No, that Hermès bag on Taobao isn’t real

One TikTok user unveils a colorful assortment of luxury bags in their room. Some — Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior — are perfectly primed for display, and others, multiples of SKUs, are shown neatly encased in drawers. “You know where to get it,” the caption reads. The user behind the viral video, which currently has over 116,000 views and counting, is DHgate, a wholesale marketplace from China claiming to be the source behind fashion’s favorite luxury brands — and they’re not the only ones.

As American consumers are rife with anxiety over increasing costs amid an ongoing trade war, Chinese suppliers have been jumping through digital hoops to urge Western shoppers to buy directly from their factories. DHgate and competing manufacturers like Taobao are using the platform to advertise their versions of high-end designer products for a fraction of their retail price — but it might not be what it seems.

After Donald Trump excluded China from its 90-day pause on hefty tariffs, and is now imposing up to 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, Chinese President Xi Jinping responded with reciprocal tariffs on the United States that affect everyday prices on exports and raw materials. This has rattled American businesses from all industries, with companies increasing their prices to accommodate these changes and shifting production back to the States to avoid complications.

For the luxury fashion market, high-end brands would likely raise prices by up to 32%, according to Vogue Business. While the inflated costs may not be a dealbreaker for their wealthiest customers, the shoppers who save to splurge might find the price hikes inaccessible, leading them to source their next high-end purchase from Chinese manufacturers promising a more affordable alternative.

In response to increasing costs, Chinese factories are reaching American consumers on TikTok where they’re claiming to be the wholesale manufacturers behind luxury goods (think Hermès and Louis Vuitton, to Lululemon and Nike). Some of these videos focus on how luxury goods — like handbags, watches, and clothes — are produced, specifically, how American shoppers can bypass inflated prices by purchasing directly from Chinese shopping platforms. Some users suggest that these products are made from the same production line, and the only difference between a branded item and its cheaper counterpart is the label.

China TikTok is so messy rn Because now that the Chinese government legalize Counterfeit products of all American goods because of the tariffs their now exposing a lot of Big brands and how their stuff is manufactured and encourages you to buy them in House China for cheaper pic.twitter.com/GLftzEnF3y

— Klair-O-Spinach ( Saint Era) (@ClairoSpinach) April 12, 2025

Luxury brands have long been scrutinized for transparency in their supply chains. Companies often claim to produce their inventory at ateliers in their country of origin (say, Hermès in France), but have been found to outsource materials or parts of their production process to reduce labor costs.

That being said — sorry to break it to you — you’re not actually buying a $20,000 Hermès bag for $600, or even $60 Lululemon leggings for $6. While it’s true these brands have part of their supply chain in China, “legitimate manufacturers usually sign non-disclosure agreements, so it’s unlikely that these TikTok creators are selling the real thing,” CNN reports. Instead, these Chinese manufacturers on TikTok are most likely promoting counterfeit products.

@karina_krash093 Hats down to 🇨🇳 manufacturers for making all of our fashion goals come to fruition this year 🫡 #china #tariffs ♬ 原聲 – 一曲入心

Despite economic uncertainty, shopping third-party also isn’t worth the hassle in the long run, as your shipment will still get hit with tariffs or a flat rate per package, according to The Verge. One thing’s for sure: As tensions continue to rise, the uptick in #sourcingchina videos not only reveals the anxiety that the tariffs are causing American consumers, but also how much shoppers rely on China. Shop with caution, but remember: There’s a reason why DHgate is #2 and Taobao is #5 in the U.S. Apple app store.