http://info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
http://info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Moroccoworldnews
The famous 19th-century folktale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” gets a modern twist as Chinese manufacturers expose what many have speculated for years–that luxury clothing items are not synonymous with quality. Instead, these items are sold at astronomical prices to signal status and feed a craving for validation and societal dominance.
In the folktale, two con men deceive a vain emperor obsessed with luxury clothing, convincing him they’ve made invisible garments that only the incompetent or stupid cannot see. Similarly, Chinese manufacturers and influencers are now using social media to reveal that many high-end brands are made in Chinese factories at minimal costs, only to be shipped to Europe where they receive a label from a prestigious-sounding country and are sold to consumers at ridiculous prices.
The label “Made in China” has long been associated with cheap, hastily made products in factories with poor working conditions, and it’s well-known that fast fashion relies on these low-cost manufacturing processes to boost profit margins. However, highlighting that even luxury goods are produced under similar conditions undermines the illusion of exclusivity and quality that wealthy consumers and status seekers rely on.
“I’ll tell you 30 luxury brands made in China: Ralph Lauren, Armani, Nike, Dior, Lululemon, Apple, Michael Kors, Coach, Prada, and more,” says a widely circulated clip featuring a Chinese consulting CEO, revealing that the production cost of many luxury items is only a tenth of their selling price.
