Chinese models quit to speak for international brand, Coach apologizes

A netizen nicknamed "Hong Qiao Yi Jie" ("虹桥一姐") publishes a picture of Coach's "1941 T-shirt" design on her "Sina Weibo" account on Monday, Aug 12, 2019. [Photo: weibo.com]

Famous Chinese model Liu Wen recently announced that she quit speaking for Coach after the fashion house released its "1941 T-shirt" design listing Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries from China, The Beijing News reported.

Liu wrote a message on Sina Weibo saying "my carelessness in choosing which brand to work with has brought harm to everyone; I apologize to everyone here!" "At any time, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are inviolable," she added.

Liu began speaking for Coach China last month. Following the announcement from the Chinese supermodel, Coach soon made an apology on "Sina Weibo," promising they will pull the controversial T-shirts worldwide. The company also said it "respects and supports China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Coach admitted they noticed the design error as early as May 2018, adding they will avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Other Chinese celebrities have also cut ties with these fashion houses. Earlier, actress Yang Mi, a newly signed Versace China model, announced the termination of her contract with the fashion house through her Weibo account.

Versace is under fire for a T-shirt that lists cities and its corresponding countries, but listed Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries from China.

Popular singer Jackson Yee, a member of the Chinese boy band TFBoys, also said that he had discontinued working with Givenchy after the brand-name displayed Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate from China.

Versace, Coach, and Givenchy have angered citizens of the world's most populous market.

In addition to celebrities, some Chinese netizens also protested online by not purchasing the brands in question. A shopper noted on Weibo that the fashion houses should respect China if they need the Chinese market.

A netizen leaves a message on her "Sina Weibo" account, saying she gave up an on-the-way purchase of a Coach bag on Monday, Aug 12, 2019. [Photo: weibo.com]

All three fashion brands said they've issued apologies via social media and stopped selling the sovereignty insulting T-shirts.