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November 18, 2015 fashion•review

How to order Good Quality things from China or Asia

how to order good quality clothing from asia

If I had a pound for every time I heard someone say that ‘everything from China is shit quality’ I’d be immensely rich. So rich, in fact, I would probably be able to buy China. (Ish. Don’t quote me on that.) It’s kind of frustrating, seeing as many of the brands we know and love in the west are, well, actually made in China, or the far east, and there are a lot of fab brands that don’t get the recognition (I think) they deserve because they’re Asia based.

And by Asia based brands, I don’t mean Romwe and Choies etc, I mean actual brands like mixxmix and dabagirl and those that have legitimate stores you can wander into. I may have actually been to a bunch of the stores. I might be missing them. 

So. If you’re ordering from China, or Asia, and you don’t want the bad quality stuff, or to be seriously disappointed how do you avoid it?

how to order good quality clothing from asia

how to order good quality clothing from asia

how to order good quality clothing from asia

These images are shots of my new favourite jumpers. Knitted, cosy, and all from China <3

First up, two general tips:

– understand that Asia doesn’t always use the same fabrics that the West does.

Western countries are very into cotton and cotton blends. Which is, admittedly, really quite fab because breatheability. Asia does too, just… not all the time. There have been a couple of instances where I felt I’d turned into Jack (Jack, Jack the Pumpkin King), running around stores going ‘What’s this?!’ with materials I hadn’t felt clothes being before.  It was odd on all accounts, but the main point here is that things may be different cotton blends, or straight up not what you’d expect. 

– asian sizes tend to run a lot smaller. 

I haven’t really found that China/Korea/Japan subscribe to the ‘vanity’ sizing game – they have ‘free size’ for that. Generally Asian sizes run a good deal smaller than western sizes. And by ‘a good deal’ a Small is usually advertised as being around a 63cm/24″ waist, a Medium is ~ 25″-26″ waist, and a Large is hitting that 27″-29″ mark. Size charts do vary, so please please please remember to measure yourself if you’re wanting to order from Asia. It may make you feel like a giant, but it isn’t through the fault of the manufacturers. If you look at Asias history you’ll understand why the stereotypes of being tiny and small boned/fast metabolisms and generally smaller in build than people in the west, came about. (pro tip: it isn’t the happiest.). 

Shopping from Asia essentially requires you to toss your expectations out of the window and grab a new set. Not lesser or lower, but different. 

Ok, so now we’ve covered the absolute basics, how do you order the good stuff?

1) go to the stores webpages directly.

eBay is great, it really is, but it takes an age to find anything decent among the pages and pages of slightly questionable. It’s far easier to just go to a store page direct and order from there. Usually they’ll ship internationally, but if not then you can always use what’s known in these circles as a ‘shopping service’ – basically you liaise with someone who can purchase the items for you, have them shipped to them, then they ship it to you. Yay. 

This method can be quite expensive though, and is way less attractive than the ease of eBay – I mean, free shipping and super cheap?!?! Also the stores may not ship internationally and the use of a shopping service may mean you’re spending more than the actual item… so…

2) try reputable stockists: 

Yesstyle is probably the largest stockist of Asian fashion and beauty items I can think of right now. They’re usually pretty decently priced and have a large collection ready to ship. I’ve never had an issue with them, but make sure you read the size guide for each item.

Ok sure, but I want really cheap.

3) TaoBao and to an extent, G-market, then.

TaoBao is … kind of China’s answer to eBay. You have individual stores that sell items, and the stores are given a ranking by how much they’ve sold and how well they did. They stock pretty much everything imaginable. From clothing to  legitimate furniture. However, it’s all in Chinese (mandarin) and you have to use a shopping service to ship. Prices are insanely low, though – they use the RMB and usually convert the amount into the equivalent in US dollars for comparison. I’ll be doing a post soon on my experiences with TaoBao – but if you’re unsure before then just yell at me and I’ll answer all your q’s. Generally I find the sellers to be mostly legitimate.

G-market is Korea’s answer to Taobao/eBay, it’s an auction/shopping mall type site that stocks all the Korean fashion. It has an English site, and does ship internationally, so you don’t have to use a shopping service or struggle with Korean. I’ve only ever ordered from G-market when I was in Korea… but I am tempted to try it out again soon.

With TaoBao and G-market, it’s usually more cost effective to by a couple of items so the shipping rates make more sense. Rates for TaoBao also depend on which shopping service you use… some charge more as they only offer express shipping, some have a more standard price. It just depends on where you go. Also, please be wary of TaoBao/G-market resellers – they like to buy products in bulk for hardly anything and then jack the prices up majorly. Most offenders are on storenvy and eBay, sadly.

TaoBao is also the company that owns Aliexpress, so if you feel uncomfortable with using TaoBao straight up, you can always use the Aliexpress website or app, and you’re ordering from the same company. Although Aliexpress uses Alipay, and with shopping services you get the option of paypal, usually.  

4) Sometimes you just get really lucky.

I’ve ordered a ton of stuff from China on eBay/Aliexpress in the past for literal pennies, and the quality has been really quite great. It takes a lot of searching, maybe some emails and the request of actual photos from the retailers, but you have to be persistent. Perseverance is key, do your research or ask people to check things over for you. One bad experience doesn’t mean everyone is out to scam you. 

There are other ways to order good quality things from China/Asia, but these are my current favourites. In my experience, I’ve only had a few incidents where I’ve had to pester people for a refund (and I’ve been ordering from Asia for a looong time now. 7 or 8 years at least…), so the vast majority of transactions have ended with me being ridiculously happy. 

If you have any questions drop me a comment! 

♥

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Comments

  1. Tania Beck says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    What a great post! I've always wondered about things like this and you have really helped me to understand more and not be so narrow-minded about quailty! I still don't know if I will order from china/asia, as I get so impatient waiting for things to arrive haha but you never know! 🙂 Tania | teabee x

    Reply
    • Fii Cridland says

      November 19, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Awh yay I'm glad I could help! Shipping wise, it really depends on the service you use… I've had things be posted out to me on friday and arrive on the monday 3 days later. which was incredibly surprising! xo

      Reply
  2. Alyssa G says

    November 19, 2015 at 1:39 am

    Thanks so much for sharing, this is so helpful!xx Alyssavisionsofnyc.blogspot.com

    Reply
  3. sedef coşkun says

    November 21, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    follow for follow http://sedefilemodamakyaj.blogspot.com.tr/

    Reply
  4. Yolanda Medina says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:25 am

    I've been dying to try some stuff like this,bless your soul…And the holidays are coming up….What have you done?!Hahahahabit.ly/StaycuteStayYou

    Reply
    • Fii Cridland says

      November 23, 2015 at 2:46 am

      Awh I'm glad I could… help? Enable? Enable, gonna go with enable ;)xo

      Reply
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fiixii

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#협찬 Using the right sunscreen for your skin ty #협찬 Using the right sunscreen for your skin type is *drum roll* actually very important -- and I'm not just talking about SPF levels for different skin tones. 

Choosing the right sunscreen helps to avoid irritation, breakouts, and makes you more likely to apply it regularly, which gives your skin the best chance at avoiding things like melanoma (skin cancer) and premature aging. 

Determining your skin type >>
For me, finding my skin type was super easy. S E N S I T I V E. I'm horrifically eczema prone (have a whole series on my blog about this), and lean towards a routine that is simple but hydrating, staying away from too many actives. It's the reason I take forever to put up skincare reviews, because I have to check for reactions, or develop contact dermatitis from different ingredients. 

BUT - that's not all. See, I lean towards Sensitive-dry, which is why my skin care, and my sun care, focuses more on hydrating products. 

What determines your skin type? How much oil (sebum) your skin produces daily. 

Dry >> 
Does your skin feel tight? Less elastic?  Does it become rough or flaky easily? Dehydrated? Not a lot of shine in your T-zone? Then your skin type is probably dry. 

Oily >>
Do you get really shiny during the day? (Especially in your t-zone) Do you suffer from (manageable*) breakouts, blackheads and/or whiteheads? Then your skin type is probably oily. 

Normal >> 
Is your skin neither oily throughout the day, and doesn't feel dry, or tight, or often irritated? Your pores aren't too noticeable, and you rarely have breakouts? Then your skin is probably normal! Lucky you :) 

Combination >>
Are you oily in your t-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and dry or normal skin on your cheeks? Then you have combination skin <3. It's a little harder to care for, because you're often trying to battle with contrasting products 
(my tip: you're gonna want a sunscreen that's suitable for 'all skin types' ;))

So, now you know more about skin types, scroll through for my picks for each, and my current favourite sun screen <3 

Let me know your skin type AND your current sun screen in the comments below, and don't forget to #applysunscreenaddprotection <3
벛꽃 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

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#협찬 Q: what’s the most important skincare s #협찬  Q: what’s the most important skincare step?
Fii’s answer: SUNSCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!! 

This is a question i get asked quite a bit, and my answer has been the same for ages. The step in my skincare I absolutely never skip is: sunscreen. 

So I’m really excited to be taking part in @wishtrend ‘s #ASAPchallenge: #applysunscreenaddprotection 😊 This challenge is to help build the habit of applying sunscreen DAILY for 5 weeks. It takes 28 days to form a habit.. so let’s do this together ^^ 

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then i have a cafe recommendation for you~~ 

this cute (deceptively large) place is @for_tourists_dotori_garden by Anguk station, and i had a great afternoon enjoying the atmosphere with great company and great baked goods and i’m not at all noting the aesthetics for my own future cafe 🤭

꿀팁 - if you search 분좋카 on instagram then you’ll find a bunch of very aesthetic cafes around seoul that all have a great atmosphere (분•위기 좋•은 카•페 = 분좋카) ❤️❤️ 

📌 dotori garden // 도토리가든 
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changing room mirror selfies and a tiny headed bea changing room mirror selfies and a tiny headed bear. 🐻 

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{ #ad #협찬 #gifted } Vegan skincare is on the r { #ad #협찬 #gifted }
Vegan skincare is on the rise, and I received these beautiful Vegan Lip Butters from @melixirskincare_kr ❤️
Melixir is vegan, sustainable, and cruelty free, that has a range of products that are great for sensitive skin like mine :) 

I’m absolutely loving the easy wearability of “04 Dewy Rose”, and the agave infused formula is great for my lips (guess who doesn’t drink enough water…). 

“05 Red Velvet” is a buildable red, that isn’t too harsh or bright for those days you want a little colour, but don’t want to faff about with lip liners ❤️

📌 you can find melixir products at Amazon (worldwide), or if you’re in Korea, Olive Young and Melixir’s website ❤️

What’s your favourite lip product these days? 

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(hanbok from @palace.fox - my #1 rec for hanbok rental ❤️) 

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#whatfiiwore
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named because it’s formulated to take care of your skin’s fundamental needs, this is a great line to reach for when you’re busy, or just need something simple to satisfy your skin. 

cream: 
the fundamental water gel cream is super light weight for easy absorption into the skin. it’s packed with green tea for vitamin e, antioxidants and calming, which with the way my eczema has been recently i def need.

mist: 
the fundamental ampule mist os a great product to have to top up when your skin is feeling dry, or as layered with 7 skins. it’s got so many nutrients to make your skin feel refreshed and hydrated. 

eye cream
i’m always a bit hmm over eye creams that don’t have actives (like retinol or derivatives) but i’ve been reading about the benefits of using peptides for the under-eye area specifically and i’m not saying the results are magic, but i’ve seen an improvement when i’ve been using peptide formulated products in that area. so. jury is still out but i’m not mad. 
#the formula of this cream is also super thick and creamy so it feels really nourishing 😇🫶 

overall it’s been a great experience so far, and it’s definitely made me remember why i liked klairs products way back when i started blogging ❤️

products courtesy of @wishtrend via @nurilounge.official ❤️❤️

#skincare #kbeauty #kskincare #skincarereels #veganbeauty #veganskincare #dearklairs #스킨케어 #dearklairs #klairs #skincare #kbeauty #kbrand #nurilounge #mynurilounge
✨ fiicore ✨ the princess / abandoned castle ✨ fiicore ✨ 

the princess / abandoned castle vibes are strong here

⛅️ ☁️ clouds

#reels #reelstrend #reelstrends #coreaesthetic #princesscore #princesscoreaesthetic #softgirlaesthetic #softgirl
things i carry on the daily: 💼 @marhen.j kai things i carry on the daily: 

💼 @marhen.j  kai bag in urban black 
beauty products 
@romandyou waterfit cushion 
@keepintouch_makeup jelly lip plumper in bloody wine 
@espoir_makeup water splash cica tone up sun cream 

ipad cover is from @from.pick 

not pictured: work badge -,-, lip balm, assorted receipts 😅

🐰 🐰 🐰 🐰 
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새해 복 많이 바드세용~ 🐰 happy lunar 새해 복 많이 바드세용~ 
🐰 
happy lunar new year from me and the floof and the personal growth we’ve been doing so far this month ☺️😊😌

🐰 🐰 🐰 
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i don’t do these challenges but this was one cut i don’t do these challenges but this was one cute 

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pov: you’re cafe hopping in seoul ❤️ tell pov: you’re cafe hopping in seoul ❤️ 

tell me a place and a time and i’ll come to hang out ❤️🥰 

📍 cafe seongbukro/ @seongbukro 
it’s beautiful~~~ 

☁️ ☁️ ☁️ 
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#서울카페 #서울카페추천 #카페릴스 #retroaesthetic
finally got a silky wrap skirt and it makes me fee finally got a silky wrap skirt and it makes me feel like i’m about to go to barre again 🩰 

skirt @dollsattitude 

☁️ ⛅️ ☁️ 

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2022 was uh… a year (if u saw me trying to pos 2022 was uh… a year 

(if u saw me trying to post this already, no u didn’t 😂😂🤡🤡🤡🤡) 

☁️ ⛅️ ⛅️ ☁️ 
#2022년 #2023 #2022roundup
when ur as excited for coffee as u are for christm when ur as excited for coffee as u are for christmas and also music show broadcasts bc i am that girl now 😌😌😌😌😌 u only live once and all ✌️ 
merry holidays i hope ur day is merry and bright ⛄️ 

☁️ ⛅️ ⛅️ 🌧️ 

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