Thank you for highlighting how China has been stealing everything down to our IPs. My hope from all of this is that we can move away from cheap, fast fashion. I miss the days of buying a pair of jeans that I break in and wear for six plus years. T shirts that last more than a season. A favorite sweatshirt that's lasted since high school. Sure, the up front cost is a little higher but to me it's worth it. Moving towards slower fashion cycles would reverberate through our economy, it would reduce the need for many creative and marketing jobs, and increased manufacturing state side will create more labor and technological jobs. While we watch whichever shifts start to take hold, I will continue to buy vintage 80s and 90s Coach bags and men's Ralph Lauren button downs.😬
But at the same time it’s the corporations who chose to go to China because they wanted to pay people $1 an hour rather than minimum wage here. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
Yes they did and our population jumped on the cheap goods bandwagon. On one hand people/corporations champion the ideas of human rights and environmentally friendly policies but on the other hand they rely on overseas manufacturing that violates both. I’m hoping the tariffs work to bring manufacturing back, while realizing things will cost more. I’m ok with paying more if the quality is there. I don’t want to pay more for the same cheap crap. Things are going to get worse before they have an opportunity to get better. Until then i’m going to source vintage and continue my struggle with getting the Tide smell out of the clothing.
I still have a pair of Docs and some sweatshirts from my high school days (97). Definitely off the fast fashion train. Cheap and it winds up in a landfill anyway. Trash to trash. =/
Oh wow Emilie this is such a good article. You did such a good job of explaining the ethical dilemma. I’ve never been a bag person, but I have a 17 year-old daughter so it’s been finding Lululemon, Free People, etc 🤪
I’ve always related more to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when it comes to those snobby sales associates.
Tbh I’m not a bag person either. I barely wore that fake Chanel one. I only liked the Prada bc it was so functional. Lululemon has been named by some of these Chinese manufacturers but they are trying to clear their name
And sadly, a lot of the moderate tier brands manufacturing isn’t any better. Look into greenwashing and how many brands partake. Only a very small percentage of brands remotely have ethics. The brands that do are typically B corp certified. Although I’m sure even that certification has its holes
They pride themselves on their LA factory but in the fine print there are other factories around the world (of course, including China). To answer your initial question, not sure if there is an actual ethical brand lol
Buying real and or vintage high end brands at estate sales/thrift/realreal is a much better option than buying fake or even new! I can never understand why people are okay with buying anything from china. They steal and use slave labor and don’t give a shit about the environment. Why don’t people care? It’s a non partisan issue and everyone can do better.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 thanks for the article. It's hard to buy not knowing where and how my purchases were made. I've started doing a lot of thrift shopping and purchasing from small businesses when I can. I shop at an employee owned grocery store, and frequent our local farmers market. Small changes as I can afford them.
I loved this article! As someone who grew up buying fakes in a a friend of friend’s mom’s basement (she had a whole ring that got shut down by the FBI) this article just confirmed a lot of what I thought about the dark side of the industry. Looking forward to part 2!
INCREDIBLE ARTICLE! You really took me on a journey and sprung back memories to my canal street days. I had no idea about the IP issues with China. Wow. I have been buying mirror image Hermes for years on Amazon. The scarf I got looks and feels identical to my real one and for $25! Lol I am looking fodward to part 2🤩
Spouse went to Shanghai in 2014. Bought a ton of “luxury items”. For ex watches, custom made clothing & Northface jackets etc. No one has ever questioned the validity of the designers. The watches? Compliments all the time. Even some jewelers had no idea the watches were “knock-offs”.
We were told ahead of time to bring one empty suitcase to bring back stuff from the markets. They do in facts make luxury items in China for cents on the dollar. He met many people who travel there once a year just to load up. Leaving? The only thing customs confiscated was the one “authentic” pricey pen he bought from Fudan Uni. He dk they took it until he came back and opened the suitcase.
I’m originally from upstate NY and my family has been purchasing fakes from the city for over 30 years now. I’ve never felt shame about it. I’m the same with sippy cups and gum stashed away in there. I would be devastated if I destroyed an authentic bag. In fact I would probably feel shame if I had purchased a real one! The better question is why do we feel the need to pretend we’re wearing luxury brands? Alas I cannot say I’m above it lol. I’m not shocked that these items are manufactured in the same facilities but they are def not always using the same materials. Sometimes I’ve been pleased with quality and others not so much. In either case this is a fun time to see people who’ve invested in this fantasy ish a brick 😆
Great article! Looking forward to Part 2. I have a friend that sells the dupes from China and she has tried to say it’s the same. I may start to believe her!
She said it was the same leather and made in the same place. That these just weren’t sent to LV, Gucci, Chanel, etc… I didn’t believe her but when you see her bags they do look and feel just like the real ones.
I learned this years ago when I wrote about Cuban Cigars - the workers from different parts of the factories would each smuggle out a specific thing - the large outer wrapper leaf, the tobacco, the stamp, the box, and then put it together in someone’s home. What is the difference between what left through the back door and the front door of the factory? Only the price which was 10X more.
the amount of fake bags you see on the streets is crazy and I for one refused to spend the money (even being able to) because why would I spend $3,000 on a LV when everyone has a knock off? It lost its appeal. I didn’t get my first real designer handbag until I was in my 40’s and we had plenty of extra money to “waste” on luxury goods. So as someone who has worked half their life to acquire wealth and be able to afford luxuries here and there, it bothers me.
It also bothers me knowing these fakes are coming from a sweat shop and I don’t want my money going to China.
Also I worry about being poisoned by their goods!! lol!
I had such deja vu reading this, I remember these massive collapsible chutes that the cops would attach to the windows of apartments that got raided on Canal St and there had to be hundreds of fakes getting chucked down. I haven’t bought a counterfeit in 20 years but at the time the quality was horrendous and it was blatantly obvious, now the difference is absolutely minuscule between them and LV won’t even authenticate Neverfulls anymore (I think, may be wrong) because they can’t even tell at this point.
I saw a few of the videos on TikTok and didn’t even think about how sketchy the whole “exposing luxury brands” thing is, social media makes it so easy to just blindly absorb information as fact and the Chinese government has unapologetically pumped out propaganda for decades. Those factories look like movie sets and there’s no way in hell that’s where all of this stuff is coming from.
Emilie this is awesome. As someone that works in the vintage designer apparel space…this is spot on. Your writing is 1/1. Looking forward to part 2!
Thank you for highlighting how China has been stealing everything down to our IPs. My hope from all of this is that we can move away from cheap, fast fashion. I miss the days of buying a pair of jeans that I break in and wear for six plus years. T shirts that last more than a season. A favorite sweatshirt that's lasted since high school. Sure, the up front cost is a little higher but to me it's worth it. Moving towards slower fashion cycles would reverberate through our economy, it would reduce the need for many creative and marketing jobs, and increased manufacturing state side will create more labor and technological jobs. While we watch whichever shifts start to take hold, I will continue to buy vintage 80s and 90s Coach bags and men's Ralph Lauren button downs.😬
Omg I miss my Ralph Lauren button down 😭
But at the same time it’s the corporations who chose to go to China because they wanted to pay people $1 an hour rather than minimum wage here. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
Yes they did and our population jumped on the cheap goods bandwagon. On one hand people/corporations champion the ideas of human rights and environmentally friendly policies but on the other hand they rely on overseas manufacturing that violates both. I’m hoping the tariffs work to bring manufacturing back, while realizing things will cost more. I’m ok with paying more if the quality is there. I don’t want to pay more for the same cheap crap. Things are going to get worse before they have an opportunity to get better. Until then i’m going to source vintage and continue my struggle with getting the Tide smell out of the clothing.
Part 2 addresses the ethical side and overconsumption
6 washes minimum. That fake Tide smell just keeps hanging on.
I still have a pair of Docs and some sweatshirts from my high school days (97). Definitely off the fast fashion train. Cheap and it winds up in a landfill anyway. Trash to trash. =/
I just donated my Docs recently
I agree!!
You’re a terrific writer Emilie!! So happy to see your talent stand alone 😉
Same
Oh wow Emilie this is such a good article. You did such a good job of explaining the ethical dilemma. I’ve never been a bag person, but I have a 17 year-old daughter so it’s been finding Lululemon, Free People, etc 🤪
I’ve always related more to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when it comes to those snobby sales associates.
Tbh I’m not a bag person either. I barely wore that fake Chanel one. I only liked the Prada bc it was so functional. Lululemon has been named by some of these Chinese manufacturers but they are trying to clear their name
Fada
Am I the only one who doesn’t know what “FADA” stands for?
Fada- fake Prada lol
I assumed"Fake Prada", a play on words.
Yes that’s right
And sadly, a lot of the moderate tier brands manufacturing isn’t any better. Look into greenwashing and how many brands partake. Only a very small percentage of brands remotely have ethics. The brands that do are typically B corp certified. Although I’m sure even that certification has its holes
Can you name any brands that are ethical lol Part 2 will have a curated list of Made in America brands courtesy of one of our guests
It’s funny because a lot of the vintage designer apparel I sell was made in the US. The good old days of quality
Do you have a website? Would love to check it out.
I do! It’s westvillagevintage.com ❤️
I can help you with a list of brands that are ethical - my store I had for 17 years carried ethical brands. They did their best - :)
Look into Patagonia, Everlane, and Reformation
Reformation is my favorite. Expensive but it lasts for years and fits so well
They pride themselves on their LA factory but in the fine print there are other factories around the world (of course, including China). To answer your initial question, not sure if there is an actual ethical brand lol
Although I’m sure they have dirt too 🫠
Love this article :) Took me back to my youth scouring canal street for the perfect
Chanel knock off :)
Those were the days- another childhood memory ruined by new news of the underworld 😭
lol :) is nothing sacred!
Buying real and or vintage high end brands at estate sales/thrift/realreal is a much better option than buying fake or even new! I can never understand why people are okay with buying anything from china. They steal and use slave labor and don’t give a shit about the environment. Why don’t people care? It’s a non partisan issue and everyone can do better.
I love buying stuff at vintage shops and estate stales! That’s where I get my furniture, too
I noticed that in one of your stories, love it! I also love that you’re STILL using your Fada at least 🤣
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 thanks for the article. It's hard to buy not knowing where and how my purchases were made. I've started doing a lot of thrift shopping and purchasing from small businesses when I can. I shop at an employee owned grocery store, and frequent our local farmers market. Small changes as I can afford them.
Looking forward to part 2!
I loved this article! As someone who grew up buying fakes in a a friend of friend’s mom’s basement (she had a whole ring that got shut down by the FBI) this article just confirmed a lot of what I thought about the dark side of the industry. Looking forward to part 2!
INCREDIBLE ARTICLE! You really took me on a journey and sprung back memories to my canal street days. I had no idea about the IP issues with China. Wow. I have been buying mirror image Hermes for years on Amazon. The scarf I got looks and feels identical to my real one and for $25! Lol I am looking fodward to part 2🤩
Spouse went to Shanghai in 2014. Bought a ton of “luxury items”. For ex watches, custom made clothing & Northface jackets etc. No one has ever questioned the validity of the designers. The watches? Compliments all the time. Even some jewelers had no idea the watches were “knock-offs”.
We were told ahead of time to bring one empty suitcase to bring back stuff from the markets. They do in facts make luxury items in China for cents on the dollar. He met many people who travel there once a year just to load up. Leaving? The only thing customs confiscated was the one “authentic” pricey pen he bought from Fudan Uni. He dk they took it until he came back and opened the suitcase.
I’m originally from upstate NY and my family has been purchasing fakes from the city for over 30 years now. I’ve never felt shame about it. I’m the same with sippy cups and gum stashed away in there. I would be devastated if I destroyed an authentic bag. In fact I would probably feel shame if I had purchased a real one! The better question is why do we feel the need to pretend we’re wearing luxury brands? Alas I cannot say I’m above it lol. I’m not shocked that these items are manufactured in the same facilities but they are def not always using the same materials. Sometimes I’ve been pleased with quality and others not so much. In either case this is a fun time to see people who’ve invested in this fantasy ish a brick 😆
Great article! Looking forward to Part 2. I have a friend that sells the dupes from China and she has tried to say it’s the same. I may start to believe her!
Thanks! What has she said exactly?
She said it was the same leather and made in the same place. That these just weren’t sent to LV, Gucci, Chanel, etc… I didn’t believe her but when you see her bags they do look and feel just like the real ones.
Yes, for years, I've heard that they're made at the same factories and that they use the same molds
I learned this years ago when I wrote about Cuban Cigars - the workers from different parts of the factories would each smuggle out a specific thing - the large outer wrapper leaf, the tobacco, the stamp, the box, and then put it together in someone’s home. What is the difference between what left through the back door and the front door of the factory? Only the price which was 10X more.
Oh wow!!
the amount of fake bags you see on the streets is crazy and I for one refused to spend the money (even being able to) because why would I spend $3,000 on a LV when everyone has a knock off? It lost its appeal. I didn’t get my first real designer handbag until I was in my 40’s and we had plenty of extra money to “waste” on luxury goods. So as someone who has worked half their life to acquire wealth and be able to afford luxuries here and there, it bothers me.
It also bothers me knowing these fakes are coming from a sweat shop and I don’t want my money going to China.
Also I worry about being poisoned by their goods!! lol!
My bigger fear is our medications bring made there. It's insane to me.
I had such deja vu reading this, I remember these massive collapsible chutes that the cops would attach to the windows of apartments that got raided on Canal St and there had to be hundreds of fakes getting chucked down. I haven’t bought a counterfeit in 20 years but at the time the quality was horrendous and it was blatantly obvious, now the difference is absolutely minuscule between them and LV won’t even authenticate Neverfulls anymore (I think, may be wrong) because they can’t even tell at this point.
I saw a few of the videos on TikTok and didn’t even think about how sketchy the whole “exposing luxury brands” thing is, social media makes it so easy to just blindly absorb information as fact and the Chinese government has unapologetically pumped out propaganda for decades. Those factories look like movie sets and there’s no way in hell that’s where all of this stuff is coming from.
Can’t wait for part two!!!
Great article. Buying fake gucci sunglasses was the correct move it sounds like years ago!