But does the I-want-it-now customer culture mean dupes are usually of poorer value? How great a deal are hacks, really?
To get some comments, Talking Point puts some items to the test. In a two-part exclusive, it also explores fool culture and visits China, the country’s birthplace, for an inside look at the sector.
BIG BUSINESS IN CHINA
In China, if an object is popular, there will almost certainly get a cheaper alternative, from sports shoes to Bluetooth headphones. But by far the most common fool type is garments, Talking Point found.
Take, for instance, apparel, which Qingdao M& Y Trading produces. Its best-selling things are its collection of trousers, which are hacks of “big brands”, said user Li Xue Mei.
There are, of course, distinctions between its dupes and the originals. “We made the hands larger. And for some big brands, the waistband is shorter, but … we ( Chinese ) prefer it higher to give you a more defined waist, ” she said.
“We furthermore have over 30 colors for each of our models. The colors are all very brilliant. Additionally, we made adjustments to the fit based on Asians ‘ weight and size. ”