China has let ALL the cats out of the luxury bag. With social media capturing global attention amid the tariff war between China and the US, the contender in the red corner has unleashed a flurry of short video jabs that have essentially exposed the entire luxury goods industry.

You may have seen a few (or many) already, and if not, you likely will soon. International platforms like Instagram, Threads, X, and LinkedIn are currently flooded with content creators and factory representatives detailing exactly how designer products are made. As many have suspected, most are manufactured in China. Once a stigmatized label, the “Made in China” stamp is now, in a way, a badge of authenticity.

Many of these videos reveal that a bag from a luxury brand is largely produced by Chinese workers in China, then shipped to, say, France or Italy, for final embellishments. This process “earns” the product its “Made in France” or “Made in Italy” tag, which mainstream consumers perceive as “luxurious.”

If you’re in the industry, this is likely old news. However, China’s timing is impeccable, broadcasting this fact to the mainstream during a painful tariff war and global recession. “Is your Birkin bag even costlier now? Can’t afford it anymore? Just buy one from the original manufacturer in China.”

While many of these videos are clearly factories marketing their own products—while still OEMs for notable labels—they’re part of China’s broader, subtle agenda to destigmatize its consumer industries for a global audience. To further this, China now offers a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy for many countries, including the United States and several in Europe. Add point-of-purchase rebates and easy-to-join shopping tours, and, well… you might as well buy a luxury suitcase in China to carry all those white-label luxury goodies you’ll snag there.

Check out a few videos on this topic gathered from social media above and below, and read more couture news here to stay updated on Chinese brands and trends worth watching.