NO KNOCK-OFFS
Sometimes it seems that there is no escaping the lure of luxury brands. From luxury vehicles, luxury vacations, and many lady’s… favorite luxury handbags. Daily, be it through social media, music, reality television, and advertising, we are inundated with images of luxury, designer brands especially… handbags. With the flood of these images many women young and old feel pressured to have a small (or large depending on style preference) piece of luxury draped over their forearms and hanging gracefully from their shoulders. Some women have taken a “by any means necessary” approach, opting for the designer label over paying their bills. And when the resources aren’t available to purchase the Hermes, the Gucci, the Luis Vuiotton and the like, what’s next? The knock off…
The knock-off designer bag industry is a multi-million dollar industry. “In 2012, federal authorities in Newark, N.J., charged 29 people with trying to smuggle $325 million worth of fake goods into the country.” (New York Times, 2018) These items are being sold from coast to coast in the United States. According to a recent article in the Washington Post “Trump’s trade war brings unexpected boom for knockoff designer bags from China.” (2018) There is without question an abundance of consumers willing to purchase the knockoff handbag over the authentic.
I know you’re asking, so what is this a political commentary on the social impact of replicated luxury brands? Not at all. But, what I would like to discuss is our need to settle for the replica to satisfy an image or a longing and be ok with it all because it looks like “the real thing.”
So let’s talk about knockoffs. Y’all have seen the knock-offs that are CLEARLY knock-offs. Like, wannabe Signature Coach bag that has O’s instead of the C’s printed all over it. At a very quick glance or from a far distance you might be think for a moment that the bag is the real deal. But once you touch you know right away what you’re dealing with. It’s stiff and plastic. The painted vinyl design is probably missing in a few placed. And once the bag is worn just a few time, forget it! It will fall apart and will quickly reveal it’s lack of authenticity. THEN you have those REALLY good knock-offs. When you look at it, touch it, carry it for a while sometimes no one, not even the person carrying it knows that it is a fake. BUT, after it’s worn a while the stitching comes apart, the handles start to fall apart, the lining gets torn, the zippers break and it can’t handle the weight of what you’re carrying. Suddenly you (and those looking at you) realize what appeared to be the real deal is a fake!
Finally, there is the authentic designer bag. It smells of fresh new leather, often times soft to touch. Crafted with the most durable hardware and stitching. It comes with proof of it authenticity by way of a cereal number and sometimes certification. Some classic bags, like a Chanel, appreciate in value. How would a handbag increase in value? Because the authentic bags can last a lifetime. With the proper care and recognition of its value many women pass designer bags down through generations.
I liken our relationships, platonic, romantic, familial and to knockoffs and authentic handbags. Some relationships are like the knockoffs that we recognize immediately. You know these people don’t have your best interest at heart. You have seen how they treat others, their own lives are a mess, they have clear demonstration of a lack of integrity in their daily interactions. These are the people most don’t have to concern themselves with. They know not to let them get too close. The relationships that you don’t invest much in to begin with. Then there are the “good” knockoffs. The relationships that on the surface seem like everything that you ever wanted or needed. These can be tricky. The “good knockoff” teaches us the most. It teaches you patience. Since you can’t tell immediately that it’s a fake its going to require you to go through some things, carry a little weight, put it to good use and see how it holds up after a while. If it falls apart sooner than what would be expected then you know what you have. And the durability of it may not even be enough evidence. As mentioned previously, authentic handbags all have serial numbers. These serial numbers can also be verified with its manufacturer. Some relationships may require you going back to where someone came from to really find out what they are made of or if they are in fact who they say they are. Where is the evidence? How are they treating others around them? Where do they come from? What’s their family history? Who hurt them before you and how did they deal with it? Go to the beginning.
An authentic relationship is durable, made to last, no detail is missed and it is worth your investment. Leave the knock-offs for the people who are ok with carrying them. There is a market for EVERYTHING, even the knock-offs. They wouldn’t be made if there wasn’t a certain kind of woman that’s ok with carrying it.
Wait for the authentic thing that’s well built to last. Examine that bag, look for the evidence of its authenticity before you purchase!
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