As you probably know, copyright laws are loosely enforced and rarely followed in China. That's why you can find an abundant of pirated software, music, movies and of course fashion. One of the most popular knock off items is designer handbags. Manufacturers will meticulously copy designs and sell the imitations at a fraction of the price. This Gucci large hobo retails for $1350 USD and you can get a high quality knockoff for around $50 USD. In China, knockoffs are everywhere so that everyone is guessing "is she or isn't she", faking it that is. However, if you bring one back to the US, no one will guess that it's a fake. So now the question is, if only you know it's a fake, would you fake it? My rationale around that is people buy designer bags not for function or really for the style alone. They're status symbols. They're aspirational. The longing is a part of the experience. Buying luxury items is the ultimate retail therapy. Trying to pass off a knockoff as genuine really diminishes how rewarding it feels to own one of these coveted bags. On my trip to China, my cousin gave me a well-made knockoff of this Gucci hobo and I reasoned with myself that I will use this bag in public as a shopping bag and if my friends see it I will tell them it's a fake. That means that strangers will probably think that I'm carrying a real Gucci but I'd be truthful to my friends. So I guess I'll be half fakin' it then?
Friday, October 24, 2008
To Fake or Not to Fake
As you probably know, copyright laws are loosely enforced and rarely followed in China. That's why you can find an abundant of pirated software, music, movies and of course fashion. One of the most popular knock off items is designer handbags. Manufacturers will meticulously copy designs and sell the imitations at a fraction of the price. This Gucci large hobo retails for $1350 USD and you can get a high quality knockoff for around $50 USD. In China, knockoffs are everywhere so that everyone is guessing "is she or isn't she", faking it that is. However, if you bring one back to the US, no one will guess that it's a fake. So now the question is, if only you know it's a fake, would you fake it? My rationale around that is people buy designer bags not for function or really for the style alone. They're status symbols. They're aspirational. The longing is a part of the experience. Buying luxury items is the ultimate retail therapy. Trying to pass off a knockoff as genuine really diminishes how rewarding it feels to own one of these coveted bags. On my trip to China, my cousin gave me a well-made knockoff of this Gucci hobo and I reasoned with myself that I will use this bag in public as a shopping bag and if my friends see it I will tell them it's a fake. That means that strangers will probably think that I'm carrying a real Gucci but I'd be truthful to my friends. So I guess I'll be half fakin' it then?
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I can't believe this is your blog~~I thought you just transfer the blog from other's to your facebook~~ haha ~~anyway~~you are so brave to write this blog here~!
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