Is Indian brand Mokobara actually Made in China? The truth behind the allegations and outrage

A recent social media firestorm erupted when an influencer accused Mokobara, a Bengaluru-based luggage brand, of selling bags that strikingly resemble cheaper alternatives found on other e-commerce platforms. The influencer suggested that Mokobara's products might be made in China and marketed as high-end, casting doubt on their authenticity. In response, Mokobara fired back, proudly declaring that they create original designs that are "worth imitating." The debate has ignited a flurry of opinions across social media, with everyone weighing in on the matter.

What is Mokobara and who are the owners?

Mokobara, a dynamic lifestyle brand founded in 2019, offers a range of premium travel essentials, from stylish luggage and backpacks to wallets, travel accessories, and packing cubes.

The brand was created by two enterprising co-founders: Sangeet Agrawal, an alumnus of VIT University in Vellore, and Navin Parwal, a graduate of Pearl Academy.

Mokobara has garnered strong backing from an impressive roster of supporters, including Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone, Mamaearth's Varun Alagh, Urban Ladder's Ashish Goel, LivSpace's Ramakant Sharma, Good Earth's Raul Rai, the founders of Licious, and the Chona Family Office, among others.

Even singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh was spotted using the Mokobara bags.

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What are the recent allegations against Mokobara?

The controversy started when a well-known influencer pointed out the resemblance between Mokobara's bags and those sold on other e-commerce sites at much lower prices.

The influencer raised doubts, suggesting that Mokobara's products might come from Chinese manufacturers, sparking concerns about "white labeling" and overpriced items.

How did Mokobara respond to the allegations?

Mokobara responded to the controversy in a tweet on X, saying, "While the world debates the chicken or the egg, we're focussed on what we do best ¨C creating originals worth imitating. Dropping now: the Moko x Naruto Series ¨C from one fan to another."

While the world debates the chicken or the egg, we¡¯re focussed on what we do best - creating originals worth imitating. Dropping now: the Moko x Naruto Series - from one fan to another.

To our Moko fam, this one¡¯s for you. Use code WHITELABEL to get 10% off on originality! ??¡­ pic.twitter.com/lvQ0br0waf

¡ª Mokobara (@my_mokobara) January 15, 2025

In a clever move to turn the situation into a marketing opportunity, they offered a 10% "originality" discount on the new collection with the code "WHITELABEL."

The brand wrote, "To our Moko fam, this one's for you. Use code WHITELABEL to get 10 per cent off on originality!"

This bold and creative response caught the attention of many, including communications strategist Karthik Srinivasan, who took to LinkedIn to comment, "Pleasantly (and adequately) surprised by the audacity with which Mokobara 'addressed' allegations of white labeling," adding, "pretty bold reaction from the brand, in terms of PR and corporate communications!"

Are the allegations of Mokobara being a 'Made in China' brand valid?

Mehul Kanodia, former Mokobara employee, defended the brand on LinkedIn, sharing, "I feel personally attacked when my two years of hard work is frivolously attacked by folks who can't even bother to search a publicly available government design and trademark registration website."

He emphasised the challenges of building a quality brand, saying, "White-labelling is easy, but creating long-lasting, ergonomic, functional yet beautifully designed products is damn hard."

He urged others to focus on their own ventures, stating, "Focus on building your own brand rather than bringing someone else down."

In response to the trademark concerns, content creator Anushka took to X to investigate the allegations and shed light on the matter.

160 second video on the truth behind Mokobara https://t.co/kUKGJkTPU1 pic.twitter.com/aifs6OIRbV

¡ª anushka (@anushcache) January 18, 2025

She checked the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a UN agency that tracks global intellectual property, and found that Mokobara holds patents for all of its product designs.

She also discovered that Morama, an industrial design studio that collaborates with brands worldwide, published a 2019 case study about working with Mokobara to create a suitcase aimed at offering something unique for the Indian market, which was flooded with Chinese and international competitors.

Anushka concludes, "If an Indian brand is building something so unique that international and Chinese competitors are copying it, I think that's the first time it's ever happened that way and not the other way around," calling it a "win for Indian brands."

Mokobara's website acknowledges that its products are made in China, which is typical for many brands, as Anushka highlights, given that China is a global leader in manufacturing.

So does that make Mokobara a 'Made in China' brand? What's your opinion on this?

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