Chanel has stopped sales in Russia in reaction to the Ukraine invasion, and they've gone beyond just that. Buyers are made currently made to never wear their brand in the country. Models and influencers show themselves cutting up the bags in response, refusing the 'Russophobia' behavior to "selling" their "Motherland".
Chanel owners such as TV presenter Marina Ermoshkina have opted to just destroy the accessories.
"Chanel is simply an accessory that at some point decided to humiliate my compatriots," said Marina Ermoshkina. "And discriminate by nationality. I will not tolerate this."
amazing_marina -Via
She's shared herself using a garden plier to snap her bag into two in a video she uploaded on Instagram. She's also often seen carrying other luxurious brand names with her.
At the same time, the tag has garnered rage from the other side of the viewers, many of who couldn't see the significance of their action in the face of Putin's decision to continue the invasion.
One slammed them with their opinion, "These babes are hyping by cutting up their Chanel bags as a way to protest against the brand's idiotic policy. It is frankly as silly as it was to ask them to sign some paperwork in Dubai… it looks like a well-organised, staged action."
"Why don't they start a challenge on selling their Chanel accessories in favor of children and refugees, or whichever is closest to their heart?" wrote another.
Victoria Bonya, a 42-year-old model, has also cut a handbag from the French luxurious brand.
She wrote angrily on her post, "Never seen any brand acting so disrespectful towards their clients as Chanel #byebyeChanel"
The act was seen by over 9.3 million followers of hers on Instagram, receiving many supportive messages from fellow Russians who agreed with her sentiment.
Sharli Prokopif, an expat travel blogger with over 240k followers agreed, "I am Russian, living in Europe - and I refuse to wear Chanel."
Interior designer Liza Litvin shared her outrage after being personally shown the form at a Chanel boutique in Dubai.
The influencer recalls her shopping experience, "I went to a Chanel boutique in the Mall of the Emirates. They didn't sell me the bag because (attention!) I am from Russia!!!"
She then explained about Chanel's "new order" that prevents Russians from getting any of their bags unless they signed an agreement, which was infuriating to her. She continued, "They asked for my ID details, and I gave my Russian phone number."
Moscow-based influencer Yana Rudkovskaya hasn't blamed Putin but has expressed how horrified she is at the new ban. The woman thinks it was "somewhat humiliating" for the 47-year-old wife of Olympic figure skating champion Alexander Plyushenko.
DJ and actress Katya Guseva reacted to the news, "I am saying 'No' to Chanel. They are forcing me to sign a humiliating document, forcing me to reject my Motherland in favour of their brand."
"I am against Russophobia and against segregation by nationality," she continued speaking to her 587k followers. "To show you I am serious, I will simply cut up this bag. I don't need it anymore. Bye-bye, Chanel."
"We Russian women are stunning regardless of having Chanel - we know it, Chanel knows it, the whole world knows it."
One questioned the act that they've deemed as ridiculous, "Why don't they worry about the Ukrainian deaths Putin has caused? And the Russian soldiers being sent to their slaughter like cannon fodder? Instead, they do this childish stunt with scissors."
Singer Anna Kalashnikova has also shared her anger after a Chanel store denied her from purchasing their products.
Shared on her Instagram story, she wrote what the store manager told her, "We know you are a Russian celebrity. We know you'll be taking purchases to Russia, so we can't sell our brand's items."
"Oops, I thought," wrote the woman in reaction. "Next I remembered Coco Chanel was not only mistress of a Nazi officer, but an agent of German intelligence."
"So this action of her brand really makes me remember her biography. It's so low to support fascism and Russophobia," the 37-year-old finished her rage post.
