OhmyGaahD WhERE Did You Get Your Bag?

Let’s talk about something that’s really irksome to many. Especially New York City natives.

While walking down a an already overly crowded New York City Street a few men plop down, emptying a trash bag full of plastic-wrapped purses in the middle of the sidewalk as said walker is trying to sashay down it on her lunch break. Mayday! Mayday! The commuter on foot was simply trying to get to Duane Reed, not be involved in some circus-like-selling spree. What are they doing? Selling, at a rapid pace, “designer” handbags.

The quotes around the word designer are there for a reason, dear readers. They are totally fake, faux, in more French terms, blasé. It’s completely understandable that not everyone has the financial swagger to waltz into Prada or Diane Von Furstenberg and pick up whatever designer arm-candy they want, but people seem to forget that designers are artists, and artists do not like their ideas being ripped off, in a cheap, tasteless way.

In the least, it’s offensive to the time and creative power the designer puts into making each one of their creations. In the most, it’s a serious crime, one that the CFDA has started a campaign over, to bring attention to the downside of supporting counterfeit merchandise.

Every time Susie from Idaho visits Canal Street so she can brag to her friends that she got a Louis Vuitton bag from the big Apple, she is supporting crime. Gross. These bags, which by no stretch of the imagination even look real are tragically crafted in sweaty crevices of the world, and are often linked to organized crime, and terrorism.

Margaret Chin, New York City Councilwoman says buying fake merchandise is “far from a victimless crime.” In the spring of 2011 Chin said she would “introduce legislation that for the first time would make it illegal to buy counterfeit goods.” Not only do these knockoffs hurt legitimate retailers, they support organized crime, and cost New York City $1 billion dollars in lost taxes every year.

That substantial reason should be enough to sway fictional Susie to not support those who are selling counterfeit handbags in broad daylight, but just in case, this new legislation is hoping to sway her. Susie needs to see that by supporting counterfeit fashion she is telling the world that she doesn’t deserve the real thing.

There are plenty of websites that offer designer bags at reasonable prices, and she can take solace in knowing she is supporting designers, and taking a step to not support organized crime and guys that have names like Sally Tomato (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ reference of the day).