Sick of fake bags

I normally see a fake Chanel handbag (see photo) maybe twice a month at most. Out of the Chanel fakes I see, I would say that 100 per cent of them are the quilted Cambon with the large double Cs. This bag is really popular because it has a classic design but most women love it because of the brand recognition. You can spot the Cs a mile away.

But when you're a bag lover like me, who notices when bags are faux, it can get irritating. This morning I saw four fake Chanel Cambons; a small squishy black one, a red one (Chanel never made Cambons in red), a white Cambon with obvious plastic handles and another black one that looked like it was melting. It was awful.

I own the real Cambon and it's a beautiful bag; soft black calfskin leather in a quilted pattern (a Chanel trademark), long knotted leather handles, white interlocking Cs and the fuchsia interior.

It bothers me that these women don't know where fake bags come from and worse, don't care. They care about brand recognition; by being seen with a Chanel bag they have status and are seen as being "rich" and having taste.

But fake bags are the worst; not only are they made by children who work in deplorable conditions, but the sales of fakes are known to contribute to terrorist groups. If you want a nice handbag but can't afford a real designer bag, don't buy a fake.

There are so many options: Go to a consignment store where they sell designer clothes and accessories for almost half off; shop at stores such as Banana Republic which carry their own quality bags, go to a boutique to get a handmade, unique bag or you can try your luck on EBay (just make sure to get it authenticated on the Purse Forum.)

Even if you don't care about any of this and still want to buy a fake bag, consider this: People can always tell when you're wearing a fake and it makes you look ignorant. They look plastic. the seams fall apart and the material is crappy. In short, they look like garbage. Do you want to wear garbage? Didn't think so.

Buying fake bags

Last week a friend of mine pointed out the news event that EBay had to pay luxury company LVMH Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy $61M for selling fake luxury items. She then asked me where she could find fake bags. I wasn't up to preaching/ranting to her about why she shouldn't buy counterfeit bags so I told her "Try Pacific Mall....or Chinatown."
Yesterday I read an article in the Toronto Star about the repercussions of counterfeit goods and how much of the world's fake goods are made my children in abhorrent conditions. The article quotes fashion journalist Dana Thomas in her book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster, a book that I have and recommend to anyone who is either into luxury goods or who has thought of buying a fake purse. So friend (you know who you are!), if you are reading this post, let me tell you now what I should have told you last week: Don't buy a fake bag!!
Here is why:

1. Young children, from as young as eight years old, are sent to factories to build counterfeit goods. They are exposed to harsh conditions such as breathing in acrid glue fumes, long work hours and barely any pay.

2. It has been proven that there is a link between the sale of counterfeit goods and terrorist activities. Police in the States believe that sales of fake bags, t-shirts and glasses in New York City directly funded the al-Qaida and could have helped fund the Sept. 11 attacks.

3. Related to #2, the sale of fake goods funds criminal activities. Mafia groups in New York City, China and around the world run counterfeit sales and use the profits to fund their illegal and deadly activities.

I understand why women want to buy fake bags; They are a lot cheaper than the real thing and there are plenty of convenient places to buy them whether in the city or on the internet. The real reason I think women buy fake bags is that they don't think they are hurting anybody. Well ladies (and the men who shop for ladies), you are hurting people. So if you can't afford the real deal, there are other options. Buy a non-designer bag. There are lots of cute REAL bags at stores like Guess?, Banana Republic, Old Navy, the Gap and Forever21. Or take a walk down Queen St. W. and look for some cool vintage purses. Just don't buy a fake purse.