Purse Knock-offs in New York City
August 16, 2009 by Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler - The Glam Gals
NYC, Cannal Street
Would you go to NYC and buy a “knock off” designer handbag?
We don’t think it’s a good thing to do, but we have friends who couldn’t resist the temptation and ended up buying a knock-off or two for themselves, or their teenage daughter who was dying to own a Coach or Gucci bag. These brands are being copied and sold on the “infamous” Cannal Street in New York City . Recently, the NYC cops have been cracking down on these “knock off” vendors.
To read about a first hand experience on of our Blogging Boomer friends had, and to read other Boomer related lifestyle stories, check out the Midlife Crisis Queen. She’s the host of this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival!
Always tempted me until I learned the provenance of most of these bags–not pretty, and often tied to funding of terrorism. This is not a hysterical rant. Dana Thomas reports on the terrorist tie in her excellent book: Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster.
There has been a severe crackdown of designer bag knock-offs in Europe. Most makers of the knock-offs use child labor and are often linked to organized crime and terrorist groups. A friend of mine went to Paris last year, and while traveling with a group, the guide warned people to not purchase designer knock offs. If they were found to have done so, they would be fined 600 Euros and the item would be confiscated. One person in the group did not heed the advice. When she boarded the bus and was showing her purchases to others, an official saw her new handbag–a LV knock-off. The item was confiscated and she was fined right then and there. Were that there was such a law in the U.S. It’s criminal and so NOT okay. It violates the artistic license of the original designer and doesn’t help the retail economy of those that sell the “real deal.” If you can’t afford the real thing, learn to live without. JUST SAY NO TO FAKES!
Living in NYC I visit Canal St several times a year – mostly with crazed bargain shoppers. Honestly, there are no bargains as the bags wear out easily and zippers & straps break. Still there are those on a hunt and there are still bags to be had although fewer and fewer shops at street level. Many times I’ve been escorted by a bag dealer to an upstairs shop filled with knockoffs. On more than one occasion we’ve been shuttled down a dirty back stairway and told to “be quite” while the dealers “pay off” local cops on a raid. Not a pleasant shopping experience still, there are those who love “thrill shopping.” Those who want the real thing try http://www.bagborroworsteal.com. You can rent a bag for period of time and show off the real Louis.
Gucci belts Cool Braided belts, ?Patent leather belt with high ratio of performance and price, best Mens leather belts Wide leather belt as low as $49.9.