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WEAR A MASK!!!!!!
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Why do holidays when you can extend your impact
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Strongly against - in addition to the above, counterfeits are linked to criminal organizations and atrocious human rights violations. If you’re interested, the book “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster” covers the topic (among others) and is a fascinating read
Absolutely. I’d be more comfortable supporting local artisans by carrying a non branded bag. However I do appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into all of my Hermes bags.
Who cares lmao. These companies hike up their prices and call it craftsmanship. I have a handful of 1:1 reps that are handmade and look just as “real” as anything. Do what feels right for you, and do it without guilt.
Honestly, has a supply chain person, I think Hermes' approached to sustainable/ethical supply chain is relatively robust.
Not saying this is true of every authentic brand. But it's why in particular I will spend money there.
https://finance.hermes.com/en/responsible-sourcing/
Luxury items are a celebration of the fact that you can afford one and/or a reward for your hard work. you’re only fooling yourself with fakes
Good way to condone slavery too.
I am against it. If you don’t want to buy brands, support young designers and buy something authentic.
There is little to no regulation of the replica market and major human rights issues in the supply chain. This is also a problem with many mainstream brands but their data is more accessible, so it’s easier to be an informed shopper. The resale market is growing significantly and if you really want a specific luxury item, it is possible to find it used for less than full retail. Plus what A1 mentioned in terms of making a statement...
I buy Hermes because I want quality and the long-term service on the bag, no reason for me to buy a fake.
Visual Storyteller
Not speaking about the ethics of such, but from a consumer perspective, i wouldn’t wear them because it will give off a false impression to people that i am richer than i am, and that makes me uncomfortable. Unless i could easily afford the real thing, wearing a bag that i cannot afford would make me super self conscious. I look young so carrying a 10K bag wouldn’t match my vibe.
A lot of rich ppl buy both authentic and reps. They honestly don’t care. And tbh, our society is looks above riches. If you are good looking and have charisma, great presence, even if you wear a fake ppl will think it is real. If you have a poor appearance, poorly shaped, etc carrying an Hermes alligator would lead to ppl thinking you’re wearing a knockoff.
I feel like luxury has been destroyed by social media. Decades ago, only the wealthy class would carry luxury. Now, because of our exposure to these ppl through social media, we want to be more like them, to have their things, and we save up a month of salary for an item that is supposed to act as a function to carry our stuff. That’s not what luxury is supposed to be. To the original target customers, they can easily pick up a luxury item like we buy a bathrobe. And after coming back from Paris, I realized that a chanel bag looks better on a middle aged, sophisticated women than a 18 yr old influencer.
This would be an unpopular opinion, but in conclusion, from a consumer perspective, i would only be comfortable carrying reps if i could actually afford the real thing.
Also, let me just add that I have not purchased a fake! But I’ve gone down the Reddit black hole of how to obtain one, their comparisons to auth, etc and was surprised at what a thriving community it is and how different from the Canal street image I had in my mind from childhood trips to NYC.
Totally! Regardless of one’s view, the industry has certainly evolved 😅
Why? You can get quality nonluxury bags. Why put on a front?
Against: replicas aren't going to get things 100% right. Many of these luxury items have a lot of thought put into every detail of design and a rep manufacturer can't possibly catch all those little tidbits.
I've actually compared my Cartier watch, for instance, against a "high-quality" fake and could definitely spot some key differences, and the authentic is absolutely superior in every day especially in the finer points. That said, YMMV based on product type and all.
Are you interested in quality or the name? If you want quality then by the real thing. If you just want the name then get the fake. At the end of the day it’s your preference. For me I’m about quality regardless of name and I would rather put my money on something that I can proudly wear. Just know that if someone realizes you’re carrying a fake regardless if all other bags are real you’re now seen in their eyes as a fake bag carrier.