Luxury brands are clapping back after a wave of viral videos from China claimed you can buy their products directly from the source—for a fraction of the price.
The clips, mostly shared on TikTok and Chinese social platforms, show what look like real branded items—Lululemon, Adidas, and more—being sold from factories for just a few pounds. Some even claim that ÂŁ76 yoga pants can be snagged for around ÂŁ4.50 if you “go direct.”
Naturally, the internet went wild.
But now, the brands are calling BS.
Both Lululemon and Adidas have issued statements denying the claims, warning buyers that the products shown are counterfeit and not made by their actual manufacturing partners.
“We don’t work with the manufacturers identified in the videos,” Lululemon said, urging customers to avoid fake items and check their official supplier list for legit sources.
Adidas backed that up, saying none of their products are sold “directly by suppliers” and that customers should only trust official retail channels.
This trend comes off the back of ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, which have sparked a flood of TikToks mocking how much of America’s stuff is made overseas. Influencers and even factory workers have joined in—showing off items they say are the “same as the real thing” but without the luxury price tag.
The videos are slick, convincing, and have racked up millions of views. But while the idea of grabbing premium gear for pennies might sound appealing, experts say it’s mostly smoke and mirrors.
Not only are these products likely fake, but there’s also no customer protection if something goes wrong. And let’s be honest—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
