Russian influencers are cutting up their Chanel handbags on social media in angry protest over sanctions imposed by the luxury French fashion label that mean they can no longer buy its products.
Chanel confirmed
to the BBC this week that it was halting sales of its clothes, perfume, accessories and other highbrow items to Russian customers abroad as a response to President Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Chanel has already shut its stores in Russia, as have countless other brands.
In a statement, 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.”
Furious owners of the brand’s handbags — including a model, DJ and television presenter — accused Chanel of fueling hatred toward Russians, which they deemed “Russophobia.”
“Bye-bye, Chanel,” said Russian DJ Katya Guseva, as she sliced into her black and gold handbag with a pair of scissors. Guseva uploaded the moment to her Instagram account, a platform on which she has more than half a million followers.
She told followers she had long dreamed of owning a Chanel handbag but would not tolerate the brand’s new policy. “Not a single bag, not a single thing is worth my love for my Motherland,” she said.
Chanel did not immediately respond to a Washington Post request for comment.
Russian model Victoria Bonya, who has more than 9 million Instagram followers, also uploaded a video of herself
destroying a Chanel bag. “Never seen any brand acting so disrespectful toward their clients,” she wrote.
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