Louis Vuitton slammed for ‘overpriced’ accessory inspired by Chinese diver
At the recently concluded Paris Olympics, athletes became powerful influencers, with champion diver Quan Hongchan driving the popularity of “little turtles.” Her obsession with turtle accessories, evident from her overflowing backpack, captivated attention from fellow athletes and netizens alike. After returning to China, her livestream of unboxing glowing colorful turtles attracted over 800,000 viewers, leading to a surge in demand. However, Chinese netizens recently discovered that luxury brand Louis Vuitton released a 7,400 RMB ($1,015) turtle-shaped bag accessory, sparking speculation that it was launched to capitalize on Olympic champion Quan’s popularity. However, the item was released before the Olympics as some Olympics were seen already wearing the charm on their bags. This didn’t stop netizens from criticizing the charm, designed to hold small items like earphones or keys, for being “ugly and overpriced,” with many comparing it unfavorably to Quan’s toy turtles. LV might have had the last laugh though as some reports point to the cute item being sold out in some Chinese LV stores due to viral publicity.