The fake bags in Santee Alley come in all shapes and sizes. They range from designer knock offs to everyday shoulder bags and totes. My friend and I went down there and were shocked to find how many sellers there were offering us “genuine leather” replica bags and wallets for dirt cheap prices. We thought it was too good to be true, and it was; they were all fake.
And don’t get me started on the quality. It looked like the bags were made from thin pleather and glued together with very poor craftsmanship. The stitching was coming loose all over the place and the metal clasps and zippers were cheap-looking and not durable. I mean, for designer brands this was a total embarrassment!
Also, all the designs and logos were wrong. Instead of the LV logo being symmetrical, it was totally off center; and instead of the Gucci being embossed it was a printed logo. I mean, these companies take pride in their branding—it’s one of the reasons they’re so successful.
But don’t get me wrong, fake bags aren’t all bad. I recently learned that some people remix them and add their own twists. They mix textures and fabrics, trim, airbrush, paint, stud and even add pockets and chains; it’s pretty cool to see what people can do!
But still, at the end of the day, it’s not the same as getting it from an official seller. Plus, who knows what kind of toxins are in the pleather? Not to mention, just because something is trendy right now doesn’t mean it will stand the test of time; so if you’re looking for a timeless item it’s probably not a good idea to buy it off a vendor in Santee Alley.
And above all else, there’s the moral issue at hand. Do you really want to support and give money to people who use unethical practices to make their items? It may be trendy and cost-efficient, but in the end it’s not really worth it; trust me!