In true holiday spirit — and in the spirit of a recession — the phrase “everyone loves a bargain” could not be more relevant. Customers desire luxury for less. They covet designer clothing and accessories which have now become a defining part of the modern American economic class system. A market once focused on limited quantity and exceptional quality has fallen victim to mass-market demands of accessibility and branding. In order to satisfy this demand, the fake designer accessory industry flourished in countries all over the world in order to provide bargain hungry customers with their pick of Coach and Gucci bags. In New York City, the infamous Canal Street is a tourist’s dream with its gray market and counterfeit goods boasting the trademarks of exclusive brands such as Rolex, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Suburban housewives host “purse parties” in which mothers and daughters browse fake luxury accessories while socializing with the neighbors. No one brags about paying thousands for an authentic Chanel 2.55 purse anymore; they brag about buying a knockoff for $100.
The counterfeiting market is worth an estimated $600 billion. Ten percent of goods produced worldwide are fakes. But is that even surprising? Counting the number of fake purses seen on campus alone affirms this discovery. Having an “it” handbag is a status symbol for women. In a 2004 survey, the average American woman was found to buy more than four handbags a year. The average woman does not have dispensable funds to purchase $700 handbags, but they want to look like they do.
Purchasing a designer handbag at one-third the price seems harmless and even honorable. Instead of feeding the capitalist machine, you are supporting the man on the street corner or the neighbor hosting the party, right? Wrong. The origin of these counterfeit products goes beyond Canal Street in New York City or Mrs. Robinson’s house. According to Harper’s Bazaar Anticounterfeiting Alliance, egregious criminal activities are funded by these sales. Such illegal activities include child labor, terrorism and drug cartels.
Although I am skeptical that fake purses are funding dangerous terrorists and drug cartels, it is funding organized crime. In 2001, 70 members of New York’s Genovese crime family were arrested for various offenses, among them the sale of counterfeit handbags. In other words, buying a counterfeit purse is equivalent to aimlessly handing cash to criminals.
If funding illegal activities is of no concern to you, maybe the state of the economy is. The counterfeiting business costs Americans 750,000 jobs. The annual cost to American companies from counterfeit products is $20 billion. New York City loses $1 billion in tax revenues annually due to fakes. Buying counterfeit designer purses, sunglasses, watches or fragrances results in a substantial loss to our economy. The money spent on purchasing fake designer goods could instead be used on quality, American manufactured products without the designer label.
The opulence brands and items were intended for those desiring superior quality or the elite, not the mass market. If I spent my summer paycheck on a quality leather Coach handbag, it now looks tacky and meaningless compared to the knockoffs lacking the authenticity and eminence. The purpose of buying luxury items is not for show or status; it is because you want the highest quality available. Counterfeit purses diminish this. None of the tradition or craftsmanship can be found in a Chinatown Louis Vuitton bag. I am not claiming to be above the designer purse craze; I used to own them until I recognized the significance of a luxury brand is not in the label but the superior quality. The amount of money lost to our economy and given to criminals over having a fake label dangling off your arm is obscene. When does the disgusting American obsession with more for less go too far? On Black Friday, a Long Island Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death while animalistic shoppers rushed to find the best deals. I hope that in this holiday season we remember that a spirit of giving goes beyond the bargain.
Here are some helpful guidelines from Harper’s Bazaar on how to identify a fake.
Location: First and foremost, purchasing luxury goods at a brand’s boutique, Web site or authorized dealer is your best bet to ensure buying a genuine product. Items at home parties, from street vendors or unauthorized Web sites are likely to be fake.
Jessica is a sophomore. Want to know if your Louis Vuitton is real? E-mail [email protected] to find out.
The Price is Right: Quality and exclusivity account for the high price of luxury goods. So, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Construction Sites:Craftsmanship is a main point of distinction with luxury goods. Sloppy stitches in less visible areas — such as the underside of a product or inside pockets — is likely the result of counterfeit production.
Package Deal: Luxury retailers meticulously package their products. If you see a plastic wrap covering or a flimsy dust bag, it’s probably a fake. For example, counterfeit manufacturers will often wrap the handles of handbags in plastic.
Check the Hardware: With most luxury accessories, you will find the logo on all the metal pieces, such as zippers, latches, snaps and buckles.
Timely Tips: Makers of fake watches may not replicate unusual features, such as a helium relief valve. If the feature is available, oftentimes it does not function.
