-
Why I Stopped Apologizing for Buying Products from China
Why I Stopped Apologizing for Buying Products from China Let me paint you a picture. It’s 7 PM on a Tuesday, and I’m sitting cross-legged on my living room floor surrounded by cardboard boxes. My cat, Miso, is attacking a plastic bubble wrap roll. I’m holding a ceramic mug that looks exactly like the one from that boutique in SoHo, except this one set me back six bucks instead of forty. My roommate walks in, raises an eyebrow, and asks, “Another shipment from China?” I used to feel defensive about that question. Like I needed to justify why half my apartment is furnished with things ordered from across the Pacific.…
-
Why I Buy Direct from China (and You Probably Should Too)
Why I Buy Direct from China (and You Probably Should Too) So hereâs the thing: Iâve been called a walking wardrobe paradox. Iâm a 34-year-old graphic designer living in Portland, Oregon, with a serious love for vintage Leviâs and hanbok-inspired silhouettes. My friends joke that my apartment looks like a Pinterest board explodedâmid-century modern meets street art. But hereâs the conflict: Iâm on a freelancerâs budget, yet I crave quality pieces that donât cost my entire paycheck. Thatâs where buying from China came in, and honestly, itâs been a game-changer. Let me back up. A year ago, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw this influencer wearing the most insane…
-
My Honest Take on Buying Products from China in 2025
My Honest Take on Buying Products from China in 2025 Iâm sitting here with a cup of cold brew, staring at a box that just arrived from Shenzhen. Inside is a leather tote bag I ordered three weeks agoâsomething Iâd never have considered buying a year ago. But hereâs the thing: Iâve spent the last six months buying products from China for almost everythingâclothes, jewelry, even a lamp for my reading nook. And I have opinions. Strong ones. Iâm Holly, by the way. I live in Portland, Oregon, where the rain makes you appreciate a good thrift store, but my wallet is more student than collector. I work as a…