Outdoor clothing is popular among consumers for its comfort, stylish and modern designs, and high-quality materials — suitable for all ages. Currently, a wide range of outdoor apparel is already on sale in Kunshan markets. In established commercial areas such as Kunshan Commercial Building, Parkson, and World Trade Plaza, various types of outdoor wear including light jackets, sweaters, casual wear, hoodies, and waterproof shells can be found in major malls and clothing stores.
Reporters at some of the city’s large shopping malls observed that many brand counters have put up promotional slogans such as “discounts,” “sales,” and “bonus points” to attract customers. When randomly selecting a few items, reporters found that the tags clearly listed the fabric, origin, and washing instructions of the clothing. When asking about waterproof shells, many sales staff could clearly explain details such as windproof and UV protection ratings. In terms of style, there isn’t much visual difference between new and old outdoor apparel models, except for some minor detail changes. As for pricing, branded outdoor wear generally commands higher prices, and different types of outdoor garments vary in cost due to materials used, manufacturing techniques, and value. According to sales staff, branded clothing manufacturers incur high costs in early-stage research and design, brand maintenance, advertising, and sales services. Moreover, the use of high-tech materials, advanced technology, processes, and equipment — along with strict requirements for packaging and transportation — leads to higher production costs and, consequently, higher retail prices.
Reporters then visited large supermarkets such as Walmart, Auchan, and Carrefour, where many outdoor garments were already on shelves. It was observed that each piece of clothing came with a tag providing relatively clear product information. The prices were significantly lower than those of branded apparel in large malls, making them more suitable for mass consumption. When asked, as customers, whether lower prices could guarantee quality, supermarket salespeople explained that their supply channels were legitimate, with some items sourced directly from manufacturers, ensuring product reliability. If any issues arose after purchase, returns or exchanges would be allowed within a specified time period. However, when asked about details such as washing methods and drying times, the answers given by supermarket staff were not entirely consistent.
At small commodity markets, reporters noticed that many clothing stores and stalls displayed outdoor wear for sale. Yet, it was found that many garments lacked proper product information on their tags. Some fabrics felt noticeably rough, and the prices of certain sweaters and light jackets could be haggled down from two or three hundred yuan to just eighty or ninety — showing significant price variation. Additionally, some casual clothes had issues such as uneven coloring, loose stitching at seams, and excessive pilling. While imitation outdoor wear might be 4 to 8 times cheaper than authentic products, their quality is completely substandard. These so-called knockoffs merely mimic the appearance of genuine items, but fail in fabric texture, breathability, washability, and overall wearing comfort — which explains their very low prices.
Consumers should never buy poor-quality outdoor wear just to save money. Instead, consider practicality, visit multiple stores, learn about different brands, and purchase suitable styles from reputable retailers.