"Sophie la girafe", French Childhood Memory, Revealed to be Made in China
The iconic French baby toy "Sophie la girafe," long considered a symbol of "Made in France," has been revealed by media reports to be largely manufactured in China. This contradicts its image and has sparked consumer disappointment and an investigation into deceptive trade practices.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 22:34
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 23:02 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 00:51 (1h 49m after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA)
(CNA Reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, 7th) The famous French baby toy "Sophie la girafe," long considered a symbol of "Made in France" and a household name, has recently been revealed by media to be largely manufactured in China.
For 65 years, Sophie la girafe has been a highly iconic baby toy, with generations of French people owning one in their childhood. It can also be purchased in many countries, including Taiwan.
French media outlet Mediapart recently reported that Sophie la girafe, which is supposed to be produced in Haute-Savoie, is now largely made in China.
Mediapart reporter Pierre Jequier-Zalc said in a video that the factory in Haute-Savoie that produces Sophie la girafe uses traditional manufacturing processes. To expand production, it was necessary to increase capacity and reduce costs, and in China, "producing a Sophie is 4 to 5 times cheaper than in France."
Mediapart cited documents stating that the production line for "Sophie" has been outsourced since at least 2013; while the factory in Haute-Savoie is still operating, it is now used as a "showroom," where "Sophies" sent from China are packaged and then shipped worldwide.
Franceinfo followed up on the report, noting that some customers were disappointed by the news. The packaging ambiguously states "Born in Paris," and the product name is also in French, but upon opening the box, the product serial number starts with 33, meaning it is made in China; if it were made in France, it should start with 30.
According to the report, Alain Thirion, General Manager of Vulli, the brand's parent company, admitted that the bare giraffes are produced in China, but all giraffes are individually finished and controlled in France.
Sophie la girafe produces about 700,000 units annually, and the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) has launched an investigation into deceptive commercial practices.
Stéphane, a resident of Haute-Savoie, said: "I'm not surprised; we all know that factory, it's very small, there's not much left in it. I used to wonder how they could produce all their sales in France here."
Véronique Riotton, a Member of the National Assembly elected from the first constituency of Haute-Savoie, visited the Vulli factory in 2021 to see the rubber processing and manufacturing workshops. She stated that she only learned about this through Mediapart's investigative report. "Everyone has had a Sophie la girafe; it's an iconic product, so of course, I'm disappointed to hear this news."
She added: "I will closely follow the report from the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. In the 'Made in France' sector, we expect local companies to set an example." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150507
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(CNA Reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, 7th) The famous French baby toy "Sophie la girafe," long considered a symbol of "Made in France" and a household name, has recently been revealed by media to be largely manufactured in China.
For 65 years, Sophie la girafe has been a highly iconic baby toy, with generations of French people owning one in their childhood. It can also be purchased in many countries, including Taiwan.
French media outlet Mediapart recently reported that Sophie la girafe, which is supposed to be produced in Haute-Savoie, is now largely made in China.
Mediapart reporter Pierre Jequier-Zalc said in a video that the factory in Haute-Savoie that produces Sophie la girafe uses traditional manufacturing processes. To expand production, it was necessary to increase capacity and reduce costs, and in China, "producing a Sophie is 4 to 5 times cheaper than in France."
Mediapart cited documents stating that the production line for "Sophie" has been outsourced since at least 2013; while the factory in Haute-Savoie is still operating, it is now used as a "showroom," where "Sophies" sent from China are packaged and then shipped worldwide.
Franceinfo followed up on the report, noting that some customers were disappointed by the news. The packaging ambiguously states "Born in Paris," and the product name is also in French, but upon opening the box, the product serial number starts with 33, meaning it is made in China; if it were made in France, it should start with 30.
According to the report, Alain Thirion, General Manager of Vulli, the brand's parent company, admitted that the bare giraffes are produced in China, but all giraffes are individually finished and controlled in France.
Sophie la girafe produces about 700,000 units annually, and the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) has launched an investigation into deceptive commercial practices.
Stéphane, a resident of Haute-Savoie, said: "I'm not surprised; we all know that factory, it's very small, there's not much left in it. I used to wonder how they could produce all their sales in France here."
Véronique Riotton, a Member of the National Assembly elected from the first constituency of Haute-Savoie, visited the Vulli factory in 2021 to see the rubber processing and manufacturing workshops. She stated that she only learned about this through Mediapart's investigative report. "Everyone has had a Sophie la girafe; it's an iconic product, so of course, I'm disappointed to hear this news."
She added: "I will closely follow the report from the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. In the 'Made in France' sector, we expect local companies to set an example." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150507
Choose to stand with the truth; every sponsorship you provide is a force protecting press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.