A growing wave of Chinese suppliers are taking to TikTok to share behind-the-scenes footage of products they manufacture for global brands. This trend, dubbed “FactoryTok,” has gained momentum in the wake of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and highlights the stark difference between production costs and high-end retail prices.
Leading this movement is a TikTok creator known as Wang Seng, who represents a Chinese handbag manufacturer. In a video that garnered over six million views before being removed and reposted by others, Seng claimed that 80% of luxury handbags are produced in China. He alleged that many luxury brands import near-complete bags from China, then perform final steps such as logo placement and repackaging in their home countries — a tactic he claims enables them to label the goods as “Made in Italy” or “Made in France”.
Seng and other creators assert they work for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) — firms that produce goods later rebranded and sold by other companies. These TikToks often reference Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese imports, encouraging consumers to bypass Western retailers and buy directly from Chinese factories.
Some creators go further, spotlighting the craftsmanship of Chinese workers, itemising the cost of materials and labour, and highlighting how convincingly they can replicate luxury designs — often blurring the line between OEM production and the counterfeit market.
The videos have fuelled widespread debate and drawn backlash from luxury brands. Hermès, named in several clips, has strongly denied the claims.
“Hermès bags are crafted exclusively in our ateliers in France by highly trained artisans,” the brand said in a statement. “We do not outsource production of our leather goods to China or any other country. Any claims suggesting otherwise are categorically false and may be the result of counterfeit misinformation.”
Meanwhile, trade tensions remain high. In response to Trump’s 145% import tariffs, China imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125%. Beijing has since urged the US to end what it deems an unfair trade policy.
“We urge the US to take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’ and return to the right path of mutual respect,” China’s Ministry of Commerce stated. The statement followed Trump’s temporary 90-day suspension of the new tariffs announced during his 2 April Liberation Day speech. The administration also revealed that certain electronic products would be exempt, with a separate semiconductor-specific tariff expected to follow.
