Sara Goldstein (formerly known as the Bargain Queen from Down Under) has written a guest blog about Australian counterfeit bags.
The Budget Fashionista posed an intriguing question to me a couple of days back: Is the fake bag craze an American phenomenon?
Sydney Fake Bags
It’s not. I am one of the very few Australian fashion bloggers. Fake purses can be seen everywhere in Sydney, my home city. There are many Australian-made fake purses around the town. They can be seen on everyone’s arms, from office workers and schoolgirls wearing tracksuits to city women in tracksuits (perhaps just leaving the gym …)
In Australia, the most common fake is a bad one – a smelly PVC Louis Vuitton or Chanel with badly laid out monograms. You can also find the odd worn out black nylon “Prada” with fraying stitching.
There are so few top quality replicas on Sydney’s streets that I can safely say they’re not many.
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Fun with fake bags
While I was young, I enjoyed wearing replica designer clothing. The availability of replicas allowed me to try every look I wanted — princess one day and rock chick the next. I also had a Diesel-look shirt when I was feeling more punk.
Designer items were not an option for me at that time, partly because of my lack of money and also because it was difficult to buy something durable that would last years.
My youthful misdemeanors are not something I regret. My experimentation with fake designer products helped me to develop the taste I now have for the real designer goods that I wear today. And when I can afford to buy them, I often give the benefit to the brands who made the faux items I wore.
Say no to fakes
While I love the look of faux bags worn by young girls, I strongly disagree that they should be worn by older women. The issue is not age. When fashion stops being a fun way to experiment and starts becoming a statement of your personality, it’s time for a change in attitude.
When I was a girl, wearing a replica Gucci timepiece and not pretending it to be anything else did not bother me. When I compared fake watches with my friends, they would say things like, “That’s an amazing copy. It doesn’t even mention Gucky!”
Dismissing delusions
It’s been my misfortune to discuss fakes with women over 50 who are convinced that their plastic Chanel bag with its uneven stitching, and poorly constructed handles, is real. You can’t explain that Chanel bags are not manufactured in China and don’t drop off trucks. It’s also unlikely that anything is made in the Chanel factory using pleather.
Australians’ views on fake bags
What do the other Australians have to say about fake bags? There is a range of opinion, and I cannot speak for all. Some people think that all counterfeits are bad. It is usually the woman who bought real Louis Vuitton but hates to see a hundred replicas of the bag whenever she leaves her house.
Some people think that designers just want attention and should feel flattered when people wear their creations (even though they do not pay for it). It’s an issue that sparks heated debates in fashion circles; but to the average person, it may seem silly.
Purchase what you enjoy
The lesson here is to purchase what you want without thinking about what other people will say.
Some people will admire your taste and envy you for buying an expensive bag. Others will consider you insane for paying that much money on a handbag. Some people may think it’s a good deal to wear a replica, while others might see it as an offense.
Don’t be fooled by the price tag and the bag’s logo.