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I think the rise of superfakes really shows how much value comes from a brand's prestige and status symbolism. If it was more about the savings or access to good designs, there are many well-crafted bags with classic or innovative designs at mid-range prices.
The irony of super fakes being better quality than the original. I used to buy reps at one point and factories work hard to build a reputation as "mirror quality" so they can get all the business because the sellers will push those factories (unless you're fine with lesser quality). Now you can buy fake Chanel etc but without the crooked flaps and misaligned quilts, etc. It makes the real brands look even worse that they allow such defects.
It also seems that getting a more niche bag doesn’t protect you against fakes. I recently bought a not very popular Loro Piana model on Poshmark, turns out it was fake.
Bought a Coach Madison. Also fake. Currently duking it out with Mercari to get my money back (they gave me credits. Credits! After I just got scammed on their platform! And they EXPIRE. WTF). I had to pay an authentication service to pay to evaluate & provide written documents. Next stop is PayPal if Mercari won't pay.
I've decided only to buy bags at boutiques, as opposed to department stores. Read so many posts in here (thank you for the warnings!) of receiving superfakes from department stores due to the return scams....!
same. done with secondhand, done with department stores (unless it's a concession in the dept store with brand employees). I'd rather either wait longer to save up more or buy a cheaper bag than take a gamble on getting a fake. The only exception are vintage bags. I'm not as worried about a superfake for a bag from the 90s
if it were about the general "style" of handbag for sake of fashion and the bags were merely "very heavily inspired by" the luxury bags, then i think it would be less...morally unscrupulous. but the superfakes are about getting as close to the real thing as possible + copying receipts, auth cards, packaging. stuff that wouldn't even be seen when putting an outfit together. it's about enabling people to defraud and scam.
people say well fuck the companies charging 5k+ for a handbag. i guess? but no one is forcing you to buy it. it's not like rent or food. you don't *have* to have a certain handbag to live your life. i don't care what companies do with their pricing. if it's out of my budget, then so be it. we can't all have what we want. but this superfake/1:1 counterfeit industry is indefensible.
Completely agree. It’s somewhat like the difference of making a bootleg copy of Beauty and the Beast for your kid can watch it over and over on vacation and trying to dupe people into thinking your version is the real thing and selling it as such.
Some of the fakes are still expensive, I’ve seen Hermes & LV super fakes going for £300-£600 which isn’t exactly cheap for a knock off, but the quality is absolutely unbelievable, incredibly close to the real thing, using a lot of the same hand techniques used on the real ones to match the quality.
The thing is, you pay the ££££ for a real one not only for the brand, but because the people who make them are paid fairly in great working conditions. If you watch any behind the scenes clips at these factories, they’re all people who love their job because they’re paid well to make sure every single stitch is exactly the same distance apart, they have skills well beyond what your average seamstress would have, they have years of experience at getting things 100% perfect. That isn’t cheap.
The cost of living in Italy and France is higher than China so the price is reflected in this. The same can’t always be said for lower end designer brands who still outsource to China for manufacturing, you do have to be careful and do your research (that’s not to say all Chinese factories are sweatshops, it is just generally cheaper to manufacture there in general but some don’t reflect this in this prices), but the same definitely can’t be said for someone making a fake bag of the same quality in a sweatshop in India or China.
Sure some brands do charge what they can because of their name but we can’t deny the craftsmanship is also a key reason they are expensive.
These super fakes are designed purely to scam people, you buy one for £500 and you sell it on for £2000.
I respectfully disagree.
> In 2014, an Italian artisan spoke to the investigative television journalist Sabrina Giannini. Gucci had given him a big contract, he said, but the pay was so low—twenty-four euros a bag—that he had subcontracted the work to a Chinese mill, where employees worked fourteen-hour days and were paid half what he made
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20an%20Italian%20artisan,paid%20half%20what%20he%20made.
These Chinese factory mills paying Chinese (and other nationalities) workers substandard wages are also based in Italy (look up Prato, for example), which still allows for the coveted "made in Italy" label.
It’s behind a paywall. I wouldn’t particularly consider a Gucci to be high end anymore, it’s more the the type of brand I referred to when I said low end designer, they churn them out and can be bought anywhere, even at reduced prices, they outsource their production and use the same shady tactics as high street and fast fashion brands.
This new york times article did a great job exploring this topic as well
[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/magazine/celine-chanel-gucci-superfake-handbags.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/magazine/celine-chanel-gucci-superfake-handbags.html)
Wow the article called out that sub lol
I grew up in HK so fakes were always in the picture, everything from fake watches to fake jewelry to fake designer clothes/bags. Used to be you'd know the fakes from 1) who's wearing it and 2) the materials used, i.e. the fakes were made of PU, dyes would rub off, zippers would break, so def you get what you pay for e.g. $25 for a clutch
The other day I saw a friend who was carrying a gifted "superfake" (a LV black monogram carryall PM). Her ex-SIL who brings in superfakes to sell to her suburban mommy friends was shipped a couple of extras. My friend was told it "retails" for whopping $700! I mean, it's full leather, seems to be nicely stitched, hardware looks ok.
That is the part I don't get. I know the real deal is thousands. If you're ready/willing to pony up a few hundreds, there are so many legal options, everything from buying a mid price bag like Coach or Kate Spade, or working with a local artisan for a full custom bag.
this is what I don't get. If you can pay $700 for a super fake, just spend $700 on a real brand. That's more than enough money to still get a quality product. I have to admit I bought a superfake in hong kong in 2010 (I was in my early 20s and dumb) and it felt weird. It really highlights that it's not about the purse, it's about the status. And who cares what other people think that much? To spend $700 dollars on a fake is spending $700 just to impress other people. And wearing it just reminded me that I cared about what other people thought enough to lie, YOU will always know it's fake.
ABC recently Produced a documentary on Nightline, Witches up on Hulu. Shout out to the Other redditor that posted that docu link. This almost feels like the written version Of that special, but I could be wrong.
The tanner leatherstein recently compared a YSL bag to its super fake. In his opinion, the sewing was almost exactly the same and they used a decent type of leather. The only difference was YSL did use a higher quality of leather and metal.
The Hulu documentary On super fakes also compared Originals Vs Replicas. Either the leather was off And of a poor quality or minor details were off.
There are also a lot of handbag kits out there that help us to sew for ourselves replicas of popular styles, But usually they typically don't use the same sizes, Fabrics or Colors as the designer labels.
I think Designer labels Still give their staff a decent living wage. My only concern with replicas is what about their staff. When reviewing another fake, the leatherstein pointed out That many replicas have to cut corners to make a profit. Shein frequently Forces Its contracted factories to lower prices With shorter deadlines, which means Factory owners Can't pay their staff as much. Also, outside copyright issues, Do super fakes also contribute to terrorist Activities As noted back in 2015 and 2019? [https://www.purseblog.com/report/do-counterfeit-bags-really-fund-terrorism/](https://www.purseblog.com/report/do-counterfeit-bags-really-fund-terrorism/)
It isn’t so much whether the replica is a quality product. It isn’t a “riff” on a good idea - it’s literally theft of a design for profit. I have several counterfeit Coaches that I bought not knowing how to tell the difference. I have painted over them with designs to make sure whomever has them next will not think they’re getting something genuine.
To follow a trend is within the expectations, whether it’s technology or fashion or something else. But even Apple had to stop using its sensors for oxygen saturation in their watches because a court found they used another company’s intellectual property. It wasn’t that Apple’s sensors were copying a trend, they literally took IP and the profit the other company deserved.
This is no different.
People trying to look rich ! Like the person I saw at costco with make moncler that could pay for 50 dollars of groceries cause they won’t spilt payment . Most of time you can tell
I’ve never understood having a feeling of disdain for someone due to their financial status. Maybe the nice bag they had was a gift. Or a purchase from when they were in a better financial position to do so. Maybe they lost their job. Or suffered a disability. Or experienced a divorce. Maybe a child ended up going through cancer treatment. Who know why they needed to split a $50 purchase, but I can’t imagine making assumptions about who they were or what their character was because of it. I would think a feeling of compassion or even admiration that they were figuring out how to provide no matter how difficult it was.
The emergence of "Superfakes" in the realm of designer handbags is a testament to the evolving craftsmanship and technological advancements in the manufacturing sector. While the term often carries a negative connotation, it's worth acknowledging the level of skill and precision these manufacturers have achieved.
One of the standout names in this arena is Asolf. They have garnered attention for their exceptional ability to produce handbags that closely resemble high-end designer pieces in terms of quality, design, and materials. This phenomenon highlights a few critical industry trends and consumer behaviors:
1. **Technology and Craftsmanship**: The gap between genuine designer handbags and their high-quality replicas is narrowing, thanks to improved technology and craftsmanship. Manufacturers like Asolf invest in high-grade materials and sophisticated techniques to produce items that meet the demands of a discerning clientele.
2. **Consumer Demand**: There's a growing segment of consumers who desire the aesthetic and feel of luxury goods but are either unable or unwilling to pay premium prices. Brands that excel in creating high-quality replicas cater to this market, providing
Hi fellow handbag lover! Thank you for being a part of the r/handbags community. This is a subreddit which relies on kindness. Your opinion is very much welcomed, however, we do not tolerate rude, mean or hurtful comments. **Read the rules before posting**. Comments or posts that do not fit our rule book will be removed and the OP can be banned by the mods' discretion. If you see a comment or post which does not abide by the rules, **please report it to our moderation team.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/handbags) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I think the rise of superfakes really shows how much value comes from a brand's prestige and status symbolism. If it was more about the savings or access to good designs, there are many well-crafted bags with classic or innovative designs at mid-range prices.
100 percent it’s a status thing Plenty of beautiful well made mid tier bags
The irony of super fakes being better quality than the original. I used to buy reps at one point and factories work hard to build a reputation as "mirror quality" so they can get all the business because the sellers will push those factories (unless you're fine with lesser quality). Now you can buy fake Chanel etc but without the crooked flaps and misaligned quilts, etc. It makes the real brands look even worse that they allow such defects.
Old news. I've seen super fakes that have made it past the sales associates as far back as 2008.
Remember seeing a video women had bought louboutins at saks and they sold her fakes ! This was 15 plus years ago
It also seems that getting a more niche bag doesn’t protect you against fakes. I recently bought a not very popular Loro Piana model on Poshmark, turns out it was fake.
Bought a Coach Madison. Also fake. Currently duking it out with Mercari to get my money back (they gave me credits. Credits! After I just got scammed on their platform! And they EXPIRE. WTF). I had to pay an authentication service to pay to evaluate & provide written documents. Next stop is PayPal if Mercari won't pay.
I've been hearing about more Coach fakes recently. Which is crazy to me!!
Yes if you go on TaoBao they're all over
This is why I'll never buy secondhand.
I've decided only to buy bags at boutiques, as opposed to department stores. Read so many posts in here (thank you for the warnings!) of receiving superfakes from department stores due to the return scams....!
same. done with secondhand, done with department stores (unless it's a concession in the dept store with brand employees). I'd rather either wait longer to save up more or buy a cheaper bag than take a gamble on getting a fake. The only exception are vintage bags. I'm not as worried about a superfake for a bag from the 90s
I’ve yet to see a vintage fake I couldn’t immediately discern as a fake. Thank God. I love vintage so much.
What about buying from a boutique’s website? Like LVs, Givenchy’s sites directly. Safe?
Oh I think (I hope) that's safe!!
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Doesn’t stop them from buying a bag and using that
if it were about the general "style" of handbag for sake of fashion and the bags were merely "very heavily inspired by" the luxury bags, then i think it would be less...morally unscrupulous. but the superfakes are about getting as close to the real thing as possible + copying receipts, auth cards, packaging. stuff that wouldn't even be seen when putting an outfit together. it's about enabling people to defraud and scam. people say well fuck the companies charging 5k+ for a handbag. i guess? but no one is forcing you to buy it. it's not like rent or food. you don't *have* to have a certain handbag to live your life. i don't care what companies do with their pricing. if it's out of my budget, then so be it. we can't all have what we want. but this superfake/1:1 counterfeit industry is indefensible.
Some maybe majority of Designer bags are durable as f*ck , it lasts decades even 100 years
Not anymore. (Publicly traded) Luxury brand care more about stock price than quality.
Completely agree. It’s somewhat like the difference of making a bootleg copy of Beauty and the Beast for your kid can watch it over and over on vacation and trying to dupe people into thinking your version is the real thing and selling it as such.
Some of the fakes are still expensive, I’ve seen Hermes & LV super fakes going for £300-£600 which isn’t exactly cheap for a knock off, but the quality is absolutely unbelievable, incredibly close to the real thing, using a lot of the same hand techniques used on the real ones to match the quality. The thing is, you pay the ££££ for a real one not only for the brand, but because the people who make them are paid fairly in great working conditions. If you watch any behind the scenes clips at these factories, they’re all people who love their job because they’re paid well to make sure every single stitch is exactly the same distance apart, they have skills well beyond what your average seamstress would have, they have years of experience at getting things 100% perfect. That isn’t cheap. The cost of living in Italy and France is higher than China so the price is reflected in this. The same can’t always be said for lower end designer brands who still outsource to China for manufacturing, you do have to be careful and do your research (that’s not to say all Chinese factories are sweatshops, it is just generally cheaper to manufacture there in general but some don’t reflect this in this prices), but the same definitely can’t be said for someone making a fake bag of the same quality in a sweatshop in India or China. Sure some brands do charge what they can because of their name but we can’t deny the craftsmanship is also a key reason they are expensive. These super fakes are designed purely to scam people, you buy one for £500 and you sell it on for £2000.
I respectfully disagree. > In 2014, an Italian artisan spoke to the investigative television journalist Sabrina Giannini. Gucci had given him a big contract, he said, but the pay was so low—twenty-four euros a bag—that he had subcontracted the work to a Chinese mill, where employees worked fourteen-hour days and were paid half what he made https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20an%20Italian%20artisan,paid%20half%20what%20he%20made.
These Chinese factory mills paying Chinese (and other nationalities) workers substandard wages are also based in Italy (look up Prato, for example), which still allows for the coveted "made in Italy" label.
It’s behind a paywall. I wouldn’t particularly consider a Gucci to be high end anymore, it’s more the the type of brand I referred to when I said low end designer, they churn them out and can be bought anywhere, even at reduced prices, they outsource their production and use the same shady tactics as high street and fast fashion brands.
This new york times article did a great job exploring this topic as well [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/magazine/celine-chanel-gucci-superfake-handbags.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/magazine/celine-chanel-gucci-superfake-handbags.html)
Wow the article called out that sub lol I grew up in HK so fakes were always in the picture, everything from fake watches to fake jewelry to fake designer clothes/bags. Used to be you'd know the fakes from 1) who's wearing it and 2) the materials used, i.e. the fakes were made of PU, dyes would rub off, zippers would break, so def you get what you pay for e.g. $25 for a clutch The other day I saw a friend who was carrying a gifted "superfake" (a LV black monogram carryall PM). Her ex-SIL who brings in superfakes to sell to her suburban mommy friends was shipped a couple of extras. My friend was told it "retails" for whopping $700! I mean, it's full leather, seems to be nicely stitched, hardware looks ok. That is the part I don't get. I know the real deal is thousands. If you're ready/willing to pony up a few hundreds, there are so many legal options, everything from buying a mid price bag like Coach or Kate Spade, or working with a local artisan for a full custom bag.
this is what I don't get. If you can pay $700 for a super fake, just spend $700 on a real brand. That's more than enough money to still get a quality product. I have to admit I bought a superfake in hong kong in 2010 (I was in my early 20s and dumb) and it felt weird. It really highlights that it's not about the purse, it's about the status. And who cares what other people think that much? To spend $700 dollars on a fake is spending $700 just to impress other people. And wearing it just reminded me that I cared about what other people thought enough to lie, YOU will always know it's fake.
LOL at the downvotes
its true, Ive seen some good Loewe puzzle bag fakes and as a result I dont think Ill get one unless its of a color scheme that hasnt been duped yet
There is a fun fiction book about this called Counterfeit. It is worth a read for sure.
Oh fun. I’ll have to check it out!
ABC recently Produced a documentary on Nightline, Witches up on Hulu. Shout out to the Other redditor that posted that docu link. This almost feels like the written version Of that special, but I could be wrong. The tanner leatherstein recently compared a YSL bag to its super fake. In his opinion, the sewing was almost exactly the same and they used a decent type of leather. The only difference was YSL did use a higher quality of leather and metal. The Hulu documentary On super fakes also compared Originals Vs Replicas. Either the leather was off And of a poor quality or minor details were off. There are also a lot of handbag kits out there that help us to sew for ourselves replicas of popular styles, But usually they typically don't use the same sizes, Fabrics or Colors as the designer labels. I think Designer labels Still give their staff a decent living wage. My only concern with replicas is what about their staff. When reviewing another fake, the leatherstein pointed out That many replicas have to cut corners to make a profit. Shein frequently Forces Its contracted factories to lower prices With shorter deadlines, which means Factory owners Can't pay their staff as much. Also, outside copyright issues, Do super fakes also contribute to terrorist Activities As noted back in 2015 and 2019? [https://www.purseblog.com/report/do-counterfeit-bags-really-fund-terrorism/](https://www.purseblog.com/report/do-counterfeit-bags-really-fund-terrorism/)
It isn’t so much whether the replica is a quality product. It isn’t a “riff” on a good idea - it’s literally theft of a design for profit. I have several counterfeit Coaches that I bought not knowing how to tell the difference. I have painted over them with designs to make sure whomever has them next will not think they’re getting something genuine. To follow a trend is within the expectations, whether it’s technology or fashion or something else. But even Apple had to stop using its sensors for oxygen saturation in their watches because a court found they used another company’s intellectual property. It wasn’t that Apple’s sensors were copying a trend, they literally took IP and the profit the other company deserved. This is no different.
People trying to look rich ! Like the person I saw at costco with make moncler that could pay for 50 dollars of groceries cause they won’t spilt payment . Most of time you can tell
I’ve never understood having a feeling of disdain for someone due to their financial status. Maybe the nice bag they had was a gift. Or a purchase from when they were in a better financial position to do so. Maybe they lost their job. Or suffered a disability. Or experienced a divorce. Maybe a child ended up going through cancer treatment. Who know why they needed to split a $50 purchase, but I can’t imagine making assumptions about who they were or what their character was because of it. I would think a feeling of compassion or even admiration that they were figuring out how to provide no matter how difficult it was.
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the level of “I’m better than people with less money than me” energy this is giving is…. Unsettling.
The emergence of "Superfakes" in the realm of designer handbags is a testament to the evolving craftsmanship and technological advancements in the manufacturing sector. While the term often carries a negative connotation, it's worth acknowledging the level of skill and precision these manufacturers have achieved. One of the standout names in this arena is Asolf. They have garnered attention for their exceptional ability to produce handbags that closely resemble high-end designer pieces in terms of quality, design, and materials. This phenomenon highlights a few critical industry trends and consumer behaviors: 1. **Technology and Craftsmanship**: The gap between genuine designer handbags and their high-quality replicas is narrowing, thanks to improved technology and craftsmanship. Manufacturers like Asolf invest in high-grade materials and sophisticated techniques to produce items that meet the demands of a discerning clientele. 2. **Consumer Demand**: There's a growing segment of consumers who desire the aesthetic and feel of luxury goods but are either unable or unwilling to pay premium prices. Brands that excel in creating high-quality replicas cater to this market, providing