Replica bags – The phenomenon
Call them replicas, fakes, or imitations. Copying original designer items has become a huge multi-billion dollar industry. Product replicas have truly become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years. Counterfeit products are estimated to account for between 5% and 7% of global trade and generate more than $600 billion each year. This has been reinforced by the awakening of Asian manufacturing powerhouses like China, as well as the almost insatiable consumer demand for designer products.
The availability and wide variety of replica items have been steadily increasing in recent years. If a certain item catches on (or “hot,” thanks Paris Hilton), you can be sure that a much more affordable, but nearly indistinguishable replica is already on its way. If the genuine article is sold, the replica will also be sold. If there is a profit to be made, an industry will be born.
The most commonly replicated luxury items include luxury designer clothing, shoes, sportswear, perfume, watches, sunglasses, and of course designer handbags.
Many people will willingly buy a replica bag, as a well-made replica can offer the same prestige as the original, but without the often high price tag. The average consumer simply cannot afford to pay the many hundreds, even thousands of dollars for the privilege of carrying an authentic bag from Prada, Hermes or Louis Vuitton. It is estimated that over 85% of all Louis Vuitton bags in use today are replicas. Even an expensive replica will usually be a fraction of the cost of the original, and can be virtually identical to the “real thing”, both in build quality and materials used in production.
Luxury items like designer handbags will, of course, vary in build quality and attention to detail. The packaging may also not be as dazzling as those of an original. However, in general, the level of craftsmanship of counterfeit products can range from decent to outstanding. This can be attributed to the fact that copy manufacturers are not only vying for position with the genuine article, they are also competing with each other.
Some pieces will only be acceptable representations, while others are often mirror images of the original. However, if you look closely, you can discern some minor differences. The brand name or logo may differ slightly from the original, as may some of the design features of the bag itself.
The number of replica bags flooding the designer goods market is no small headache for major fashion houses. High-end fashion manufacturers such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Chanel are very active in their efforts to crack down on the proliferation of replica and counterfeit manufacturers who profit on the basis of their hard-earned prestige and brands. Fashion manufacturers spend millions of dollars annually to counter this growing problem.
However, consumers love replica designer bags. And who can blame them? As already mentioned, the price is right! In fact, many consumers clearly blame the high prices of genuine designer products on the designer mega-houses themselves. Fashion houses have been known to deliberately underprice a product, artificially increasing demand and prices.
People will always covet designer fashion products. The more difficult and expensive it is to obtain them, the more effort the consumer will put into finding an easier and less expensive means of obtaining them.
The availability of high-quality replica handbags means that even the budget-conscious shopper can enjoy the prestige of owning a designer item that looks and feels like the real thing. No longer are these poorly designed imitations that fall apart after a few days. The intense competition in the replica market not only leads to competitive prices, but also superior quality.
The considerably lower cost also gives the fashion-conscious shopper the ability to own numerous designer handbags without breaking the bank. Go outside with a Gucci on Monday and a Louis Vuitton on Tuesday. Virtually every popular designer handbag is available somewhere in replica form.
When the inevitable new lines arrive, the replica market once again allows the consumer to embrace current fashion trends. Let’s face it, only the very wealthy are in a position to continually update their wardrobe with authentic versions of every latest fashion designer. Replicated bags make “staying fashionable” an achievable goal for a considerably larger part of the population.
It is clear that buying replica handbags simply makes financial sense for the average fashion-conscious consumer and that is, without a doubt, the biggest factor driving this booming industry.
With the massive growth of the Internet, it is no longer necessary to buy second-rate replica bags in a public market under everyone’s scrutiny. Now you can enjoy the convenience and privacy of selecting superior quality replicas in the privacy of your own home. There is no doubt that designer handbag replicas are here to stay!