Let me put the pictures of the Taobao replica here:
the skirt
closeup of print 
waist tie
lining and built-in tulleThe Taobao purchase possibly came up to less than £35, using Taobao Spree. I am not reviewing Taobao Spree but they were very professional and reliable. If you have any specific qs regarding them, I am happy to respond with what I know.
Fabric
The original and replica are made using completely different fabrics. It is certainly not a case of the Taobao shop using Angelic Pretty fabric overruns to make replica stock. The replica fabric is of a different texture, thinner and certainly a less rich cotton count. The Angelic Pretty original fabric is a rich cotton fabric much like a good cotton craft fabric from Makower or the like.
The replica's print is very similar to the original, and here I have to admit that the Taobao shop has tried to match the original colours as closely as possible, but there are some small differences. My original AP skirt had background stripes that were rather prominent, but the replica's background stripes are very muted. I am not sure if the original blue AP version would have similarly muted stripes, but I thought the muted stripes were probably nicer.
The drawings of all the cookies, whether letter-shaped, card shaped, or the ones with a clock face, or featuring Eat me, are exactly the same for the original and replica. The exact same size, shape, and details on each cookie. I have to commend that even the colours are very close if not exactly the same. For example, I compared the light pastel green club-shaped cookie in the waist tie in the replica picture above, to the same cookie on my original AP wonder cookie tote bag, and the shade of green is exactly the same.
There are a couple of differences though- the teapot in the replica seems to be a darker pink, and the colour shading on the sides of the cookies show a marked difference. The AP original shows a lighter caramel colour for the shading on the cookies, but the replica's cookie shadings are a dark espresso colour. This is the only significant colour difference I have found in the cookie print.
However, as the fabric of the replica is a thinner cotton, the print seems to have a "flatter" and more synthetic feel, the original AP print on my tote bag and my pics of the original skirt I sold feel more 3-dimensional and vibrant.
Construction
The replica skirt is very well constructed with neat sewing, lining and tulle, and the waist tie is exactly the same as the original AP one with a heart shaped piece at the end of the tie. Both the AP and replica waist ties are backed with an opaque white water-proofish fabric. The replica waist ties are however sewn in at the sides and are not removeable. I also find that the tulle is sewn on the lining in a rather careless way- the raw edges of the tulle are not folded in and seamed down like AP does. The skirt closes with a hook and bar and not a nice button as you will get on the AP skirt. I also found that the AP skirt was just about breathable for my waist but the replica can be made to size. Finally, I remember the AP skirt is generally poofier perhaps because its fabric is thicker.
On the whole, the replica is not close to the original in terms of fabric quality, but the print is very faithful to the original.
Hope this helps, and if there is anything you feel is lacking in the review, please understand that I am not a professional seamstress and am reviewing the items as an end consumer who goes by sight would do. Thanks for reading!
