Burberry, the 150 year-old British clothing company with the signature check, has been very trendy in recent years due in no small part to CEO Rose Marie Bravo's decision to hire Kate Moss for Burberry's brand ads.
However, now Burberry has run afoul of a number of people for its plans to cut costs by moving a manufacturing plant from England to China.
Burberry's detractors include high-profile celebrities such as Britain's Prince Charles and actor Ioan Gruffud who appeared in Burberry's advertising in 2005.
Egad!
But will any of this protest transfer into lower sales for Burberry? I think it's doubtful. People who live and die by the latest fashion trend are fairly apathetic when it comes to social issues that affect the latest must-have.
Sources: Wikipedia and Daily Mail
Addendum (posted 9 January 2007)
Today I learned of another brand with outsourcing plans.
French luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton is planning to build a manufacturing plant in India.
Source: Luxury Launches
