It’s fair to say President Donald Trump’s tariffs have rocked the world. And one of the countries affected the worst is China. Amid their ongoing trade war, Trump recently adjusted tariffs to 104%. China hit back by pulling out of a last-minute TikTok deal, but that isn’t the only way the country is retaliating.
All over TikTok, there appears to be Chinese manufacturers “exposing” popular Western brands and encouraging users to purchase them directly at warehouses for a fraction of the price.
In one video, TikToker Wang Sen claims he is the original supplier for designer bags like Birkin. He appears to be in a warehouse, where the walls are lined with designer bags.
In another, creator @ischanban shares screenshots of Zara’s purported Chinese suppliers, such as Changshu Sofia Sweater Co. and Quanzhou Lulusen Garment Co.
Furthermore, a third video by user LunaSourcingChina claims that Lululemon’s expensive sportswear is actually sourced from two factories in Yiwu.
She says in the now-deleted clip: “I guess most of you know the price of Lululemon or other big brands … and guess what, here in these two factories, you can get them for around five to six bucks.”
Are These Videos Accurate?
Moreover, an expert told The Independent that these videos are likely made by counterfeit manufacturers to boost their own sales.
Conrad Quilty-Harper, author of Dark Luxury, said: “They’re trying to conflate the fake manufacturers in China with the real manufacturers. They’re very clever with their social media, and they’re very effective at driving demand in the West.”
So, while it all might seem legit, this is just another lesson in not believing everything that you see on the internet.
