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Louis Vuitton shuts down another store amid fallout from trademark dispute in China
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Zhu Wenqianin BeijingPublished: 4:00pm, 24 Aug 2026Updated: 6:03pm, 24 Aug 2026
Louis Vuitton will close its only store in Guiyang on August 31, according to an on-site notice, further trimming the French luxury brand’s southwestern China footprint, which has fallen to three stores from a peak of six.
The closure in the capital of Guizhou province is part of the brand’s plan to optimise its retail network as it recalibrates strategy in the world’s second-largest consumer market amid soft domestic spending and shifting luxury consumption trends.
It coincides with a string of trademark lawsuits Louis Vuitton has filed in China.
In one case, local tea chain Molly Tea was ordered to pay the brand 10.3 million yuan (US$1.5 million) in July over the use of a similar logo. The verdict sparked heated online debate, but also drew public support for the Chinese company.
“We see limited short-term sales impact from the Molly Tea incident. However, the real risk lies in the long-term effect on younger Chinese consumers, who will form the future consumer base for Louis Vuitton,” said Sandy Lim, director at S&P Global Ratings.“They prioritise cultural respect and brand empathy over pure prestige-driven exclusivity. The controversy could create a higher perceived barrier for this cohort, which Louis Vuitton would need to address at some point down the road.”AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed00:0000:001.00x