Only a few days since country singer Taylor Swift announced her new China clothing line, some online shopping websites have already begun to sell counterfeits of her shirt.
The singer recently launched her fashion line that is targeted to the Chinese market. Her line sells authentic merchandise through website JD.com, one of China's largest e-commerce companies.
Despite this, a report by BBC said many items from Taylor Swift's China merchandise have already been copies and now sold on Taobao, an e-commerce platform.
For instance, Taylor Swift t-shirts printed with words "Shake It Off," "Taylor Swift or Die," and "T.S. 1989" are already being sold for 40 yuan or $6.5, the report said.
Not only the Taylor Swift's China t-shirts are reportedly faked, but also mugs, notebooks and pens with Taylor Swift designs on them.
These designs were taken from her US collection and some sellers place a disclaimer that says these are "same style" and to tell consumers that they are not buying authentic Taylor Swift merchandise from JD.com, BBC further noted.
This week, authentic Taylor Swift China merchandise such as t-shirts with "T.S. 1989" printed on them.
However, reports said that the Chinese government is not too comfortable with the people wearing them because the statement "T.S. 1989," according to the censors, reminded them of the Tiananmen Square massacre last 1989 where many pro-democracy protesters were killed.
According to The Guardian, Taylor Swift's website in the US has hairties, bags and bracelets with the words "T.S. 1989" on them.
The Chinese government reportedly "blacklisted any consecutive combinations of numbers 6, 4, and 89 social media websites in China.
Reactions from the fans are split when it comes to Taylor Swift's China merchandise sold online according to BBC.
A user from Weibo, a social media platform exclusively used in China wrote, "You all want to make big news out of this and criticize Taylor Swift. Stop it before you destroy Mei Mei's 1989 Shanghai concert! I'm so angry."
Meanwhile, another fan seemed not to agree with her recent move, "Girl, don't fight so hard please. Rein in your personality in the heavenly kingdom of China. Just focus on singing."
What do you think about Taylor Swift's China merchandise?
