After Trump tariffs, China encourages direct luxury buying through viral videos

DHgate, a Chinese e-commerce platform known for selling wholesale goods directly from manufacturers

recently surged to the number two spot on Apple's App Store and claimed the top spot in the shopping category

outranking major players like Amazon and Taimou. The spike comes as viral videos out of China shake up the luxury fashion world

Self-identified factory workers are claiming that high-end items from brands like Louis Vuitton are largely produced in China

despite being marketed as European-made. These videos, which have racked up millions of views

are fueling growing skepticism around luxury markups and supply chain transparency. The movement gained traction after President Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods

and now Chinese suppliers are taking over TikTok feeds, encouraging users to buy directly from the source, and explaining why

In these clips, creators claim that many items are produced in Chinese factories

and shipped to Europe for minimal finishing touches, just enough for brands to legally label them as European-made

One TikTok user who goes by Luna Sourcing China says a regular pair of Lulu lemon leggings that retail for in the US cost just to at the factory level

She claims the materials and craftsmanship are basically the same across private label and branded lines. Another popular account belongs to a

user known as weighing sen in one viral video. He stands in a room full of

what he says are Birkin bags claiming to be an original equipment

manufacturer or OEM for major luxury brands. Birkin bags can cost tens of thousands of dollars

but that's not even the hard part. Shoppers often wait months or even years just to be offered the

chance to buy one. Most of this content is circulating on TikTok despite the app being

banned in China. As of Wednesday, Sen's main TikTok account appears to be unavailable

And in another clip circulating, he mentions his account is permanently disabled

blaming it on quote spilling too much tea about luxury manufacturing costs

In one of his videos, he says a Birkin bag that sells for in stores only costs around to produce minus the branding in China This trend follows a separate wave of AI videos last week that depicted overweight Americans eating junk food while working in factories

A not-so-subtle dig from Chinese creators, aiming to highlight Western dependence on Chinese production

Straight Arrow News reached out to both Lululemon and Louis Vuitton for comment

As of this video's production, neither company has responded. However, a spokesperson for Lululemon told The Independent that only about 3% of its finished goods are manufactured in mainland China and that a full list of manufacturing partners is available on its website

But their records tell a more nuanced story. According to the company's supplier list, approximately 18% of its listed partners, including those providing fabric and trim, are based in China

That suggests a deeper reliance on Chinese manufacturing in the early stages of production

even if final assembly occurs elsewhere. The Independent also reported at least one video falsely claiming affiliation with Lululemon

Louis Vuitton says its leather goods are exclusively produced in workshops located in France Spain Italy and the United States But that only refers to where the final products are assembled not where the materials come from

Gucci shares a similar message, claiming 95% of its manufacturers are based in Italy. Still

the brand operates a global supply network, which can include third-party sourcing or overseas finishing work

Meanwhile, some individuals are sharing personal insights. One woman on TikTok explained that her parents have

worked in the import export for over 30 years. My pa middleman. American compan

them and say, Hey, we wan in China and my parents w

to China and source the g factories to make whatever She noted that labor costs

lower, which remains a ma reactions remain mixed. S accuracy of the claims wh

fully convinced. The rise Number two on the Apple App Store reflects that growing curiosity and perhaps a shift in how consumers are thinking about luxury, value and authenticity

With Stray Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more