Major Handbag Copying at Forever 21

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#31
I don't think a handbag has to be expensive to be interesting. But I don't think chains like Forever 21 etc need to copy designer bags so closely; just under the radar really. It is interesting as one poster said, that many of the customers who shop there don't even know what the real bag looks like anyway. The importers have gotten so quick at knocking off popular items that I'm sure they contact these chains with the latest 'it bag" copies.

I buy and sell alot of lesser expensive bags in the $50-$100 range and they are full of style-you wouldn't know they are made of 'vegan leather' unless you looked closely at them. There are lots of inspired styles that aren't 'almost knockoffs'. You can find many of these bags in smaller boutiques with affordable price points.

People have different priorities, and some of us just like designer bags-it doesn't mean we are snotty or turn down our noses at those with other opinions.
 
#32
Thandie said:
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.
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You're right, Thandie.
A few years ago, in the UAE, I saw a copy of Vanessa Bruno's Lune bag at Aldo.
I am sure 99% of the ladies shopping there had never heard of the original bag.In France, very few people know the brand.....let alone the rest of the world.....
 
#33
thandie said:
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.
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+1
 
#35
In all honesty, the people purchasing the Forever 21 bags were probably not going to buy the "real" thing. That's the F21 customer base. I've seen the bags in person, and the quality is not there. Those that buy them probably don't care anyway. Would I buy it? No. I have gotten to an age where I only want leather or suede handbags. Will I ever look down on someone who does? Never. Right now, I'm carrying a brown suede bag from J. Crew when I have far more expensive bags that I could be using.
 
#36
Thandie said:
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.
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That was me when I bought a bag from aldo that had the Alma shape. It's actually the reason how I found this site as I loved the shape so much I tried to find one that would last me more than a season. Sadly the Alma is way out of my price range for now but when I can buy it I more than likely will. I think of the Aldo bag as a test run to see if I like the shape/design and if it is functional for me.
Many of my friends buy from Aldo/H&M/F21 because they want to stay on trend without blowing a ton of money on a designer bag they will get bored with. I consider this better than them buying knockoffs and faking that they can afford the designer.
 
#37
elisian said:
For me, the ideal case would be that "downmarket"/lower-end consumers would turn to pre-loved/vintage items instead of fast fashion.
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Interesting thought. But it occurs to me that some people don't like used items. For example, although I'm not a "downmarket"/lower-end consumer, I generally think used items are disgusting (especially when the used item in question is a hand-carry bag with a good possibility of having been set down on a floor; I'm floor-purse phobic). I can also see where one might feel degraded by having to wear others' cast-offs to attain the look they want. Lastly, used, err, I mean "pre-loved/vintage" bags generally aren't available in current trendy styles for a substantial enough discount for the population you're referring to. A new, $20 knock-off of an it bag is more affordable and attractive to these ladies than a ten year old, (to them) out of style, "pre-loved/vintage" $1,000 bag.

There may not be a simple solution to the perceived fast fashion problem, except to live and let live. :smile1:
 
#38
Thandie said:
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.
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I have to agree. Before I got interested I would never have known about designer inspired or copies or anything along those lines. I walked in - saw - liked and bought for a reasonable price.
 
#40
#41
pandorabox said:
I have to agree. Before I got interested I would never have known about designer inspired or copies or anything along those lines. I walked in - saw - liked and bought for a reasonable price.
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Me too - I was over 50 before I was 'interested' in purses - before that I bought one $30-$50 purse at at time and used it until it wore out. Chose one because it was comfortable to carry and held the amount of stuff I needed it to - fashion never entered into my choices, it was just something to carry my stuff in.

I'm not bothered by 'inspired' items - there are only so many shapes/styles possible and obviously there will be some overlap - as long as they aren't 'fake' (with an actual LV or Chanel logo or whatever).

The one thing I will say in favour of more expensive (and by that I only mean $250-$500 range) is they do last longer so there is less damage (garbage piling up) to the environment. One of my $300 Coach bags recently wore out after over five years, in that time I would have gone through at least a dozen $30-$50 bags.
 
#42
tiggycat said:
Me too - I was over 50 before I was 'interested' in purses - before that I bought one $30-$50 purse at at time and used it until it wore out. Chose one because it was comfortable to carry and held the amount of stuff I needed it to - fashion never entered into my choices, it was just something to carry my stuff in.

I'm not bothered by 'inspired' items - there are only so many shapes/styles possible and obviously there will be some overlap - as long as they aren't 'fake' (with an actual LV or Chanel logo or whatever).

The one thing I will say in favour of more expensive (and by that I only mean $250-$500 range) is they do last longer so there is less damage (garbage piling up) to the environment. One of my $300 Coach bags recently wore out after over five years, in that time I would have gone through at least a dozen $30-$50 bags.
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I can SO relate to this and agree 100%!
 
#43
tiggycat said:
Me too - I was over 50 before I was 'interested' in purses - before that I bought one $30-$50 purse at at time and used it until it wore out. Chose one because it was comfortable to carry and held the amount of stuff I needed it to - fashion never entered into my choices, it was just something to carry my stuff in.

I'm not bothered by 'inspired' items - there are only so many shapes/styles possible and obviously there will be some overlap - as long as they aren't 'fake' (with an actual LV or Chanel logo or whatever).

The one thing I will say in favour of more expensive (and by that I only mean $250-$500 range) is they do last longer so there is less damage (garbage piling up) to the environment. One of my $300 Coach bags recently wore out after over five years, in that time I would have gone through at least a dozen $30-$50 bags.
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:goodpost::goodpost: I agree with everything you say especially true the impact on our environment : http://www.theguardian.com/environm...ption-environment-relationships-annie-leonard
 
#44
elisian said:
FYI - to the original F21 topic - the fake Flamma bucket is sold out, and eBay resellers are charging hilarious prices given it's not just not a MG, it's F21-quality pleather.

Already bid up to over $50: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Forever-21-...606?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item1e956528a6

But you can buy it now for $250! ;) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Forever-21-...296?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item1e956a01a0
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There are actually 9 people watching this, I wonder what they think they are getting?
 
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