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Fights Broke Out Among Frenzied Chinese Shoppers in Line for Versace for H&M

H&M's Shanghai store.
H&M’s Shanghai store. Photo: Cancan Chu/Getty Images

As expected, hordes of rabid shoppers flocked to H&M stores in Europe and Asia when the Versace collaboration went on sale this morning. WWD reports that crowds began queuing up yesterday afternoon; meanwhile, enterprising folks in Shanghai who didn’t feel like spending the night in line actually paid other people to do it for them. These professional place-holders, apparently eager to do their jobs well, actually broke into a scuffle this morning when someone tried to cut in front of them (yes, we’re aware that this reaffirms everything you’ve come to fear – and admire – about China). WWD also notes that the majority of Chinese shoppers were men, several of whom openly admitted that they were just planning to buy stuff to resell online.

Some said they were there to grab up as much of the Versace collection as they could and then resell it on Taobao, China’s largest e-commerce site.

“There are so many Chinese guys,” marveled Chiara Salmeri, an Italian who arrived at 5:45 in the morning. “In Italy there would be no men queuing. I am so surprised.”

We’re surprised by this, too, mainly because we’d assume that Italian dudes would be clamoring to get their paws on those studded leather man-pants.

Versace for H&M Prompts Fights in Shanghai