When You Can’t Fake It

I spend a significant amount online monitoring fashion trends and new startups. I’ve noticed an increase of Asian online stores selling designer replica products. One of those website descriptions reads:

 “… is an online shopping destination that you need to bookmark and visit again and again. Our mission is to bring heart to commerce and become the better origin of fashion inspiration. Inspire and be inspired by cool girls the world over.

Here are the hottest single product recommendation, the fabulous treasure to share, come visit the baby, and love with beautiful people found the fashion, sharing fashion, looking for fashion to catch up with the trend; share the shopping experience, record your fashion diary, practicing fashion and beautiful heart Sutra, do the most beautiful.”

A better origin of fashion?!

First of all, that company can claim no authenticity. These are shameless replicas of top world designers, such as Valentino, Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen and many others. Second, the website is full of grammatical errors, which make me cringe. What a sign of unprofessionalism and ignorance. Finally, I’ve noticed that the company targets fashion bloggers and social networks for fashion enthusiasts from all over the world. The exposure to all of this is like the spread of an unpreventable virus.

I have always been against replicas. The top designers and world-recognizable brands invest a tremendous amount of time and effort to build their brands and reputations.  They typically have a long history and passion for design at the core of their name (brand). I respect that.

My message for the customer: first, you don’t have to spend a tremendous amount of money to experience the design of luxury brands. There is a reason that famous designers collaborate with other retailers, such as H&M, Macy’s, Target, etc.  If you purchase a replica, you only show ignorance, lack of taste and disrespect for designers.

My message to fashion bloggers: Would you buy fake apparel just to get your name out there?

If so, your choices are not sustainable in the long run.  If you are thinking of a long-term career as a stylist or fashion blogger, support the designers and learn as much as possible about them, including the personalities of their brands, as well as their histories.