What if “transparent” was the color of tomorrow? 🔎
As a “made in France” brand, we often hear “is it expensive for a pair of suspenders” or “is everything made in France?” so we decided to tell you everything. 📢
What is French washing?
We're fed up with the constant "made in France" hype, with no explanations or evidence. What if it's just French-washing?
This process, also known as “franco-lavage,” is becoming increasingly widespread with the growth of “made in France.” The goal is to deceive consumers during these purchases, giving them the impression of buying French when this is not the case. This practice disrupts the local economy to the detriment of brands that are truly “made in France.”
The manipulation mainly involves the use of codes for products manufactured in France, namely:
- the “France” label (and yes, it doesn’t do everything): although this label is completely free, it misleads consumers;
- the French flag and the tricolor: this distinctive sign, well known to all, is often used as a decorative element or for marketing, but that does not necessarily justify French manufacturing;
- the words “assembled”, “imagined” or “designed” (this is very clever): as with the previous elements, these words will push consumers to believe that a product is “made in France” and yet this will not be the case;
- Storytelling: What's better than telling the story of a company founded in France, with a hint of nostalgia and a few omissions about the origin of the products. Indeed, it's a fairly recurring trap, and it's a real shame.
Now that you have the information, you won't be fooled anymore. But what exactly is "made in France?"
“Made in France” or “manufactured in France” explained in a few lines
Quite simply, it's a mark of origin that companies indicate on their products, certifying their origin. For manufactured products, including textiles, it's up to the company to choose whether or not to indicate it. This is a major difference from food, agriculture, or cosmetics. It's a regulated distinction, and one that cannot be given randomly.
A product can be 100% Made in France (that's cool) or it can be the result of transforming imported raw materials. Don't panic, it's still Made in France. We'll explain.
The product can be said to be “made in France” if a significant part which adds real value to the product is made in France and if the last substantial transformation is carried out in France.
Concretely, at least 50% of the product's added value must be made in France. Basically, it's good to write it down, but you have to be able to justify it.
What if we were transparent with you?
At Pierrot, we've decided to be transparent with you. Our products are manufactured in France in our partner workshops, using components we've carefully selected for their reliability and quality.
It is sometimes necessary to import from our neighbors who are better placed and more qualified, but all the processing work is the result of French know-how.
Concretely, Pierrot accessories are:
🇮🇹 Italian leather and belt buckles, no doubt it's the best quality
🇩🇪 German suspender clips, they are super good in industry
🇧🇪 Belgian elastic, the best value for money
👌 the magic fingers of French artisans because we have talent