An Easy-to-Identify Knockoff Chanel Shirt in China

Knockoffs of well-known international clothing brands are a far more common sight in China than imitations of well-known international hotel brands. Just how common is not simple to pin down though. Depending on the degree and quality of the imitation, it can be challenging to identify knockoffs based purely on their appearance, especially if one is not familiar with the brands. For example, today in Hengyang, Hunan province, I saw someone wearing what appeared to be a Chanel shirt.

After a quick check of Chanel's website, I now see that the shape of the two interlocked letters in the logo seems less circular than the interlocked letters in Chanel's standard logo, but I am still not sure whether the shirt is a knockoff or not. I would not be surprised if Chanel could provide a very quick answer.

In contrast, there are other shirts I feel confident labeling as knockoffs even without checking a website or consulting a fashion expert. For example, also today in Hengyang, I saw someone wearing a shirt with what is clearly only an imitation of Chanel's brand.

As everyone knows, the interlocked letters in Chanel's logo don't have rounded ends. Sometimes it is so easy.

Starbucks Gangnam Style Arrives Before Starbucks in Zhanjiang

According to an outdoor promotional video at a new mall under construction, the first Starbucks in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, will soon open. But already one can see signs of Starbucks here.

Possibly inspired by a modified cup, this Gangnam Style Starbucks shirt isn't sold at Starbucks, even in China. However, like the girl in the photo, you can buy it on Taobao. After a quick search, the lowest price I saw is 9.9 RMB (about U.S. $1.60), though a more typical price seems to be around 20 RMB.

With disappointment in her voice, the girl told me she has never been to a Starbucks. She perked up when I told her about the soon-to-open store. I wonder if she knows her Starbucks drink might cost more than her shirt.

Mannequins and Life on Yangjiang's Beimen Jie

Beimen Jie (北门街) in Yangjiang's Jiangcheng District is a narrow street (usually) devoid of cars but sees plenty of traffic from smaller vehicles and pedestrians. It includes a number of small clothing stores, many with mannequins outside dressed in various fashions. Over the course of several days, I photographed the mannequins as people passed by.

None the photographs I share below include the same set of mannequins on the same day. Some mannequins appear in multiple photos dressed in different clothes. There is even one pair of photos with the same mannequins without a change of clothing, but a closer look will reveal clues of the photos having been taken on different days. The scenes not only capture some of the day to day life commonly found in Yangjiang but individually and as a set they also raise a host of fascinating issues.

Different Styles in Hong Kong

Near Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok