Cheap 'dupes' promise Chinese shoppers the quality of brands like Lululemon and Hermes—without the logos

Near-facsimiles of some of the world’s most popular fashion staples, from Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s yoga tights to Hermès International SCA’s handbags, are appearing in closets across China for a fraction of the price. Known in Chinese as “pingti” and Gen Z shopping parlance as “dupes,” their popularity reflects a backlash against brands among formerly label-loving Chinese shoppers. But they’re not cheap counterfeits either: these local makers sell products at relatively high prices by promising the same quality as top global brands—just without the logos. That includes items like a 3,200-yuan...