Louis Vuitton has begun labeling select leather accessories as ‘Made in Portugal’, according to Portuguese newspaper Publico.
The Portuguese Association of Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Related Products Industries (Apiccaps) said the French luxury house has produced leather components in Portugal for several years. However, final assembly has primarily taken place in Italy.
One example is an orange leather owl-shaped accessory designed to hold wireless headphones, which carries the tag ‘Made in Portugal’.
João Rui Ferreira, Secretary of State for the Economy, said adopting the label is a step toward positioning Portugal as a luxury manufacturing hub.
“We rank second globally by average price, but we still have a long way to go,” Ferreira said. “The ambition shared by all is this: To be a sector of value, not of volume.”
Luis Onofre, president of Apiccaps, said the accessory demonstrates how “production in Portugal is fully integrated into the strategy of developing specialized production chains with high added value.”
He added that the country has “highly qualified teams and rigorous processes” that meet the “levels of demand, quality and sophistication” required by international luxury brands.
However, Louis Vuitton’s online store lists a similar owl-shaped accessory as being made in Italy, suggesting it may come from a different production line.
Separately, several Louis Vuitton customers on Reddit reported owning pieces labeled ‘Made in Portugal’.
“I just got this cute owl charm. I noticed that it says Made in Portugal,” one Reddit user wrote.
“I actually didn’t know LV had a factory there. Most of my SLGs are made in France or Spain. Does anybody else own a made in Portugal piece?”
“Yes, my pen case is made in Portugal,” another user replied.
Louis Vuitton has worked in Portugal for more than a decade through its partner Atepeli – Ateliers de Portugal, which has manufactured leather goods components and luxury footwear since 2011. The company operates factories in Lousada, Penafiel, and Ponte de Lima.
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