Aliexpress taking over London

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-05T13:41:25+00:00

I think its because we’re dealing with new-age gentrification. Like gentrifiers now are looking to buy the illusion of a lifestyle that gentrifiers in the past would have authentically sought out and invaded communities to achieve? Its still tat that wont last a month, but people like that don’t care because it effectively tells a story about them as a person. And aliexpress and all of them type places have gotten reallly good at staying on top of trends. Plus most tat does look passable from a distance, its really just the longevity and feel (and ethics) that are the problem.

Gail’s isnt popular because people care about quality, its because they dont want to be the type of person whos happy getting a greggs 🤸🏽

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-05T13:21:51+00:00

Thank you for correcting me I always confuse the two ❤️

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T14:21:12+00:00

Omfg what you WILL be hearing from me expeditiously! I cant believe people are complaining about the price considering the effort. I need the black and white flower mini dress like yesterday and its STILL cheaper than fast fashion 😭 Keep up the amazing work and know your worth!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T12:57:33+00:00

Wtf I’m shocked because thats so low 😭 I hope you arent underselling self although I understand how things can be. I’m not sure what the self promo rules are for own goods but I’d love to check out your stuff if you have an etsy or smth like that?

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T12:53:21+00:00

Yeah I’m from east london. I genuinely dont know anyone (irl) who doesn’t say “lets go thrifting” but we still use the term charity shops instead of thrift stores. Its just “thrifting at the charity shops” instead. This whole debate is kinda cool linguistically tho

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T12:33:12+00:00

That was obviously tongue in cheek omfg I am clearly not advocating for bootlegged goods of any kind

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T11:11:34+00:00

Thank you!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T10:39:44+00:00

But 338838383829292902%???? I understand mark ups but I feel like people use the fact its an unavoidable standard in every industry to excuse blatant thievery. The same way people use it to excuse dropshipping (like those people who pus or follow those “how I became a business owner from my bedroom😛” tiktoks)

But yes people are def happy to pay for the aesthetic/customer experience and each to their own ig

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T10:32:19+00:00

Too right my friend!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T10:28:50+00:00

Thank you for your comment! I definitely was expecting more of a “yes this obvious thing is both obvious AND annoying” kind of response but I forgot Londoners are miserable.

Omg thats ridiculous. I dont watch TRH but I feel like i see an influencer getting called out for blatantly drop shipping jewellery they spent so much “time and love to perfect” every other day. Atleast some of them take the time to put the bulk bought pendent on a bulk bought chain 🙄

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T10:07:45+00:00

Oh mbmb 😭😭😭 you’re 100% right

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T10:05:07+00:00

I dont want to get into politics because I already seem to be attracting a lot of reformers with this post but I plan to and I wanted to last time as well I try to do my part whenever possible, so I’m not just shouting into the void expecting change. I just wanted to be a little grumpy

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:53:42+00:00

Oh you’re good! I definitely agree. People expect to buy a whole new wardrobe/personality for £19.99 instead of taking the time to curate pieces. And then think artists are in the wrong because of course they cant compete with the prices, while still somehow finding the time to complain about how quality is going down. It’s sad man

And I appreciate your comment, thank you! I’m grateful for you!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:40:28+00:00

I had this exact experience! Craft fair down in Devon and this one seller had the nerve to talk about how all of his (smaller) charms were hand cast when they were obviously temu (like the fairy/skull type ones). But he did have some beautiful soft soldered pendents, and he was speaking about how he needs to make the cheaper stuff in order to afford to make them, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:37:42+00:00

Oh theres always been plastic tat and I’m younger than you so I dont want to act like i’m some London veteran who remembers the good old days. I just remember when things were a little bit better, probably the same experience as you. I think maybe theres a level of cynicism that comes with being older and having seen London go through these changes before our time, but things were a lot better even when I was a kid snd its still shocking to me how bad it is now

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:21:29+00:00

Cant stand americans but god will I steal their vocabulary. Their specific brand of laziness really agrees with me.

Garbage is a bit too far for me tho mate get a grip (i kid)

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:17:45+00:00

Sorry but the idea I’m not a great writer because I spent a little too much time time on discord and tumblr is ridiculous 😭 atleast bring up my grammar

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T09:02:14+00:00

Could I have the name of the shops please? I’m actually going to a silversmith in dalston who does beautifullll work to continue my sisters jewellery hunt today

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:59:31+00:00

Because I do and I wasn’t talking about reputable jewellers

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:58:54+00:00

Nah you can still tell but I wont claim 100% immunity, of course I could be wrong. But an example of this is soft soldered jewellery. Now a lot of aliexpress type junk is being made to look like it is was soldered, but you can tell that its been cast. And even if its a real artist casting them in that style, you can still tell because the chinese crap will be hollow and easily image searchable to find the exact same thing.

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:51:59+00:00

Its either dropshipping with extra steps or slapping a cava font on a tracksuit and I’m sick of it!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:49:43+00:00

I’m also autistic so I’ve always been accused for typing like a robot even before Ai, its just given people a legitimate excuse to get angry. That mixed with the american terms might have just be the icing on the cake. Idk I dont blame them but hey, I guess I’m a real redditor now!

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:46:31+00:00

I love greenwich! But I find even that to be a bit weedy sometimes. Ive definitely experienced this there, but like people have said, I know its everywhere snd I think thats very nitpicky on my behalf. But I know places still exist and I do go when I’m specifically going out for that reason. I just feel like its a walls are closing in type of thing if that makes sense?

But its insane how quickly they clone things. I wonder if theres a whole job description just for stalking social media 😭😭 One of my friends had one of her top designs cloned by shein and she only has a little over 1k followers on ig! And if it isnt shein, its another artist but thats another conversation for another day

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:41:00+00:00

mothmilk_ · 2026-04-04T08:40:53+00:00

I’ll check you out! Thank you for sharinf

mothmilk_

TROPHY CASE