Is it worth buying clothes from China?

China’s products are well known for their low price. And, in the clothing sector, it could not be different: a huge variety of pieces with prices well below those found in Brazil has increasingly attracted the attention of women.

Added to this, with the possibilities that the internet offers, it is possible to make good purchases in the comfort of your home! Several websites currently provide the easy sale of clothing and other products from China. There are options for all tastes!

But, it is true that one question remains open: is it really worth investing in clothes from China? Are they of good quality?

These doubts become even more intense since the purchases will be made virtually and there is no possibility of touching the clothes, to check all their details – ranging from the type of fabric to the actual size of the piece.

would you buy?

Patrícia Furlan, 28, a physical therapist, says she loves to shop online, but she feels insecure about buying clothes online. “I find it very complicated to buy parts, even those made here in Brazil. That’s why I never took the risk of buying clothes from China, although I’ve seen many cool things from there on various sites. I think about the size issue and also the fit of the garment on my body”, she says.

Amanda Santiago, from Swapped My Wardrobe in China, is totally adept at clothes from that country. “I think buying clothes in China is a great option for those who want to buy and don’t have a lot of money for it. There are a plethora of pieces, some quite stylish, on China’s websites,” she says.

Amanda says that she started to buy this type of clothes because she wanted some blouses and saw that, here in Brazil, each one would go for more than 100 reais, since they were in fashion at the time. “There is still a lot of prejudice regarding the quality of clothes from China, but it is necessary to remember that many physical stores in our country sell products from there. So, just knowing how to buy from the right sites and suppliers will find you great options,” she says.

How to get the part size right?

One of the biggest problems in buying clothes from China over the internet is choosing the right size for the piece. That’s because, the body structure of Chinese models is very small.

“It’s always very difficult, because the pieces there are usually much smaller than ours and they don’t follow standards… There are pieces that I enter in the S (it would be our P) and others only in the XL (our GG)”, says Amanda Santiago.

“The best tip is: take your measurements! Take the tape measure and look at the measurements of bust, shoulder, hip, etc. This also applies to shoes”, adds the blogger.

Most websites that sell clothing from China will list measurements for the available sizes of each garment in their description. With them, it will be much easier to get the size right!

However, if the item you wish to purchase does not have this size description, please contact the seller before making your purchase.

It is worth remembering that sizes are determined by the letters S, M, L, and that the X represents plus size. OS (small) is equivalent to our P, M (medium) is equivalent to our M, L (large) is equivalent to our G and XL (x-large) is equivalent to our GG.

It is important to note that sometimes the measurements are not in centimeters but in inches (inch in English is “inch” and they are expressed by the following notation: “). Therefore, it is always important to remember that 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. To convert, use a calculator, as it ensures more accuracy when calculating and less risk of betting on the wrong size of clothing. The calculation is simple, just multiply the number of inches by 2.54.

Websites for buying clothes in China

Below you can see some websites where you can buy clothes from China:

Purchase security

Amanda Santiago considers it safe to buy clothes from China online. However, some care must be taken when purchasing.

“One should always check if the site is safe, looking for references on the internet or, for example, on my blog. I always recommend paying by Paypal or boleto, and never making a transfer,” she says.

The blogger also adds that some sites work with several sellers and, at this time, it is important to check his reputation on the site. “I always go for the ones that have a reputation above 98%,” she says.

Knowing English, in Amanda’s opinion, also helps, as many sites are translated, but when talking to customer service or the seller, you need to write in and read the answer in English. “This makes negotiation easier if necessary. But of course Google Translate can help a little too,” she adds.

Another point that deserves attention concerns the color of the pieces. This is because, in some cases, the images do not do justice to the actual color of the clothes and the person may have a “surprise”, for example, when choosing a pink blouse on the website and, later, receiving the piece at home in a lighter pink.

So, if you have never shopped on this same site and this issue of color is important to you, the tip is to opt for neutral colors. Or even, look among your friends and acquaintances for someone who already knows the site and can tell you if the images are really faithful to the products.

It is worth noting that clicking and buying is much easier than going to a store, trying on an outfit and considering whether to take it home. This increases the temptation to buy a greater number of pieces, especially in the case of clothes from China, which are attractively priced. Therefore, to prevent excesses, the tip is to reserve a certain amount monthly only for purchases on the internet.

In addition, it is important to be objective and enter one of these sites only when you need or intend to buy specific clothes. That way, you avoid buying parts, which you may never use, just because the price was good!

By the way, in relation to the cost of clothing, here’s another tip: the price that appears highlighted does not always correspond to the total. Some sites charge a delivery fee and include taxes, which is not always very clear to the consumer. Research all of this before finalizing your purchase!

But, if, even having taken all the precautions, you are disappointed and feel that you have been harmed in your purchase, the option is to contact Procon, to pursue your rights. In the case of national or international sites that have representation in Brazil, the agency can try to contact the supplier to solve everything in the best possible way.

Remember that the main rule to avoid pitfalls is to always choose reliable sites. It is also important, at the time of purchase, to do it calmly, paying attention to all the details – ranging from the choice of color, the size of the piece, to the visualization of the total value of the product.