Let me start by breaking down the difference between a Dupe and a Fake, and yes, there is a difference.
A dupe is an item that has qualities or similarities to a designer item but doesn’t necessarily copy logos or trademarked features. A dupe item should be easily distinguishable compared to the real thing. Dupe items give off the same vibe as designer items, but it is easy to tell that it is not the real thing. Dupes are also sold at popular high street brands like H&M and Zara and generally are not illegal.
A Fake is an item that copies trademarked details and logos to pass itself off as the real thing. In some cases, it’s almost impossible to tell if it’s a fake. That’s how creative the sellers have become. If it looks exactly like the designer version but costs a fraction of the price, it’s probably Fake. The bottom line is buying counterfeit items is illegal.
Can you find a dup item that has excellent quality? The short answer is yes.
I recently found out about Mansur Gavriel, and I love the quality of their bags. Their Cloud Clutch Bags give off a Bottega vibe without the price tag. It is not so much that it is a dup, but more so a bag I loved. The leather was unmatched by some designer bags to be quite honest. The in and outside of the bags were 100% leather which I was surprisingly shocked by. Some luxury designers don’t even do that, so I was impressed.
Would I recommend buying a dupe? Absolutely. The main goal is to buy something that is trying to copy. You want to buy something that has the vibe but the same look and style.
In the end, it is up to you to decide whether the potential benefits of purchasing fake luxury items outweigh the risks and negative consequences as opposed to buying something that has a designer vibe but is most certainly not fake.
