Cashmere scarves for 20 Euro, silk scarves for only 3 Euro – Welcome to the realm of illusions – what textile inexperienced buyers in B2B should know now
The illusion of cheap luxury – what lies behind scarves for 3Euro and cashmere scarves for20 Euro really entails
- A dangerous trend: luxury prices based on discount logic
More and more offers are appearing online that seem almost irresistible at first glance:
Cashmere scarves for 20 Euro, "genuine" silk handkerchiefs from 3 Euro. Such prices are – especially for large buyers in the B2B sector – tempting. But:
👉 These prices are not economically realistic – and in most cases misleading.
2. Material costs expose the myth
The pure material prices already show:
• Real silk costs about 30–60 Euro/kg, depending on quality.
• High-quality cashmere (e.g. of Mongolian origin, 13–15 micron fibre fineness) is priced at 80–120 Euro/kg.
So if a silk scarf is offered for 3 Euro or acashmere scarf for 20 Euro , then one thing is clear:
That cannot be true.
Such products are usually made from polyester, viscose, acrylic or blended fabrics – but definitely not what the label promises.
3. Deception on the label – and no consequences
Many of these suppliers – mostly based outside the EU – still print '100% silk' or '100% cashmere' on the label. Why?
Because they can hardly be held legally accountable:
• There is no EU product liability for prepayment transactions with manufacturers from the Far East.
• Legal action in Asia is expensive, complicated, and economically pointless for normal order quantities.
• Customers are often left with inferior goods.
Once paid, the money is gone. Returns? Nearly impossible.

4. Price comparison – yes. But only with data.
Comparing prices is legitimate – even important.
But: A meaningful comparison is only possible with clear, technical specifications.
Questions you should ask:
• What is the weight of the fabric?
• What printing technique is used?
• What is the actual material composition?
• What is the edge processing like?
• Are there certificates or proof of origin?
Without this information, you are comparing apples with pears.
Or as described in the article:
👉 A Porsche and a Skoda both drive – but they are still not comparable.

5. Cheap goods = expensive consequences
What happens if you, as a B2B customer, fall for a supposed bargain?
• Your customers are disappointed – the product feels cheap, looks bad, or doesn't last.
• Your brand image suffers because you offer inferior promotional items or merchandise.
• You have complaints and replacement costs that take time and money.
• In the worst case, it goes to court.
In the end, you end up paying more – and multiple times.
6. Marketing tricks: AI images and fake designs.
Many of these cheap providers work with AI-generated images, 3D renderings, or Photoshop montages.
• The goods shown in the images often do not even exist.
• The photos are simply stolen from good suppliers.
• The images look elegant but are not representative of the actual product.
• There are no real samples, real photos, or customer references.
In a time when images can be generated in seconds, it is more true than ever: Only trust what you can touch.
7. What professionals do – and what you should do
The large, established European companies have long known:
Quality and price awareness are not mutually exclusive – but they rely on:
• Reputable, established suppliers with experience
• Reliable samples and transparent production processes
• Long-term collaboration instead of risky purchases
What you should do:
– Request samples
– Get technical data in writing
– Always check prices in conjunction with material, processing, and origin
– Trust genuine manufacturers with tangible references
Conclusion: If the price is unrealistic, the offer is too
- Cashmere scarves for 20 euros? Not possible – or not genuine.
- Silk scarf for 3 euros? Same finding.
Would anyone sell a product below the material cost? No.
So you would do well to approach such offers with maximum skepticism.

Reputable providers: Pay attention to various criteria

The core message:
- Compare prices – but with a clear view of the facts.
- Do not rely on empty promises, images, or labels.
- Get advice – from partners who are honest with you.
In the end, it doesn't matter how cheap a product looks on paper –
but whether it can proudly bear your name.

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