If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community who loves fashion and follows trends, you may have seen some ads on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Google that feature attractive and diverse models wearing colorful and stylish outfits. These ads may claim to offer affordable and inclusive fashion products that cater to your preferences and identity. However, before you click on these ads and place an order, you should be aware that some of these ads may be from Chinese fast fashion companies that are targeting the LGBTQ+ market with deceptive and unethical practices.

After you place an online order and learn that it’s “coming” from a warehouse in China.

Chinese fast fashion companies are known for copying designs from other brands, especially high street rivals such as Zara, and selling them at a fraction of the cost. They also use heavily altered or photoshopped images of models to make their products look more appealing and flattering. However, these companies often deliver low-quality products that do not match the images or descriptions on their websites. They also have poor customer service, hidden fees, and complicated return policies that make it hard for buyers to get refunds or exchanges.

Check out our Queer Pride Discount Page here!

Moreover, these companies may not be genuinely supportive of the LGBTQ+ community or its causes. They may use rainbow marketing as a way to exploit the growing purchasing power and visibility of the LGBTQ+ market in China and abroad, without actually caring about the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. They may also ignore or violate the ethical and environmental standards of the fashion industry, such as fair labor practices, animal welfare, and carbon emissions.

One of the most popular duplicated looks of 2023 is the must have #twinkgear Body Chain Rhinestone Tank Top.

Here are a few of the brands with ties to China:

  • Ciciful, which sells clothing and accessories for gay men with unique styles and colorful prints.
  • U-Touch, which sells underwear and swimwear for gay men with daring and sexy designs.
  • Tight Tams, which sells swimwear and underwear for gay men with rustic Chinese flower prints and jade zodiac pieces.
  • Shein (see below)

These are some of the sites that I found from the search results. However, you should be careful and cautious when shopping online from any site, especially if they are not upfront about their location, shipping time or return policy.

According to the search results, Ciciful is an online store that sells clothing and accessories for gay men. It offers discounts and promo codes and has a consumer rating of 3.7 stars out of 5. It also has a Facebook page with some positive reviews but some saying the models are altered images and are not the same as what is shipped. You should do your own research and read the terms and conditions before making a purchase from Ciciful or any other Chinese based LGBTQ fashion site.

How to test a retailer to see if the goods are coming from China:

There are a few ways to tell if a website is based in China or not. One way is to use a tool that tests your website’s visibility and accessibility from different locations in China, such as Website Visibility in China by WebSitePulse or China Firewall Test by Dotcom-Tools. These tools allow you to enter your website URL and see what it looks like from behind the Great Firewall of China, which is the system that blocks and filters foreign websites and content in China.

Another way is to look at the domain name of the website. Websites that end with .cn are registered in China and are subject to Chinese laws and regulations. Websites that end with .com.cn or .net.cn are also based in China, but they are usually owned by foreign companies that operate in China. Websites that end with .hk are registered in Hong Kong, which is not behind the Great Firewall of China but is still part of China.

How long does it take to ship from China?

The time it takes to ship from China to the US depends on the mode of transportation and the destination. According to the search results, here are some estimates:

  • Express Shipping: 1-5 days
  • Air Freight: 2-15 days
  • Sea Freight: 15-35 days

These are only approximate times and may vary depending on factors such as weather, customs, holidays, etc. You should also check the tracking information of your shipment to get a more accurate estimate of the delivery date.

So how can you avoid falling for these ads and support more authentic and ethical fashion brands or designers that cater to the LGBTQ+ market? Here are some tips:

  • Do your research before buying from any online fashion retailer. Check their website for information about their company history, mission, values, production process, supply chain, quality control, customer reviews, and social responsibility. You can also use tools such as Trustpilot or Sitejabber to read ratings and feedback from other buyers.
  • Report or flag any ads that you see on social media platforms that look misleading, inappropriate, or scam. You can also leave comments or reviews on the ads to alert other potential buyers about the issues with the products or the sellers.
  • Join or create online groups or communities that focus on LGBTQ+ fashion and culture, and share your knowledge and experience with other members. You can also ask for recommendations or feedback from other members on reliable and ethical fashion brands or designers that cater to the LGBTQ+ market.
  • Support and promote LGBTQ+ fashion activists, influencers, or creators who advocate for more transparency and accountability in the fashion industry and expose the problems of fast fashion and plagiarism. You can follow their accounts, like and share their content, or donate to their causes if possible.

Here is an example of a chat I had with an assistant who helped me learn more about this topic:

What chinese companies are known for marketing towards LGBTQ?
There are some Chinese companies that are known for marketing towards LGBTQ+ consumers, especially in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. According to a Guardian article and a recent KVVR post, some of these companies include:

  • Star-G Technologies, a mobile game developer that targets gay gamers.
  • Blued, a gay dating app that also organizes events and contests for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and startups.
  • Florasis, a makeup brand that featured a drag queen in its campaign for International Women’s Day.
  • Neiwai, an underwear brand that celebrated diverse body types and sexual orientations in its ads.
  • Shein
  • Ciciful
  • Amazon has vendors that are based out in China but is more upfront.

According to a Guardian article, the Chinese website Shein has been accused of copying designs by Zara after dozens of images were shared on social media showing virtually identical garments from the two outlets. Some of these images have been posted on Instagram by accounts such as @dupesnation and @zaravsshein. Shein has also faced legal action alleging copyright infringement from other global companies such as Levi Strauss, Dr Martens, and Ralph Lauren.

Another example is the Chinese video platform Douyin, which is the original version of TikTok. According to a BuzzFeed News article¹, many Douyin users have been reuploading compilation videos of fashionable people in China that are sourced from photographers and videographers who work for different brands and magazines. Some of these videos have been re-posted on TikTok by accounts such as @eromei and @sh1ryinyin, and have gone viral outside of China. However, some of these videos may not be authentic representations of street fashion in China, as some of the people featured may be models or influencers who are paid or sponsored by brands to wear their clothes.

I was tempted by the low prices and trendy styles of Zara’s dupe on Shein. I ordered a few items that looked identical to Zara’s on their website and Instagram models. However, when I got my order after six weeks of waiting, I was shocked by how different they were from the original. The quality was terrible, the stitching was loose, and the designs were off. They also smelled like chemicals. I tried to return them but they charged me a restocking fee and shipping cost.

Commented an Instagram influencer.

How can i alert LGBTQ community regarding chinese companies targeting them for fashion ads they may see on Facebook or Instagram or Google before they place an order from a warehouse in china with fake brands?
There are a few ways you can alert the LGBTQ+ community regarding Chinese companies targeting them for fashion ads they may see on social media platforms before they place an order from a warehouse in China with fake brands. Some possible methods are:

  • Creating and sharing informative posts or videos on your own social media accounts that expose the practices of these companies and warn your followers about the risks of buying from them. You can use hashtags such as #LGBTQfashion, #rainbowmarketing, or #fashionfraud to reach a wider audience.
  • Reporting or flagging the ads you see on Facebook, Instagram, or Google as misleading, inappropriate, or scam. You can also leave comments or reviews on the ads to alert other potential buyers about the issues with the products or the sellers.
  • Joining or creating online groups or communities that focus on LGBTQ+ fashion and culture, and sharing your knowledge and experience with other members. You can also ask for recommendations or feedback from other members on reliable and ethical fashion brands or designers that cater to the LGBTQ+ market.
  • Supporting and promoting LGBTQ+ fashion activists, influencers, or creators who advocate for more transparency and accountability in the fashion industry and expose the problems of fast fashion and plagiarism. You can follow their accounts, like and share their content, or donate to their causes if possible.

I hope this post helps you become more aware and informed about the Chinese fast fashion companies targeting the LGBTQ+ community with deceptive and unethical practices. Remember to always shop smartly and responsibly!

What do you think of this post? Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Let me know in the comments below!