LVMH, Chanel, Hermès Among More Brands To Shutter Stores In Russia

Following in the footsteps of Apple and Adidas, luxury brands LVMH, Chanel, Hermès, and Kering are suspending business in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Due to growing concerns regarding the current situation in Europe, Kering is temporarily closing its stores in Russia for Houses that the Group operates directly in the country,” the conglomerate, which runs Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, said in a statement.

According to Insider, the firm announced it would be making a “significant donation” to the United Nations Refugees Agency. It had previously made a first “emergency donation” of US$5.47 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Following suit, LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Fendi, has said it will be shuttering over 120 stores “given the current circumstances in the region.” 

“The Group’s first concern is the safety of its 150 employees in Ukraine and is providing them with essential financial and operational assistance,” said LVMH.

In addition, Chanel and Hermès both announced they would be closing down stores in Russia, and pausing all commercial activity in the country for the time being. 

“We will no longer deliver into Russia, we will close our boutiques, and we already suspended our e-commerce,” assured Chanel. 

Vogue Business noted the suspension applies even to luxury online stores, such as Farfetch, Mytheresa, and Yoox Net-a-Porter group, all of which have paused shipment of orders to Russia. 

[via Insider and Vogue Business, cover image via Roman Tiraspolsky / Shutterstock.com]