The fashion industry appears to be booming economically due to an increase in people carrying their coveted bags, or wearing their designer sunglasses. It seems everywhere you look a woman is bagging her daily must-haves in a Gucci, YSL or a Chanel bag. If it seems as if everyone around you is rolling in money – take a closer look. Their high-status handbag could be a knock off, fake, counterfeit or an “inspired by”… Now only a trained eye can tell the difference between the real thing and a knock off.
Knock Offs-Are they Legal?
Absolutely not! Long gone are the days when manufacturers would create something similar, but distinctly different from a well-known designer item. Now they are making exact replicas of your favorite Louis Vuitton and selling them on auction sites, out of cars and some even having shopping parties. And, they are doing this at around the same time the legitimate companies are coming out with their handbags - not months after. This has become a global issue, where these manufacturers are making millions of dollars – many of which do not pay taxes for their illegal goods.
According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition the size and scope of product counterfeiting has truly skyrocketed into a global phenomenon in recent years. It not only accounts for the loss of millions of dollars, but jobs are also lost due to non-legitimate businesses producing these goods. The International Chamber of Commerce estimate that 7% of world trade is with counterfeit goods, boosting over $350 billion in sales. It has even been known that the 1994 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City was funded by the sale of counterfeit goods.
What You Can Do
Don’t buy it. No matter how badly you want to get that status bag! There are several other ways to look fashionable without funding the manufacturers of those illegal accessories. Wait until there’s a sale on these bags that are sold by the correct retailers (i.e. a luxury department store or the actual high-end store like Gucci or Chanel, etc.).
Many times high-end retailers will have an exclusive sale. Sign up for their newsletter or their mailing list. Another option is to check out designer outlets for apparel, handbags, sunglasses and more. You can buy all sorts of designer pieces at a fraction of the retail price if you look hard enough.
Tips on spotting fakes and knowing a knockoff when you see it…
Now that you know why not to buy a knockoff, here’s what to look for when buying at a resale shop or online auction.
A real designer handbag will have an identification card, their label on the inside and their correct logo, which can be found on the zippers, inside and of course on the outside. The same goes for designer sunglasses. Another tip is that these products (when bought at a valid retailer) are of the highest quality and will not easily fall apart.
To report knock offs call 1-800-report-a-fake.
When shopping online – be sure to read the auctioneers fine print. If it says Gucci-like or inspired by Chanel then it is not real and there’s your red flag to not buy it. They may even post “authentic” when it’s not real at all. So be careful when shopping online. Know what to look for.
What are the biggest brands that are knocked off?
The biggest brands that are knocked off are many handbags that are favorites of people around the world – Louis Vuitton, Prada and Gucci are some great examples. If you notice that a lot of people have one, don’t fret. It could be a knock off. As the story goes...look fashionable, not fake.
