Counterfeit Culture
Is it too good to be true?
by DAPHNE ZHU ★ OCTOBER 23, 2019
Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci used to only be associated with celebrities, supermodels, or members of the elite.
That’s no longer the case today.
The rising popularity of counterfeits has surged in recent years. In addition to the countless vendors who sell Rolex watches and Michael Kors bags on the streets in Asia, websites such as AliExpress and TaoBao have significantly grown. Additionally, with the help of social media websites such as Instagram and Facebook, the counterfeit industry has transformed into a global market with consumers from all around the world. This easy access to counterfeits allows just about anyone to get their hands on a luxury bag.
Instagram: @luxe.it.fwd
When it comes to ethical concerns, buying counterfeits can sometimes turn into a waste of money. The quality and hardware of the luxury items are definitely not the real thing, meaning they might not be able to survive more than a couple crazy nights out. Purchasing fake goods also contributes to the rising costs of the legitimate version and can further harm fashion businesses. Similarly, with the rapid production of cheap and lower quality items such as FashionNova and Zara, the environment is at risk too.
Instagram: @opulenthabits
However, the affordability of counterfeits makes it incredibly tempting to be able to have something like your very own Louis Vuitton Neverfull handbag for under $200. Complete with the iconic boxes and branded dust bags, “high quality” counterfeits have become virtually indistinguishable, to the point where differences between the real and the fake can be something as small as one extra stitch. With the legitimate appearance of counterfeits it allows us to test out trendy luxury items without having to actually splurge-after all, we are still broke college students.
So whether you choose to settle for a luxury dupe or splurge on the real thing, remember to take some pictures for the ‘gram to show off your outfit.