Fake Bags, Shoes The Bulk Of Newly Seized Counterfeit Goods

This just in: Americans still love fake bags.

We would have thought that the demand for fakes -- plastic bags with mangled "LV" logos, tufted purses with not-quite interlocking C's -- would have died with the decline of the Logo Bag Craze. The Craze, as we remember it, started with Prada's nylon backpack and probably peaked with Louis Vuitton's colorful Takashi Murakami bags in 2003.

The past two years, by contrast, have seen the logo-less Proenza Schouler PS1 and Celine's minimalist Luggage tote become the most popular accessories in fashion -- and with that, we figured the Logo Bag Craze and the insatiable thirst for luxury name brands was dunzo.

Not so. Women's Wear Daily reports that the market for fake bags as well as shoes, sunglasses and other fashion items is still going strong, so much so that 93 percent of goods seized in a recent counterfeit sting were fashion products, totaling $76.8 million.

In an operation called "Operation Holiday Hoax" (who knew the federal government was so cutesy?), U.S. government officials seized 327,000 counterfeit items from ports, stores and "swap meets" (so... the back of some guy's car?). Amongst the acquired goods were clothes, bags and shoes made to look like Jimmy Choo, Rolex, Uggs, True Religion, Gucci and North Face.

WWD reports that in Los Angeles alone, a mind-boggling 70 percent of seized items were fake True Religion duds. (Do you know anyone who still wears True Religion? Must be a West Coast thing...)

The truth is that while minimalism and logo-free bags may be "It" in high fashion, average consumers still want a name brand product, even if it's not covered in neon L's and V's. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the bags are still around, they're just getting more sophisticated and thus harder to spot.

Many fakes are now actually made with leather as opposed to the typical plastic, which used to be an easy giveaway. And the plastic ones are often embossed with a veiny pattern to mimic the calfskin veins on leather bags.

Apparently the tricks still couldn't stop the feds' "Operation Holiday Hoax."

But we're still curious. Would you buy -- or do you -- buy a fake bag? Have you every bought one unwittingly? Let us know in the comments and read more about the latest sting at WWD.com.

Comments

[museando207]

11:09 AM on 12/27/2011

I don't like bootleg anything. It's so not worth it. I'd rather save and go to an outlet and buy the real deal.

[Camille Michelle]

11:04 AM on 12/27/2011

There is a difference between putting your logo on something, and putting your BRAND NAME on something.
I have a bag with the golden "MK" LOGO on it, but you would HAVE to know what MK means to know that it's Michael Kors.
There is a slight difference between a logo and a brand name, the former actually distinguishing the brand from other brands in a person's mind. EVERYTHING you have can be an advertisement:
The cars you drive are a advertisement.
The coffee you drink is an advertisement.
The computer you use (in public) IS an advertisement.
YOUR PHONE is an advertisement.
You can't shame design houses for putting their logo's on their bag so as to advertise them when everyone here unknowingly advertises their things too. Logo's are the only thing that separates their creation from the ubiquitous number of purses around.
And let's be honest here everyone, even though designer bags are overpriced in certain respects, they are still made out of more durable materials. I'm sure there are many cheap bags that will hold up over time, but TO ME, the difference in price I pay actually correlates to how long I will get to use my bag.
Who is anyone here to shame someone for buying an expensive purse? If someone places their worth in how many expensive items they own, let that be THEIR problem. Get over it. All of you.

And at the end of the day, their money is invigorating the economy.

[Yam716]

08:32 AM on 12/27/2011

RE: The truth is that while minimalism and logo-free bags may be "It" in high fashion, average consumers still want a name brand product, even if it's not covered in neon L's and V's.

Ain't that the truth! I hate gaudiness.
What kills me is that the sellers of the counterfeit goods charge in upwards of $100 for a fake bag, and women purchase it! I don't understand it...Are people that into keeping up with the Joneses?

[Randybostonterrier]

01:51 PM on 12/26/2011

You can tell this is a New York mag in here when an article is about a stupid handbag.

[Julie Takase]

10:14 AM on 12/26/2011

I have LV purses and I rarely wear them I bought them when I was young and wanted to be cool. Now I see them in my closet and don't think twice before I grab my non-branded purse. At the end of the day, if you need a purse to feel good that is what you need. Me? I just don't feel the need to use them.

[DSevere]

01:28 PM on 12/25/2011

Buying a fake bag means you are willing to steal someone else's property. Design that a creative person comes up with is just as much their property as bread is the property of the person who bakes it.

If you can't afford the real thing, find something in your price range that's cool, and real.

[ignacio sanabria]

05:17 PM on 12/24/2011

Fake, fake, fake. This world is full of fake issues ranging from fake clothing up to fake feelings. So, why so much fuss about a useless bag?

[CleanEatingVeg]

10:00 PM on 12/23/2011

I never saw the appeal in designer goods...I could not care less what brand a person is carrying or wearing. In my opinion many of the Coach and Dooney and Bourke purses to name a few are just not cute.

[reader1]

06:50 PM on 12/23/2011

Are we as a society that delusional? Yes of course, why pay $15k for a pair of sunglasses when you can get them for $500? It's amazing that these are the same companies that are protected by the government and they supply retail to the 1%, while the 99% keep trying to compete. Put your own name on goods and become a corporation, the Supreme court said we could, didn't they? Laughable!!!!

[magnet1125]

04:35 PM on 12/23/2011

There is only one reason for a counterfeit merchandise...and that is to make someone think that you bought a real one and be impressed...manufacturers spend millions to make and promote their product and they should be protected...congratulations to the government for seizing these goods...PS..I am a liberal

[Tim Kunk]

04:13 PM on 12/23/2011

This just may be a guy thing, but ladies, I care a lot more about your over all outlook on life, then I do your shoes, or handbags. I have never given a darn what outfit a lady just bought, as long as she gave me a big hug, and said "Come on, lets go out, and have a good night on the town"
I've had many chances to buy fake Rolex watches, never have. Why? Because if that is the thing a lady notices, then she is worrying about the wrong things in life. And will not now how to have fun just being herself.

[SecretSquirrel666]

01:59 AM on 12/25/2011

Hate to disillusion you bro, but women don't get dressed up in their finest clothes and accessories for men. They do it for other women. You ever hear a group of guys talk about what purse a girl has, or what blouse she has on? Didin't think so. But sit near a table full of women and listen to them tear apart each new girl as she walks into the room.

[Randybostonterrier]

01:52 PM on 12/26/2011

Wow you must hang around very superficial women. I don't care what other handbags women have around their arms.

[Yam716]

08:36 AM on 12/27/2011

I've heard that theory before...I think that's insecure people in general...not just women. Please believe, when I get dressed, it's because I represent myself, not 'one-up' another female.

[abcdeffgh3456]

04:12 PM on 12/23/2011

wouldnt have fakes if the real ones were reasonable in price...

[Yam716]

08:37 AM on 12/27/2011

If you are a millionaire, a $5000 bag might be reasonable.

I just think it's silly to pay that much for a bag...what's the shelf life on a $5000 bag?!?! $5000 could feed a lot of people, so I could never justify spending that much on anything...hell a $300 bag isn't justifiable to me.

[maureenaw]

03:58 PM on 12/23/2011

I'm glad they seized these items, but most of these manufacturer facilities are all over seas anyway. Next time you purchase something check the label to see if it's made in the US. These corporations are so greedy!

[lkr12345]

03:52 PM on 12/23/2011

One thing this guy said that makes good sense is "Don't wear your wealth". I like my wealth to be in the bank, not hanging on my shoulder. I would never buy any bag that was easily identifiable as a designer bag, real or fake. They look like advertisements to me.

[Seaglass]

05:14 PM on 12/23/2011

Thousands of airheads in Houston would disagree.

[Yam716]

08:39 AM on 12/27/2011

Most people are WALKING ADVERTISEMENTS!

Shame. Designers need not put out ads, people make perfect ads.

[fredlynn07]

02:30 PM on 12/23/2011

Still seems like there are better things to spend our resources on like illegal drugs, human trafficing and other much more worthy causes?

[natal plum]

02:33 PM on 12/23/2011

Actually the fools spending money on designer bags, luggage, purses and lables are the cause of this so called "problem".

[CleanEatingVeg]

10:01 PM on 12/23/2011

I think in some cases, those that are peddling illegal goods are also involved in the aforementioned.

[DSevere]

01:31 PM on 12/25/2011

That's really true. Fakes are often part of a larger ring of illegal operations.