Saturday, March 22

Fashion Crime: Fake or Flattery?

Sometimes imitation isn’t the best form of flattery. The price of replica designer bags may sound tempting, but you get exactly what you pay for. It’s gaudy looking, and most people can tell a fake bag from a mile away. Luxury does not come at a cheap price, and counterfeit bags are poorly made. Don’t let the construction fool you. The leather isn’t real and the stitching is far from perfect. Knock-offs also have a reputation for breaking easily.

The quality of genuine, designer products is far superior to replica bags. Owning a fake bag does not provoke the same warm feeling of pride and happiness that the real bag produces; it simply can’t compete with the designer aesthetic. For the true couture connoisseurs, a handbag is more than an accessory; it’s an extension of the person. Fashion houses and designers take a hit every time a fake bag is purchased. Counterfeit manufacturers are stealing the intellectual property owned and created by the designers. The buying and selling of knock-offs is illegal. It’s organized crime. Recently, New York City officials closed down 32 vendors on Canal Street for selling counterfeit merchandise. This is far from glamorous! Remember that an original designer bag is an investment. Try saving up for it. If you put aside ten dollars a week for a whole year, that’s $520 to spend on a bag you can enjoy for years. If a classy girl has a tight budget, she’s better off buying a good quality, unbranded bag than a fake. Counterfeit products are a fashion faux pas that a fashion diva avoids like the plague.

-Therese Quiao

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