Latest news with #ParisKidsFashionWeek
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
China firm cons parents out of US$51,000 with fake elite brand kids fashion show
A Chinese company has been fined 600,000 yuan (US$83,000) by the government for faking children's fashion shows and conning 367,000 yuan (US$51,000) out of desperate parents. A Shanghai company had been promoting a series of fashion shows under the name Paris Kids Fashion Week since 2020, according to the mainland media outlet Xinmin Evening News. The company branded the shows part of the world-famous Paris Fashion Week, and used images of famous tourist spots in France, such as The Louvre, on its website. It also took the show to multiple first-tier cities in China, as well as Paris and Toronto. At one of its fashion weeks in Shanghai, the company promoted four shows using the names of luxury brands Dior, Gucci, Burberry and Fendi, and charged 6,000 yuan (US$830) each to appear in a single show. It also set up a parent-child event for parents to appear together with their kids. It was recently revealed by the Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau that the Paris Kids Fashion Week is a scam. The bureau launched an investigation in 2023 after Gucci's Shanghai office reported the case. According to the report, the company also used Gucci's logos, and knock-off emblems with the words Gucc101 and Gucc100. During the investigation, a member of the company's staff said it charged parents more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) for each costumes their children wore in the show. However, not all the clothes were authentic. The company's owner, surnamed Huang, reportedly bought counterfeit clothes online. Huang argued that he only bought the fake clothes to take photos, and did not sell them. The authorities said the company's activities constituted trademark infringement. The firm made a total of 367,000 yuan (US$51,000) from registration fees, which the investigation identified as improper gains. The bureau fined the company 600,000 yuan (US$83,000). A procurator in Shanghai said the company previously received fines from market regulatory departments in other parts of China, but it did not correct its business. The company's social media accounts under the name Paris Fashion Week Kid's Unit can still be found online. 'The company was exploiting the desperate need of parents to make their kids successful and famous,' said one online observer. While another said: 'Such phenomena are quite common these days. Many art and sports training centres also charge parents a big sum of money to send their kids to unauthorised contests.' - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
NDTV
5 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Chinese Company Cons Parents Out Of Rs 44 Lakh By Staging Fake Kids' Fashion Shows
A Chinese company has been fined 600,000 yuan (approximately Rs 72 lakh) by the government for running fake children's fashion shows and defrauding parents of 367,000 yuan (around Rs 44 lakh). According to the South China Morning Post, the Shanghai-based firm had been falsely promoting a series of fashion shows under the name "Paris Kids Fashion Week" since 2020. The company branded the events part of the globally recognised Paris Fashion Week, and used images of famous tourist spots in France, like The Louvre, on its website to lend credibility to the shows. The firm organised shows in major cities in China, as well as Paris and Toronto, SCMP reported. During one of its fashion weeks in Shanghai, it also promoted four events using the names of luxury brands like Dior, Gucci, Burberry and Fendi, and charged parents 6,000 yuan (approximately Rs 72,500) for a single appearance. It also set up a parent-child event for parents to appear together with their children. The elaborate scam came to light after Gucci's Shanghai office filed a complaint, prompting an investigation by the Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau in 2023. During the investigation, officials found that the firm used Gucci's logos and knock-off emblems with the words Gucc101 and Gucc100. A member of the company's staff also admitted that the firm charged parents more than 10,000 yuan (around Rs 1.20 lakh) for each costume their children wore in the show. However, not all the clothes were authentic. The report stated that the company's owner, surnamed Huang, bought counterfeit clothes online. He argued that he only bought the fake clothes to take photos, and did not sell them. The authorities said the company's activities constituted trademark infringement. The firm made a total of 367,000 yuan from registration fees, which the investigation identified as improper gains. A procurator in Shanghai said the firm had been fined by market regulatory departments in other parts of China, but it did not correct its business. The bureau fined the company 600,000 yuan, which is approximately Rs 72 lakh.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gucci files complaint after Chinese company cons parents out of ₹44 lakh with fake kids' fashion shows
A Chinese company has been fined 600,000 yuan (approximately ₹72 lakh) for orchestrating fake children's fashion shows and defrauding parents of 367,000 yuan (around ₹44lakh), reported the South China Morning Post. According to Xinmin Evening News, the Shanghai-based firm had been promoting events under the name 'Paris Kids Fashion Week' since 2020, falsely branding them as part of the globally recognised Paris Fashion Week. Their website featured images of iconic French landmarks like The Louvre to lend credibility to the events. Also read: US visa officer in Hyderabad tests student with technical questions: 'I was surprised by the level' The company conducted shows in major cities across China, as well as in Paris and Toronto. During one of the Shanghai editions, it held four shows under the names of luxury brands like Dior, Gucci, Burberry and Fendi, charging parents 6,000 yuan (about ₹72,500) for a single appearance. It also hosted parent-child segments, allowing guardians to walk the runway with their children. The scam came to light after Gucci's Shanghai office filed a complaint, prompting an investigation by the Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau in 2023. Investigators found that the firm used Gucci's logos and also created fake variations with names like 'Gucc101' and 'Gucc100'. One staff member admitted that the company charged over 10,000 yuan (roughly ₹1.20 lakh) for each costume worn by a child. However, not all the clothes were genuine. The owner, identified by his surname Huang, allegedly bought counterfeit outfits online. He claimed the clothes were only meant for photoshoots and were never sold. Authorities stated that these actions violated trademark laws. The registration fees collected, totalling 367,000 yuan, were classified as illegal earnings, and the company was fined accordingly. Also read: Jain temple to be built in Australia at a cost of $18 million with marble shipped from Rajasthan A procurator in Shanghai said the firm had been fined by other regional market regulators in the past but continued its deceptive practices. Despite the crackdown, its social media accounts under 'Paris Fashion Week Kid's Unit' remain active.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Parents scammed in fake ‘Paris Kids Fashion Week,' INR 44 lakh lost in Gucci, Dior glam trap!
A Chinese company orchestrated a deceptive scheme, falsely presenting children's fashion shows as part of Paris Kids Fashion Week since 2020. The firm exploited parents' aspirations by charging exorbitant fees for participation and counterfeit costumes, amassing significant revenue. A Chinese company has come under fire for orchestrating an elaborate scam involving fake children's fashion shows, falsely branded as Paris Kids Fashion Week. Since 2020, this firm has misled hundreds of families by claiming affiliation with the prestigious Paris Fashion Week, while using images of iconic landmarks like the Louvre and invoking the names of luxury houses such as Dior and Gucci to appear legitimate. According to The South China Morning Post, the company charged parents 6,000 yuan (around ₹71,000) per child to participate in these runway shows. In some cases, families paid even more for costumes, reportedly upwards of 10,000 yuan (over ₹1.20 lakh). Many of the outfits were later revealed to be counterfeit. Events were hosted in cities like Shanghai, Paris, and Toronto, and the company collected an estimated 367,000 yuan (over ₹44 lakh) in registration fees from unsuspecting parents. The scam was finally exposed after Gucci's legal team filed a complaint in 2023. The Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau launched an investigation, confirming the fraudulent activities. The company had been using fake logos like Gucc100 and Gucc101, misusing trademarks and misleading customers. As a result, the business has now been fined 600,000 yuan (approximately ₹71 lakh). During the probe, a company staff member admitted that the children's costumes - many of them fake designer replicas, were sourced online. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Lost Their Money - Learn From Their Lesson Expertinspector Click Here Undo While the owner, identified as Huang, claimed the clothes were only used for photo shoots and not sold, authorities still deemed this a serious case of trademark infringement. Shockingly, this wasn't the first time the company had been fined. Despite previous penalties, it continued operating with impunity. Its social media presence remains intact, with pages on Instagram and Facebook still live, although the last posts date back to 2023 and show minimal engagement. Sunny Kaushal Flashes a Smile in Andheri Chinese social media users reacted strongly to the revelations. 'Such phenomena are quite common these days,' one user commented, pointing out how many extracurricular training centres prey on parents' aspirations. Another noted, 'The company was exploiting the desperate need of parents to make their kids successful and famous.' The case has sparked wider conversations around parental pressure, counterfeit culture, and the lack of regulation in talent showcases for children. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Company earns ₹44 lakh from ‘desperate' parents for fake kids' fashion show, uses luxury brand names like Dior, Gucci
A Chinese company has been running fake children's fashion shows under the name Paris Kids Fashion Week. Since 2020, it tricked many parents by claiming links with Paris Fashion Week. It also used images of The Louvre and luxury brand names like Dior and Gucci. The company charged 6,000 yuan ( ₹ 71,000) per child to walk the ramp and even organised events where parents joined their kids. It collected 367,000 yuan ( ₹ 44 lakh) from parents as registration fees. The scam ran shows in Shanghai, Paris and Toronto, The South China Morning Post reported. The Shanghai Market Regulatory Bureau confirmed it was a fraud after Gucci's office had complained in 2023. The firm had also used fake logos like Gucc100 and Gucc101. The company has now been fined 600,000 yuan ( ₹ 71 lakh). During the investigation, a staff member revealed the company charged over 10,000 yuan ( ₹ 1.20 lakh approx) for each costume children wore. But, many of those clothes were fake, SCMP added. The owner, Huang, admitted buying fake clothes online but said they were only used for photo shoots, not sold. Still, the authorities found this was trademark misuse. A legal officer in Shanghai said this wasn't the first time the company was fined, yet it didn't stop. Their social media pages still remain active. When dug further, we found such social media pages on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. However, the pages had very little engagement. The last posts on those pages were shared back in 2023. The South China Morning Post shared how Chinese social media users reacted to the scam. 'Such phenomena are quite common these days. Many art and sports training centres also charge parents a big sum of money to send their kids to unauthorised contests,' wrote one user.
