Hidden factory footage reveals how top fashion brands outsource to China—and still slap on ‘Made in France’ labels.
Tensions escalated when U.S. President Donald Trump announced the implementation of 125% tariffs on products from China. In response, China imposed tariffs of 84% on American goods. This back-and-forth has led Chinese manufacturers to adopt unconventional strategies—some now using platforms like TikTok to reveal what they claim is the “truth” behind American luxury brands.
Recently, a Chinese TikToker identified as @senbags stirred controversy by posting a video disclosing important details about the production of luxury items.
In the video, the influencer—who is also a manufacturer—unveiled a surprising aspect of the fashion industry: some of the most well-known luxury handbag brands actually manufacture their products in China before sending them to countries like France or Italy, where they are labeled “Made in Italy” or “Made in France,” depending on the case.
According to the content creator, this process allows product prices to skyrocket due to the added value of the European manufacturing label.
One brand mentioned in the video was Hermès, known for its exclusive Birkin bags. These bags typically sell for between $20,000 and $35,000, and can exceed $40,000 when made with exotic materials. However, the TikToker revealed that the actual production cost of one of these bags is only around $1,400.
Although the video went viral and drew massive attention on social media, it was quickly deleted from @senbags’ account. Still, many users saved and re-uploaded the video across various platforms, allowing the information to continue spreading.
