NAVIGATION
88. Copies Degrade
The Musee de la Contrefac;:on in Paris is replete
with displays of counterfeit couture and every
other type of faux luxury item worthy of coveting.
The exhibits are curated to clearly compare the
originals with the forgeries, and there is no short
age to choose from in the marketplace. At first
glance, the novelty of a knockoff and the consid
erably lower price tag may be enticing, but these
crude facsimiles don't live up to expectations.
There are a few things that consumers should
consider when buying a luxury item:
- Point of sale: Is the purchase through a repu
table department store or on a street corner?
- Packaging: Is it consistent with the promise of
the brand?
- Price: Are you getting what you pay for?
Imitations are misrepresenting the brand, and
therefore are illegal. Any product that assumes
the identity of a brand is also devaluing the
original work. Big companies have recourse, but
the livelihood of smaller operations is threat
ened when their ideas are misappropriated.
Cities around the world are cracking down on
the purveyors of false fashions, confiscating and
destroying them. Reflecting on which materials,
techniques, and finishing touches are incorpo
rated into a design will help to make the design
harder to duplicate, resulting in a product that is
not profitable to duplicate.
182 Fashion Design Essentials
Genuine and counterfeit
bags are displayed at the
Musee de la Contrefa<;:on in
Paris. The museum serves
to highlight the impact that
fake items have both on
the producers of authentic
products in regard to
consumers and the wider
economy, and on general
health and safety issues.
