Gucci is selling £725 Drip trainers labelled 'Made in China' on its UK website, while its Italian-made leather Ace trainers cost £575. The £150 difference presents a direct price comparison as the luxury house introduces footwear produced outside its traditional Italian manufacturing base.
The trainers form part of creative director Demna's Primavera collection, introduced in 2026 as the Kering-owned label pursues a commercial turnaround. Gucci describes the laceless Drip as the former Balenciaga designer's first trainer for the house.
Gucci says it selected a Chinese manufacturer for its technical capabilities, rather than as part of a wider shift away from Italian production. However, the move has prompted concerns among luxury industry analysts about whether manufacturing origin could influence how customers perceive the brand's pricing.
Why Are Gucci's £725 Trainers Made in China?
Gucci's £725 white suede Drip combines a basketball-inspired shape with the ease of a slip-on loafer. Details include the signature green-and-red Web stripe, a rubber sole, elastic inserts and a concealed 2cm wedge. The men's Drip range also includes versions priced at £700 and £785 on Gucci's UK website.
Gucci is going viral after fans notice their new $1000 “Drip” sneakers were Made in China pic.twitter.com/iQGdcgmN9t
— STAYGROUNDEAD TV (@staygroundeadtv) September 30, 2026
Another style in the Primavera collection, a leather slip-on trainer, is listed at £665 in Britain and is also identified as Chinese-made on Gucci's international product pages. It features decorative stitching, a padded insole and rubber trim extending beneath the sole. The two styles show that the manufacturing decision extends beyond a single Drip colourway.
In a statement explaining its choice, Gucci said: 'The partner selected offered the technological know-how and capabilities most appropriate for achieving the performance and quality standards we were seeking.' The company said it had previously worked with specialist suppliers in Switzerland and Japan for other product categories. A spokesperson also said there were no broader plans to relocate Gucci production outside Italy.
Gucci's Italian Heritage Faces a Pricing Test
Founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921, the fashion house has built much of its identity around Italian craftsmanship. Its customer FAQ states that most Gucci products are made in Italy, while its UK listing identifies the £575 Ace leather trainer as Italian-made. The contrast places the newer Chinese-made Drip £150 above that particular Ace model.
Gucci Is Selling $1,000 Luxury Sneakers Labeled “Made in China,” Breaking a 105-Year-Old Italian Manufacturing Tradition 👀💰 pic.twitter.com/LVx28iUK8d
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) September 26, 2026
Gucci has maintained that Italy will 'always be at the heart of Gucci's manufacturing model and identity'. Neither its product listing nor its manufacturing statement provides a breakdown of the Drip's production costs. A Chinese country-of-origin label alone does not establish lower quality or reveal how much of the retail price covers design, materials or other expenses.
Gucci's Turnaround Puts Luxury Pricing in Focus
The timing comes as Gucci works to improve sales under Demna and Kering chief executive Luca de Meo. Kering's results published on 28 July 2026 show Gucci revenue fell nine per cent on a reported basis in the first half of the year while its second-quarter revenue decline narrowed to three per cent, following a 14 per cent fall in the first quarter.
Watch here: Luxury handbag manufacturing in China is being questioned, adding to the wider debate over designer pricing and production origins.
80% of Gucci made in China. Hermes bags cost $1000USD. I wanna throw up pic.twitter.com/eufsrLDxMb
— Brittany Rae (@legitbrittFLA) April 13, 2025
Analysts at investment bank Berenberg warned: 'We think this creates a potential tension between provenance and the luxury positioning Gucci is seeking to reclaim.' Their concern centres on the relationship between manufacturing origin and the expectations attached to luxury pricing. It does not amount to a finding that the trainers are poorly made.
For customers, the manufacturing difference is visible in Gucci's own product descriptions alongside the materials and design details. The Drip and Ace have different constructions, meaning their price gap cannot be attributed to manufacturing location alone. Whether shoppers embrace the new £725 silhouette will be one measure of Demna's efforts to revive Gucci's appeal.
