Aisha Sembhi is the creator of a recent viral video series that raised awareness and caused outrage about where luxury handbags come from. The clips, which went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, claim that some of the most popular luxury brands are outsourcing production for their lines to China. To address these allegations, Jake Horton of BBC Verify went to work to find out what really happened.
The inquiry was launched during a time of soaring tension over global trade. But now that both the United States and China have increased tariffs on foreign imports, luxury brands are starting to feel the heat. This context has led to a series of heated discussions about the practices of luxury goods manufacturing. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers have begun making their own TikToks purporting to expose their production processes.
Horton directed much of his energy towards confirming the accuracy of claims made in Sembhi’s videos. He dug into the complex webs of supply chains that support luxury brand generators. His goal was to discover whether or not these companies actually make their products in China. The purpose of the documentary’s investigation was to bust myths and educate audiences with the truth about the status quo of the luxury goods market.
Sally Nicholls joined the project to design educational graphics, which visually captured the ugly trends that emerged from Horton’s deep dive. These visuals were intended to make the convoluted reality of luxury brands and the impact of their manufacturing business models clearer.
Additionally, the increased tariffs on imported luxury goods have been a real game changer for the luxury sector. If both countries are going to impose higher duties, consumers will be stuck paying more for specialty products. This change has increased consumer demand for transparency about where and how these costly new luxuries are made.
The viral nature of those TikTok videos have stoked public interest in these debunked claims. Consumers, of course, are increasingly interested to know where their products are produced. This story from BBC Verify is a powerful and important reminder of just how important it is to separate reality from the narrative. Luxury brands now face heightened pressure to disclose their manufacturing practices, especially as social media continues to influence consumer perceptions.