Burberry has acted out at the negative press regarding closing its Welsh-based factory, staying a right to act as a global company and shift production to China , even if it requires cutting jobs. Burberry 'remains fully committed to Britain,' commercial affairs Director Michael Mahony told the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Thursday. But 'Burberry will continue to respond to the forces of globalization, evolving its business to ensure it remains a successful British business generating prosperity in Britain,' The Western Mail reported him as saying.

Britain, unlike Italy and France, is not a country that celebrates manufacturing of fine clothing and in comparison to the aforementioned countries, there is little export in the way of ready-to-wear fashion. Burberry announced in September it would close its Treorchy, Wales, factory in March, saying the plant was 'not commercially viable.'

Celebrities including Prince Charles and actress Emma Thompson - and most of the British media - were outraged by the announcement of the closure, with rumours circulating the company would lose its Royal Warrant. What was failed to mention is the difficulty posed for British brands to manufacture in England where prices are higher than almost anywhere else in the world. Production of Burberry polo shirts 'will now shift to the other existing sources of supply, which are all subject to our corporate social responsibility standards,' Mahony said.