Fakes are Never in Fashion

Call me a snob. I don't care... But fakes are a serious fashion faux-pas. While the unassuming little booths on Canal Street may seem like a tourist destination, they are in fact illegal. In France, tourists carrying counterfeit goods risk up to three years in jail, and the rules in the U.S. are getting more stringent every year. The sale of these counterfeit goods fund organized crime, drug cartels, child labor and even terrorism.
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Not only do the purchase of fakes raise questions of legality and morality, but it is incredibly disrepectful to the designers and manufacturers that spend hours upon hours to create unique and quality luxury goods. These handbags and watches cost lots of money because they cost lots money to make. The time and material that goes into one singular Gucci or Hermes bag is extensive. And because they are made by craftsman in Italy, as opposed to sweatshops in China, you know you are getting a product made according to the strictest union rules, and a product that (usually) comes with a lifetime guarantee.


And plus, they are just plain tacky! Can't afford the real thing? Then why pretend you are something you aren't. There are sooooo many incredibly cute options out there. And if you have a great sense of style, no one will care if you don't have the latest YSL handbag on your shoulder, or atleast they shouldn't. If they do, then maybe you need some new friends.
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For more information on how to spot fakes, news articles, and even a competition that enters you in a $1,000 shopping spree if you turn in your fake, go to Harper's Bazaar: Fakes are Never in Fashion.