading propaganda,” the fashion expert explained. Lina added that “In my view, all brands should follow.”

English Journalist Jonny Tickle pointed out that Buzova even demanded a refund from Chanel for all the luxury goods she had bought

Image credits: jonnytickle

Others said that the furious Russian influencers are like an “involuntary ad” for the brand

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Image credits: MacLesggy

And this is what other people had to say about this whole thing

Image credits: DmytroMoyseyev

Image credits: Thesoupwasfine

Image credits: darwin_notebook

Image credits: Canhistoryrules

Image credits: BlogMiamando

Image credits: uksteist

Image credits: macjake56

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Image credits: OverUnderClover

 

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katy_malinowski avatar
Katy McMouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The money they might have made selling those bags would have helped a few of the poor Ukrainians carrying what's left of their lives in suitcases and shopping bags. It takes a special kind of assshole to be this callous and shameful.

stephaniedowns avatar
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! Chanel has already received the money for the purchase of the bags. It isn't as though the amount is deducted from their business when someone destroys it. Ridiculous, petty cancel culture behavior.

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ceegspam avatar
CLG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you ever seen such a gross display of tone deafness and entitlement. And to try to spin it as "Russophobia" as they cut up their own multi-thousand dollar handbags while their neighbors are being driven out of their homes and murdered, my god the nerve of these a-holes. At least they're getting rightfully torn up in their own comments (at least as far as I can tell... not sure what the Russian language ones say).

emmuzka avatar
Emma London
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Russophobia" propaganda is currently a big thing, but it's intended audience are the Russian people themselves. With videos and articles, they are convinced that other people (all na*is and gays!) are persecuting russians, arresting them for speaking publicly in russian, and shunning them for even owning russion literature or russian dog breeds. Russians genuinely think that Ukrainians are all na*is, on a mission of murdering the russian locals. It's easy to commit war crimes when you don't think that the opposition is even humans.

Load More Replies...
virgilblue avatar
Virgil Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good, good, destroy the property you already paid for and advertised to millions. Let the pettiness show trough you!

Load More Comments
katy_malinowski avatar
Katy McMouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The money they might have made selling those bags would have helped a few of the poor Ukrainians carrying what's left of their lives in suitcases and shopping bags. It takes a special kind of assshole to be this callous and shameful.

stephaniedowns avatar
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! Chanel has already received the money for the purchase of the bags. It isn't as though the amount is deducted from their business when someone destroys it. Ridiculous, petty cancel culture behavior.

Load More Replies...
ceegspam avatar
CLG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you ever seen such a gross display of tone deafness and entitlement. And to try to spin it as "Russophobia" as they cut up their own multi-thousand dollar handbags while their neighbors are being driven out of their homes and murdered, my god the nerve of these a-holes. At least they're getting rightfully torn up in their own comments (at least as far as I can tell... not sure what the Russian language ones say).

emmuzka avatar
Emma London
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Russophobia" propaganda is currently a big thing, but it's intended audience are the Russian people themselves. With videos and articles, they are convinced that other people (all na*is and gays!) are persecuting russians, arresting them for speaking publicly in russian, and shunning them for even owning russion literature or russian dog breeds. Russians genuinely think that Ukrainians are all na*is, on a mission of murdering the russian locals. It's easy to commit war crimes when you don't think that the opposition is even humans.

Load More Replies...
virgilblue avatar
Virgil Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good, good, destroy the property you already paid for and advertised to millions. Let the pettiness show trough you!

Load More Comments
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