WOW, Fair trade, what is this fair trade that you speak of?
There you go something to help with the journey darling...http://www.onefairday.com/2014/05/24/10-reasons-i-love-shopping-fair-trade/
Why Do People Buy Fake Designer Bags Or Fake Designer Anything?
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There you go something to help with the journey darling...http://www.onefairday.com/2014/05/24/10-reasons-i-love-shopping-fair-trade/
Whoa this thread is getting heated! I usually avoid posting in threads like these but the most recent posts have relied heavily on the sort of claims I have to deal with on a daily basis at my university job.
Actually I would say the news articles being quoted are the ones most guilty of making easy causal relationships - The global economic system we are all a part of makes claims that something 'funds terrorism' particularly suspect b/c almost anything can be connected to terrorism once you've decided to make that argument. What is lacking in the articles cited is how significant the connection is - compared to say, oil and drugs, and the many others things that are counterfeited. And when it comes to the big T (terrorism), I find these sorts of articles especially shameless, b/c we have in fact an overabundance of evidence and the need for more robust discussion about political/economic actions that very directly and significantly ended up and still are causing and funding the current terrorism situation. Any argument using terrorism needs to be very carefully thought out and researched with detailed evidence to avoid simplifying the issue and sensationalism.
I also would argue that it is absolutely valid to compare illegal and legal manufacturing, as in China at least, 'super fakes' are often made in factories that are also producing the 'real' thing. Even if the factories are different, previous posters are exactly right in that legal/illegal are both made possible under the same unregulated/poorly regulated system - would a counterfeiting factory/ring be possible in a strictly regulated country? Many of the reasons why legal goods are produced in China/Asia are also why it is possible to produce illegal goods.
But everyone should come to their own conclusions - to that end I offer the fact that the NYT times was an op-ed - the same author wrote the Harper's Bazaar piece and both mention her book on luxury goods that she published around that time period (Dana Thomas). She graduated with B.A. in journalism from American university (wikipedia).
A more recent (2010) article (NYT was 2007, Harper's 2009, her book 2008) by The Telegraph cites a EU-funded study that comes to very different conclusions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...969335/Fake-goods-are-fine-says-EU-study.html
I have not yet been able to find the original study they mention but co-author they quote is David S. Wall, Professor of Criminology and Head of the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University (England).
None of this is an argument for counterfeiting - and honestly I can't imagine what the OP was thinking when posting this is a forum dedicated to purses! But whenever I see someone carrying a knockoff, I'm more saddened by how brand conscious much of society seems to have become and how what you can buy/flaunt seems more and more closely tied to who you are and your value as a person.
Actually I would say the news articles being quoted are the ones most guilty of making easy causal relationships - The global economic system we are all a part of makes claims that something 'funds terrorism' particularly suspect b/c almost anything can be connected to terrorism once you've decided to make that argument. What is lacking in the articles cited is how significant the connection is - compared to say, oil and drugs, and the many others things that are counterfeited. And when it comes to the big T (terrorism), I find these sorts of articles especially shameless, b/c we have in fact an overabundance of evidence and the need for more robust discussion about political/economic actions that very directly and significantly ended up and still are causing and funding the current terrorism situation. Any argument using terrorism needs to be very carefully thought out and researched with detailed evidence to avoid simplifying the issue and sensationalism.
I also would argue that it is absolutely valid to compare illegal and legal manufacturing, as in China at least, 'super fakes' are often made in factories that are also producing the 'real' thing. Even if the factories are different, previous posters are exactly right in that legal/illegal are both made possible under the same unregulated/poorly regulated system - would a counterfeiting factory/ring be possible in a strictly regulated country? Many of the reasons why legal goods are produced in China/Asia are also why it is possible to produce illegal goods.
But everyone should come to their own conclusions - to that end I offer the fact that the NYT times was an op-ed - the same author wrote the Harper's Bazaar piece and both mention her book on luxury goods that she published around that time period (Dana Thomas). She graduated with B.A. in journalism from American university (wikipedia).
A more recent (2010) article (NYT was 2007, Harper's 2009, her book 2008) by The Telegraph cites a EU-funded study that comes to very different conclusions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...969335/Fake-goods-are-fine-says-EU-study.html
I have not yet been able to find the original study they mention but co-author they quote is David S. Wall, Professor of Criminology and Head of the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University (England).
None of this is an argument for counterfeiting - and honestly I can't imagine what the OP was thinking when posting this is a forum dedicated to purses! But whenever I see someone carrying a knockoff, I'm more saddened by how brand conscious much of society seems to have become and how what you can buy/flaunt seems more and more closely tied to who you are and your value as a person.
I don't think I'm casually oversimplifying anything.
1) My post was directed specifically at the comment that a walmart bag was inherently preferable to a fake bag. As a result of the introduction of the specific topic of Walmart, a company known to promote terrible working conditions abroad, I felt it was appropriate to bring up broader issues of production and consumption beyond the scope of counterfeit handbags.
2) You do make a good point about the lost tax revenue in illegal activities. I do wish to point out that Walmart has also engaged in money laundering, bribery and tax evasion as well. But you are correct, they are in fact regulated to some extent, as they are a US company.
3) Obviously, their off-shore production is another matter. Contrary to your assertion above that "legal" and "regulated" clothing/fashion producers in other countries do not promote human trafficking, that is simply untrue ( Even supposedly Fair Trade agreements have been abused). I am not at all convinced that there are marked differences in "legal" and "illegal" practices in many countries that provide our fashion products, including designer handbags, such as the Prada bags that are produced by the Chinese laborers in unregulated factories in Italy referenced in my earlier post. Or this terrifying story of a plea for help found in a Saks Fifth Avenue handbag.
4) You note that "Work environment standards differ across nations due most largely to political, judicial and cultural differences." This is correct, but If you think it's "ethnocentric" to say that it's unacceptable to make any people, regardless of their origins, work in unsafe conditions that resemble what the US was like 100 years ago or worse to make our clothes and handbags, then we'll have to agree to disagree on this point.
5) You claim that "legally" produced goods "do not fund terrorist activities, employ slave labour tactics and fund human and drug trafficking like the production and sales of ALL counterfeit products." Clearly, some legally produced goods, including the high end ones cited above, *are* produced with slave labor tactics and human trafficking. Additionally, while I do NOT endorse organized crime, copyright/trademark infringement, or counterfeiting of any sort, there is some evidence that the extent of the links between terrorism and counterfeiting have been exaggerated by the industries who are harmed by counterfeiting. A 2010 EU funded report even suggests that governments stop wasting their time and $ on policing counterfeit handbags.
If you have evidence that "the production and sales of ALL counterfeit products" fund terrorist activities...and drug trafficking", please share it. I have no doubt that organized crime is tied to these activities, but I tend to be skeptical that "ALL" counterfeit products ever produced anywhere are tied to terrorism and drug trafficking. And as I've shown, human trafficking and slave labor are not confined the the shady world of counterfeits.
Again, I do not believe I am oversimplifying the matter. Indeed, I think when we get hung up on issues of "legal" and "illegal", we may look past the fact that what is "legal" can be as brutal and exploitative as that which is legal. And the fact that we cannot rely on laws or Walmart, or the Gap,or Prada to ensure that people who make our clothes and bags are treated fairly is an even bigger crime in my opinion.
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Thank you for articulating what I was trying to say and citing that EU study. And thank you for pointing out that Dana Thomas is the source for many of the articles discussing the horrible consequences of buying fakes. The reason I got into a broader discussion of manufacturing was in response to the poster who was discussing Walmart handbags. I got into this topic because I think we as consumers tend to gloss over the awful conditions in which many "legal" fashion items and other goods are produced, including some of our authentic handbags.
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I specifically stated Walmart because it is pretty much the only store we have in my god forsaken town and I was using it as a reference. Would it had made any difference if I had compared a fake bag to a bag bought at Target instead?
Let me rephrase my statement.
I would much rather carry a brown paper bag than a counterfeit bag any day.
Is that better?
Let me rephrase my statement.
I would much rather carry a brown paper bag than a counterfeit bag any day.
Is that better?
Everyone knew exactly what you meant - some people like to be facetious, to justify their own poor choices. As if it makes it right to buy counterfeit goods, because even non - counterfeit may, or may not be manufactured in good conditions and why not add a little bit more misery to the world after all? Why not indeed. Even fair trade goods are not always entirely fair, do why not go all the way and support the down right illegal counterfeit trade?
There are those who accept the world the way it is and choose to add more crap to it - and then there are others who strive for positive change. And people can decide who they are and if buying a crappy fake bag is worth it to them. But if they do decide it's worth it, they must not complain if Others choose to stereotype them.
Hi there, sorry going slightly off topic but I have a serious question regarding fake bags.
Shamefully I do own a few fake bags which I bought when I was younger and more foolish, but now I really don't want them anymore for obvious reasons!
Could anyone here please tell me am appropriate way of getting rid of them, for example simply binning them or charity shop...? No idea what to do. Thanks
P.S. I live in the UK if that helps
Shamefully I do own a few fake bags which I bought when I was younger and more foolish, but now I really don't want them anymore for obvious reasons!
Could anyone here please tell me am appropriate way of getting rid of them, for example simply binning them or charity shop...? No idea what to do. Thanks
P.S. I live in the UK if that helps
I think most just buy them because they come across them and think "why not?". Some don't even know what they are, it's just something they bought while on holiday in Asia. I don't know anyone who normally buys designer goods but sometimes gets a fake to "fool" others or because they couldn't afford the real thing. People who wear fakes generally never buy the real thing and you can easily see their bag is fake by looking at the rest of the outfit.
However, people should not justify their designer spending by telling themselves they are doing the right thing and avoiding illegal trade. Plenty of sweatshop items end up in our clothing chain stores, perfectly legal. In fact, some on them may have been produced in much worse conditions than the fakes.
However, people should not justify their designer spending by telling themselves they are doing the right thing and avoiding illegal trade. Plenty of sweatshop items end up in our clothing chain stores, perfectly legal. In fact, some on them may have been produced in much worse conditions than the fakes.
Hi there, sorry going slightly off topic but I have a serious question regarding fake bags.
Shamefully I do own a few fake bags which I bought when I was younger and more foolish, but now I really don't want them anymore for obvious reasons!
Could anyone here please tell me am appropriate way of getting rid of them, for example simply binning them or charity shop...? No idea what to do. Thanks
P.S. I live in the UK if that helps
That's a very good question, though I don't have any good ideas I wonder if anyone else here has....I don't like throwing away something that's usable and I would be reluctant to donate to a charity shop as not sure what the implications are. Anyone else has ideas?
Hi there, sorry going slightly off topic but I have a serious question regarding fake bags.
Shamefully I do own a few fake bags which I bought when I was younger and more foolish, but now I really don't want them anymore for obvious reasons!
Could anyone here please tell me am appropriate way of getting rid of them, for example simply binning them or charity shop...? No idea what to do. Thanks
P.S. I live in the UK if that helps
Are your bags counterfeit or designer inspired? If they're the latter, they should have no hallmarks, insignias, or tags identifying them as the "real" thing. If that's the case, then they can be donated as such. However, if they purport to be actual designer items, then you shouldn't donate them as they would constitute fraud on the part of the charitable institutions selling them. Mistakes of the past are best tossed in the trash and soon forgotten. You'll feel better about yourself and know better in the future.
Best of luck with your decision.
Hi, thanks for your kind answers. And yes, unfortunately it's a fake so you're right, it's best off in the binAre your bags counterfeit or designer inspired? If they're the latter, they should have no hallmarks, insignias, or tags identifying them as the "real" thing. If that's the case, then they can be donated as such. However, if they purport to be actual designer items, then you shouldn't donate them as they would constitute fraud on the part of the charitable institutions selling them. Mistakes of the past are best tossed in the trash and soon forgotten. You'll feel better about yourself and know better in the future.
Best of luck with your decision.
To lady Sarah, I agree it sucks to throw away something that is still useable, but I don't want to get in trouble so I suppose the bin it is... Sigh, what a waste of money that was!
Oh well, lesson learned.
Thanks again
I am not a fan of fakes nor do I think you should donate them to Charity because the Charity may innocently sell them as the real deal. However, I have a big problem with you throwing them in the trash when there are people who do not have handbags and have to carry their things in plastic bags. Put these items in the Free Things section of your local Craigslist. Let them know they are counterfit and arrange to have them picked up at a safe location. If you also know people less privileged, maybe your home cleaner or office cleaner, you can politely offer it to them.