How the US-China Tariffs Are Impacting Your Next Designer Bag

Did TikTok Just Expose the Truth About Luxury Pricing?

So, as you might’ve read online or heard on the news, the US just kicked off a trade war with China by placing tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods. But it doesn’t stop there; tariffs have also been raised on products from Europe and other countries.

What does that even mean?

Basically, tariffs are taxes that companies have to pay when they import products from other countries. The idea is to push people to buy goods made domestically instead. But at the end of the day, it’s the consumer who usually ends up paying for that extra cost. And the money goes straight into the government’s bank account.

Why are we talking about this on a fashion blog?

Because even though many luxury brands manufacture in Europe, a lot of them rely on Chinese suppliers for production. And in response to the US move, China fired back with over 100 percent tariffs on American goods. Long story short, this back and forth between the US and China could mess with how products are made, shipped, and sold. From rising production costs to trickier shipping and fewer suppliers, everything gets more complicated. And yes, it might make your next designer splurge even pricier.

And TikTok? Well, TikTok did his TikTok thing. A bunch of Chinese manufacturers popped up this week basically saying:

“Buy directly from us. Same bag. Same materials. Just no logo. And way cheaper.”

Are you skipping the tariffs? Not really.
But if you’re choosing between a $1k dupe and a $34k Birkin, it makes you think.

They’re not blaming to be the producers of the goods, they’re just claiming they can do the same bag with the same leather and same everything. Just without the logo. So yeah, $33k off for skipping the H.

But then again, isn’t that the whole point of luxury?

Would the Birkin even be iconic if it weren’t a Birkin?

What drives the prices of luxury goods is marketing. Luxury pricing has always been about more than just the materials. When you buy a designer bag, you’re buying more than just a product. You’re buying a statement, a status symbol. You’re buying the feeling that comes with it, not just the physical item. You’re buying everything that the product represents, not just the leather and stitching.
Still, could people who can afford a Birkin really give it up just because the price goes up? At worst, they could probably just pick up a Birkin on their next trip to Saint-Tropez.

Would you go for the dupe or splurge on the real deal? Let me know what you think!