China Kids Fashion Show Scam: $51K Loss
A Shanghai company stands exposed for running a brazen fashion scam, snagging $51,000 from unsuspecting parents via fake “Paris Kids Fashion Week” shows. Authorities slapped the company with an $83,000 fine for falsely promoting events featuring luxury brands. The company lured parents with the promise of glamorous runway appearances for their children, charging exorbitant fees. News Directory 3 reports how the events, spanning multiple cities including paris and Toronto, used deceptive marketing, even employing images of Parisian landmarks to attract clients.Parents paid around $830 per child to participate, with some parents spending over $1,400 on counterfeit costumes. The Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau exposed the scam after a Gucci office report. Discover what’s next for parents and aspiring child models.
Shanghai Company Fined for Staging Fake Paris Kids Fashion Week Shows
A Shanghai-based company has been penalized 600,000 yuan (US$83,000) for orchestrating fraudulent children’s fashion shows. The company, which promoted events under the name “Paris Kids Fashion Week,” reportedly extracted 367,000 yuan (US$51,000) from parents.
Operating since 2020, the company falsely presented its shows as part of the renowned Paris fashion Week, even using images of Parisian landmarks like The Louvre on its promotional materials, according to Xinmin Evening News. The events took place in major Chinese cities, as well as Paris and Toronto.
During a Shanghai event, the company advertised four shows using names of luxury brands such as Dior, Gucci, Burberry and Fendi. They charged parents 6,000 yuan (US$830) for each child’s appearance in a single show. Parent-child events were also offered.
The Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau revealed that the Paris Kids Fashion Week was a scam after an examination was launched in 2023 following a report from Gucci’s Shanghai office. The company reportedly used Gucci’s logos and counterfeit emblems.
An employee stated that parents were charged over 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) for costumes, some of which were counterfeit.The owner, surnamed Huang, admitted to buying fake clothes online, claiming it was only for photos.Authorities determined the company’s actions constituted trademark infringement. The 367,000 yuan (US$51,000) earned in registration fees was deemed illicit gains.
A Shanghai procurator noted that the company had previously been fined in other regions but failed to change its practices. Social media accounts under the name Paris Fashion Week kid’s Unit remain online.
“The company was exploiting the desperate need of parents to make their kids successful and famous,” said one online observer.
What’s next
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring similar events to prevent future exploitation of parents seeking opportunities for their children in the fashion industry.