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The Communiqué News

Russian shoppers are turning to grey markets to buy fashion and luxury

Updated: Dec 23, 2022

June 19: Russian consumers are turning to grey markets for their shopping needs after sanctions have made access to local fashion and luxury labels difficult, if not impossible.

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Pic Courtesy: Personal shopper via Pexels


Russian consumers are turning to grey markets for their shopping needs after sanctions have made access to local fashion and luxury labels difficult, if not impossible.

Like China’s daigou – personal shoppers who buy luxury goods abroad and resell them at home with a small markup but do so avoiding the hefty tariffs – a new breed of personal shoppers is catering to Russia’s elites.

Now that most western brands are legally required to halt or limit their Russian operations, international sanctions are affecting local populations access to goods.

Parallel system

An investigation by Panorama lifted the lid on the parallel system which since the pandemic has seen a rise in Chinese personal shoppers at privately held events in Italy where they purchase products from leading fashion and luxury houses, usually at discount. These are then sold back home with markup of 30 percent.

In recent weeks Russian shoppers have joined China’s daigou, with Russia turning a blind eye to parallel imports and third-party sellers. The Federation has waived the need for retailers importing products to have the trademark owner's permission, paving the way for a buoyant grey market.

Wildberries, a multibrand e-commerce platform in Russia, is selling brands including Zara, despite the sancations, reported Reuters. Other Inditex brands, including Pull & Bear and Massimi Dutti were also available on the platform. "We are buying goods that we sell from Wildberries without intermediaries, only directly from producers or official distributors," Wildberries said in a statement to Reuters.

Whether or not these are past seasons collections or certain distributors are continuing to sell to Russian buyers under the table, it would appear the system to acquire goods may be more challenging for Russians, but not altogether impossible.




Kim Kardashian didn't damage Marilyn Monroe dress, says Ripley's Museum

Washington [US], June 18: Kim Kardashian stirred the Internet when she donned Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress to the 2022 Met Gala, but apparently, it's been claimed that she did not cause any damage to the gown.


Swati Bhat

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This contracted prior claims of Kardashian damaging the iconic dress.

A recent photo was seen floating around social media, which allegedly showed the dress before and after Kim Kardashian wooed the world with her appearance at the glamourous event. However, a rep for Ripley's 'Believe It or Not!', who bought the dress for USD 4.8 million in 2016, has come to Kim's defence, as per reports from TMZ

The representative told TMZ that since the purchase of the dress, Ripley's has displayed it around the world; a process that has also put the iconic dress at risk for potential damage. Amanda Joiner, Ripley's Vice President of Publishing and Licensing, who was with Kim and the dress the entire day of The Met, said, "From the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in."

The dress is exactly what Marilyn wore when she sang on President John F. Kennedy's birthday in 1962. Kardashian had lost 16 pounds to fit the piece after Ripley first refused its permission. Kim was also gifted with Monroe's hair.

One of the reports accused her of damaging the dress, also stated that her hair was fake. This claim has also been debunked, as per TMZ.

Kim had already received quite some flak for the alleged damage to Marilyn Monroe's dress, but this statement from Ripley's comes at a time when the 'Keeping Up With Kardashians' star might just prove the doubters wrong.


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