Not just F21, I also saw Mango, Aldo, Roxy, Dorothy Perkins etc. Actually I do think it is wrong. Very close imitations do kind of irk fans of the being copied designers. But I personally don't mind at all, it doesn't bother me.
Major Handbag Copying at Forever 21
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This isn't news, as others have said. High end designs "trickle down" to low end chains so that masses can afford them. I think the difference is that now, the copies look "better" or more realistic - of course, when you touch it or see it in person, you know the difference - but based on these pics alone, those are pretty darn good imitations.
On behalf of the great unwashed, I have to ask what bags do you want moderate/ lower income women to carry? Forever 21 and their ilk are no threat to premier design houses. Faux fur and zirconium aren't to be confused with real fur or diamonds. The same is true for luxury bags. The real shame is that so many moderately priced contemporary designers go unnoticed while knockoffs thrive. I carry my Franco Sartos with all the pride many of you reserve for your premier designer bags. The same is true for my London Fog bags. But then, I don't aspire to be a fashionista which is precisely the clientele Forever 21 etc. hope to attract.
I agree with this. MUCH better option than counterfeits. My only concern is that fast fashion doesn't offer the quality that makes things last - very wasteful in terms of resources. Iam not familiar with ethical policies of forever 21- do they have minimum wages in place and trace their supply chain?
This is my biggest problem when buying handbags. Because I don't have the budget for designer bags, I have to shop at regular stores - but all I can find are almost exact replica's of designer bags, minus the logo. I wish there were places where I could find new, original designs at a low price.
Exactly.
I haven't owned designer bags my whole life. And, still, there are situations where I require less conspicuous bags.
I search department store sales, or stores as TJ Maxx. Fossil has been a favorite--frye & london fog have nice designs, too.
I think these copies gives retailers a "free pass" not to offer affordable quality, original products to women who want them.
But, as mentioned above, these copies /this store target a specific customer mindset.
Personally, I 'd rather be true to myself & where I am in my journey--carrying bags which reflect that.
It's something I admire in others here, especially on "pinch penny island."
Good point about the wage issue. I'm not a fan of fast fashion either, but def. better than counterfeits.
Try etsy. There are lots of people making cute, affordable bags and lots folks selling well-made vintage bags at good prices.
Interestingly, though it does bother the people who pay for the high-end bags, it doesn't seem to bother the designers. Here's a quote from Marc Jacobs:
"To me, it's the greatest compliment. Even when I see a copy, something that's inspired by something I've done, it's a rewarding feeling. Because that's why I do what I do. It was never my desire to revolutionize fashion, to make clothes that could be in a museum. I want to create clothes that have a certain style, but I want to see them used. I want to see people enjoy the things I've made."
http://www.teenvogue.com/careers/fashion-careers/2009-10/teen-vogue-handbook-marc-jacobs
Honestly, I can't understand why the fangirls and fanboys get so upset. If it's not one's own design being ripped off and it's not illegal, I'm not sure why someone would care whether Aldo, Mango, etc. copy high end designers. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
it is a shame that cheap knockoffs thrive, but if they are not illegal its a better option that counterfeits. I think fast fashion is begining to be unfashionable though, if that makes sense. A blessing for us all...I agree. Fashion takes inspirations from one another all the time. Almost all designers have some sort of zip around wallets or basic pumps or clutch. As long as it isn't a replica (using the same logo) it isn't harming anyone. If you get upset because some people are carrying cheaper inspirations of your bag/wallets etc, then you need to think of the real reason behind your purchase: Is it the name on it or it is the style?
Sometimes I find the inspirations are better than the originals like an added zipper or extra pockets or offering more color choices.
MK has taken a lot of heat for his bags but he is a business man and knows what people want. BTW some of the premier brands have been caught copying the lesser (indie) brands.
This is an interesting thread.
A lot of the people who buy these bags from Aldo and F21 have no idea that they are purchasing designer inspired bags. Not everyone is as obsessed with handbags as we are on this forum. Not everyone knows all the designs from the different houses. They see a nice affordable handbag and purchase it. It's really as simple as that.
A lot of the people who buy these bags from Aldo and F21 have no idea that they are purchasing designer inspired bags. Not everyone is as obsessed with handbags as we are on this forum. Not everyone knows all the designs from the different houses. They see a nice affordable handbag and purchase it. It's really as simple as that.
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All i would like to say is: fast fashion has destroyed women's professional dress habits and in today's corporate PC environment, attire is not as enforced. Please stop wearing leggings as work pants, please! /rant over.
Excellent point. Who but the handbag and/or fashion obsessed would know what a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag was?
Very true! But, I think people attracted to a Chanel 2.55 flap are much more likely to target it because it looks like the Chanel, than because it's an objectively lovely bag... it is not. It's a pretty bag, but not, like, so objectively amazing that many would buy it for the "look" without knowing the brand.
I think it's a shame that handbags are as much a status item as they are. "Fashion" appeals to me as a form of wearable art, taking our human focus on beauty and redirecting it toward crafted objects instead of pure sexual attractiveness. I find it exhausting and vulgar when it's about logos or exclusivity. So I don't find it problematic that so many brands have adapted Hermes' locks or Chanel's quilting.
What does kind of suck about this sort of almost-copying (not counterfeiting) is that over time it means the style of high-end, coveted designs is "diluted." We see a lot of crappy quilted bags and bags with locks, and suddenly the "real thing" (of high quality) is less impressive. This is how fashion evolves, sure. The downside to fashion evolving like this is... it makes older, copied designs "obsolete," so people feel the need to buy new ones.
For me, the ideal case would be that "downmarket"/lower-end consumers would turn to pre-loved/vintage items instead of fast fashion. But I am all for cheap, high-quality goods -- which do exist, believe it or not. Most of the cost of designer bags is marketing; it's very possible to bring beautiful designs in high-quality real and artificial leather to market under $100. It just maybe isn't possible at $15.