the obsession with dupes, fakes, and counterfeits 

Fr

Omg Yes! 100% Mina is amazing!

Who?

something about the way she scripts her videos and talks. it's just good

shes truly the best

I buy real designer and I don't see the point in buying a fake just to say that you have a fake or pass it off as something real. What's the point in buying a fake designer item when you can buy something in your price range and have it be a better option than a fake designer piece that will break or not look right

@mwv1217 Well, some poeple buy cloth, because they like how they look, not because they want to brag about how much they paid.

​@@mwv1217 For Song Ji-a's particular case, it's probably because she was/wanted to be part of the socialite group, and after the show she became a public figure and people had high expectations etc.

@@mwv1217 It's because of people like you lol. Some people just like the way that it looks without wanting to pay a month's rent for it.

@@cloudsinmykoffieThat's... not true at all. I watched her RU-vid channel long before she went on that show, and Jia simply liked the look of these products that were readily available. You have to understand that it wasn't at all the same shopping landscape-there was a story of when she was young and she saw something she felt was pretty at a stall with her school friends. It was fake designer, sure, but that didn't matter to her. Dispatch released a piece vetting all of her stuff, and the girl can afford real designer. She doesn't go out, she's so painfully shy that she has so few close friends even now. It wasn't about being a "socialite," she was literally just a girl who liked pretty things, real or not. Anyways, she uploads videos again. Dispatch's exposé made the country feel bad for her while she was taking her break.

you are so right!

💯 nailed it imo

just to add, i feel like with the inception of social media, there is now a lot more exposure and FORCED transparency with brands. Most of the public perception is now honestly aware that brands (aka billion dollar conglomerates) do not do a lot of morally good things, are performative in much of what they show the public, and are very “cooperate”. The illusion of the *integrity* of the brand has faded. All of this has lowered brand loyalty by a ton imo. and just going back to one of Mina’s past videos, clothing quality nowadays has been lowered everywhere, on both high end and low end. Nowadays people are more interested in the aesthetic of the brand (replication or otherwise), not because they actually believe the brand has integrity or utmost quality. We’ve essentially stopped idolizing them as much. So if you can get the similar look (esp one thats only a short trend, not a staple classic) then who cares about the source? because the people/cooperations from the source are not that great anyways. the “honor” in owning an authentic from these people has lessened considerably.

Partly true, there are also periods (like now) when overt luxury is just generally more in fashion. I came of age in the 2008 recession, when the economy REALLY tanked, and it suddenly became extremely unfashionable and tasteless to be flashing obvious luxury labels, whether they were dupes or not.

Dude, that's such a perfect way to put it. ❤

Maybe the escapism that common people experience while watching these rich people? Nice to dream of a very easy life when you're struggling in yours. Just my thought, though.

Yeah very shocking to hear that someone in korea can get cancelled for having fake designer stuff, what if she accidently bought a fake from a reseller who scammed her?

Are you an American? You don’t sound like it. Maybe that’s why you don’t understand. Americans worship money over everything. Over god, over health, over community, over life itself. Therefore, of course they worship and adore the rich. Why? Because they dream of being them. They buy dupes of the clothes the rich wear to feel like they’re closer to them. Consumerism. Americans are born and bred to consume. Through consuming, they hope to fill the void in themselves that used to be filled by relationships, community, self worth and all the other things they sacrificed for money. They hope to self-actualisé by using money to buy their way into eternal happiness. It’s the nature of capitalism and America is the capitalist dream. It’s all a ruse tho. As fake as the knock offs they chase.

@@cloudsinmykoffieyou could just read fiction instead of worshipping some of the worst people on the planet

Some of them want to be abused- by companies.

Yes exactly. I don’t care about dupes of brands like Gucci and Coach, especially because what’s mostly being copied is the image of wealth rather than design and it arguably makes fashion more accessible because it shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy/comfortable. But I’ve seen and follow artists whose designs or illustrations get stolen by some shady b0t-ran site and it’s so upsetting, especially when their works are hand made and ethical. Lirika Matoshi’s strawberry dress for example, like it’s completely disrespecting the artistry.

dupes =/= fakes or stolen designs. dupes are supposed to look similar but built from scratch, not completely the same. the goal is just to sell an item close enough that ppl who can't afford the expensive item will have some kind of a substitute. fakes try to pass as something original and trick people. stealing designs also has nothing to do with dupes.

@@BeneathFullMoon People who are intentionally making dupes know where they are getting it from. And if it is from an individual artist/ micro brand, I think that is unethical both on the manufacturer's part and those who are knowingly looking to get a dupe with the understanding it's stolen. It's one thing for it to be an unintentional accident, it's another for it to be on purpose. I don't think you are owed their designs just because you can't afford them. My wardrobe consists of cheap basics I wear every day, a few pieces I found at craft fairs or thrifts, and 2 designer pieces I saved up for. You aren't going to go naked if you can't have designer clothes. We aren't entitled to their work, especially not small artists.

@@BeneathFullMoon how intentionally obtuse do you have to be to try and argue that dupes have zero to do with stealing designs? Literally by definition a “duplicate” is intended to mimic another item to a significant degree. If it was different enough to not be an attempt at mimicry, why would anyone want it as a substitute?? Make it make sense lmfao

@@E42545but what they said wasn’t actually wrong. A dupe is not a fake. It’s not a 1:1. I guess in a perfect world no one would take inspiration from any higher priced item, but we live far from a perfect world. If your jacket is $300 and I love it but only have $100 then I’m going to buy the dupe that’s similar for $100. That’s capitalism. I personally think dupes are ok as long as you switch it up enough to make it different from the original. Perfect copies are wrong but like I said… it is what it is. I have one knockoff that’s a perfect 1:1. I paid $350 and the original was from Louis Vuitton and costs $7000. It’s not something I plan on making a habit of but in this case I’m definitely happy. I feel bad for small businesses but that’s capitalism’s fault, not mine.

And also for fear of robbers

Well, yes. Kim kardashian even commented on the fact she wears all fake jewelry. Why? Cuzz she was ROBBED for flaunting her real stuff. The thing about good knock offs is that if you carry them with confidence and it’s well made, no one will notice. If I was rich I would much rather have a nice $500 knockoff than the $5000 original. I’d rather spend my money on more important things. At the end of the day it’s just a bag.

for the same reason, theres no point in someone like me buying a gucci or any other brand knockoff, nobody would believe its real

@@danielamato5168yeah exactly, I recently saw a very good deal on versace shoes for like 190$, it was like a official private sample sale. And then i thought nobody believe me they’re real, i always complain that i’m broke lol

Not crazy. You have a dupe so the robber steals your dupe, you have a legit one which you keep to yourself to admire, use, whatever, or take with you to high security areas or places where you know where you won't be robbed.

you're the realest

Relatable. I didnt think Id care until I sat down willing to listen. Hearing her visual essays feels like Im being drawn back out of isolation.

so real

❤😊 yeah 👍 whatever she's going to say or do, I'm definitely going to watch it anyway 😅 maybe twice!

❤​@@gremlitaBTW I love the fit today it's giving me a little corporate corpse bride in a great way 🎉 love you!

But I'm pretty sure they weren't real sheepskin

have you tried depop? it’s a bit pricier than thrifting irl, but i also live in a fashion desert lol

My fave turtleneck is from Uniqlo. I've always had the issue that the arms were too short even though I'm only 5'5. Theirs have a great length all around, wash really well and are comfortable. Uniqlo has great basics in my opinion and I've never had anything that disappointed me

I feel like even just finding closet basics is hard because clothing/fashion sphere is so hyper-trendy now.

Omg yes. I went to several thrift stores in Nashville and I was literally finding so much synthetic crap. Can’t even find real stuff in a thrift store! And when I DID find some good silks or whatever they were so much money. I’m like… I could just buy a brand new silk item rather than this shirt from 50 years ago for the same price… bye

ThredUp (or other online thrift stores) might be a great option! It brings the best of thrifting to you if there is nothing where you live.

Vdd? Aquí las falsificaciones son el pan de cada día lol

Folks are all about buying original designer stuff until a pair of shoes costs 2 minimum salaries. Perfumes and clothes are just as expensive. I might be exaggerating a bit, but a pair of nikes may cost half a salary and a chanel fragrance quite close to a whole salary.

Or of comparable quality and much lower in price. Another aspect is it’s a trendier item, so like something so stylized that it will not be in fashion within a year or so it just makes sense to go cheaper. It’s been very frustrating now that I have tiny bit of adult money to find that there is serious lack of quality products in these luxury brands. You have to damn near become an expert to figure what is of quality and not with these brands, the name and the price point are no longer clear indicators of quality. So many well meaning consumers have tried to break away from fast fashion but ended up wasting money that they barely had on a product that’s supposed to be good quality but wasn’t, and they still blame consumers for hedging their bets with fast fashion. If you want us to invest maybe there needs to be some sort of universal standard for what qualifies as luxury, right now it’s giving scam.

This was my thought during the video. There's a difference between people who want to imitate a specific luxury look verses someone refusing to buy overpriced garbage with a famous logo slapped on it. If you're someone into fashion like Mina I'm sure you see more of the first, but for a lot of people the "luxury" they're exposed to is just as poorly made as the dupes. When that article talked about the Selene skirt, all I could think was "holy shit, $350 is way more than I could afford for a single skirt!" Most people aren't looking for $350 dupes of $2600 skirts, they're looking for $20 dupes of the $350. And why should they save up for the $350 if it's not good quality either?

Yeah all the ‘dupes’ I bought on temu and Amazon are better quality than the designer items, and don’t have a visible logo! I hate wearing logos. My mom always bought us logo free quality clothing as kids, even when we begged for coach or uggs like our friends had. She said that a classic silhouette and clean look are a good bet, and logos don’t indicate wealth anyway.

@@Fyndh3678Facts.

Sometimes something that feels lower quality is higher quality, but a lot of people can't tell that. 3mm silk feels very fragile compared to poly chiffon, and that 3mm silk will cost more. Ask someone who doesn't know better which is higher quality, and they'll go for the piece that feels sturdier to the touch, but isn't. Blind tests are almost always the average person with much less experience with higher quality fabrics who don't know better.

and the materials will be like “this silk blend cableknit sweater is the same as this rib knit 100% merino wool sweater!” like sis are you blind?? They’re not even for the same season! I lowkey feel like all they go by is color and general cut…from far away…squinting. Giving credence to the blind thing again. 😂

a lot of knock offs are made in vietnan too, so they might have easy acess to them too

This I've also noticed in Mexican paisa fashion with the knockoff Gucci shirts and Snapbacks, although I will say from my own relatives it's the "look expensive/status symbol" part of it.

That´s common in my eu country, a lot of old people still shop at the weekly fairy instead at the mall, gipsies sell the clothes there and old people don´t have a clue about the brands that the clothes are trying to copy.

I've noticed this too. It's so neat to come across groups of people who aren't tuned or aware (or don't care) what society considers status symbols. I try my best to detach myself from society's standards, but at the end of the day it's impossible for me. For them to simply wear it because they appreciate the patterns is interesting.

Yes, imagine that! Wearing whatever and being unbothered! 😁

It is sad but it’s also been happening since forever. Everyone wants to be rich, privileged, beautiful, and handed everything. Peasants in Europe dreamt of being princes and princesses. People now dream of the same thing. Why? Because if you’re that then your life is a dream, a fantasy, and a beautiful anomaly. No real pain, no real struggle, no real problems. I wish for the same things. Do I idolize these loser celebs of today? No. They’re completely messed up. But if I had their lives I would be doing SO much more and be so happy. I wouldn’t be running around on social media, I’d be seeing the world, eating exotic foods, studying foreign secrets and so much more. But since I’m just a middle class American I’m trapped working and watching luckier people live the life I want through a screen for the rest of my life. Now THATS sad

Yeah the most you can do is make your kids the gold spoons, once your born your born unless you get adopted I guess

Most consumers don’t know what they want, this is one of the reasons a lot of marketing strategies work

I'm an average consumer. The clothes I want have to be of good quality, of a specific style. Unfortunately, what I want use to be the standard of pre-2010s and it's not luxury in 2020s.

Also nobody in the alt community wants overpriced basics like lululemon or Chanel/Dior lookalikes. Heck even the overpriced gentrified alt fashion bands like dollskill have some character. Although that will never compare to the diy anti-consumerist aspect of alt fashion.

Thank you, I was aghast.

I have one of the smaller LL Bean canvas totes that I use pretty heavily as a grocery bag, and I've had it since 2005 and it still looks new. They truly were (/are?) meant to last.

I bought one after someone recommended them in a video comment in lue of the $120 bag. 😂 I LOVE it. It came super fast, I can tell that its very high quality, and I got my initials and a little sprig of lavendar embroidered on it. I plan on having it and using it for the rest of my life. 🥰 (Also it was only about $30 lol) it has tons of pockets on the inside and a pocket on the outside. (Emily's does not) I float between sites for my job, so it is essentially a purse and backpack for me.

​@@poniesandproteins Thank you for this input! I've been looking for a longer lasting grocery tote. Def gonna check out LL Bean!

A lot of the reason this stuff passes is that these old brands get forgotten or categorized as "grandparent stores."

If you live near a decent industrial art school, a lot of students who are 3rd-4th year have excellent work at bargain prices.

^^^this!! There's a yt shorts creator on here (apologies for not remembering her name) who has an "is it worth it?" series where she looks at not only cheaper clothes but also brands that sell their items for $100+/$500+/$1,000+. It is SHOCKING seeing her compare two garments from the same store selling for the same price and demonstrate how one is already visibly degrading before it's even left the store because of all the specific ways the manufacturer cut corners on it vs the higher quality garment. Even worse, she'll compare an item that is allegedly the same, but the one she has is just one year older and is of noticeably better quality than the new one in a store even after a year of being worn. She'll provide evidence that this "same" item is now being made with lower quality fabric, is missing structural linings, has less reinforced buttons, etc. BUT it's being sold for the same or HIGHER price compared to the one she bought! Personally, I want to start investing in better quality clothes that will last longer and are made by companies that fairly compensate the workers who make them, but it's so hard to find stuff that is 1) actually good quality and 2) has a traceable manufacturing process.

ugh yes sis you said it. shopping is not fun! buying one thing feels like i need a PhD in design, and be a pro at sleuthing to spot any lies/omissions/errors…like girl i just want a T-shirt, not a JOB!

I second this!

Yes!! I third this!

4th this!!!

On IG she touched on wanting to talk to about it but is worried about the commenters she'd get. For reference, the trad community is notorious for blasting people and being defensive over their rather problematic lifestyles. I would also love to hear her talk about it but its iffy and could invited people who are ignorant and associated with far right ideologies.

If you’re interested I’d suggest the Shanspeare videos on them!

Yes! And also "I want that/it'd be nice to have that" does not equal "I need to have it right now, if ever". I have clothes that I have wanted for years, but know that I will never buy, and that are also above my skill level to sew for myself. And is my quality of life or depression made worse by not having those clothes? Absolutely not! Because here's the thing - something else will come along, that I ALSO want, and that I CAN afford to get, that will give me just as much happiness as the unobtainable piece of clothing would! As for this over-consumption... Holy fudge, yes! I was appalled when she said that the quality of the item doesn't matter to people, because they're only planning on wearing it once, maaaaaybe twice. Why... Why would you buy a whole new outfit that you only plan to wear once??? Why not just... mix and match what you already have, or buy a new... idk, scarf of belt or something to spruce up an already existing outfit??? That is just... A new level of wasteful, especially as we SEE the mountains of trash from the fast fashion industry! I get buying an outfit for a special occasion, but I always try to think about what I can use it for afterwards too...! I won't buy an outfit that I can't imagine myself ever wearing again...????

Anti Amazon I legit get chills from it😂

Yeah nah when people insistently differentiate between (the majority of) Amazon storefronts and shein/temu/wish I always wonder if its racism or patriotism or both

I looked up the TIGI hair wax stick and found at least TWELVE "brands" trying to sell knockoffs😭

I've always hated it, I've seen so much stolen art on amazon and nobody really gives a shite. I was looking at microscopes and lab supplies on amazon and the amount of knockoffs there were made me feel uneasy. It happens on sites like etsy too, I've personally seen so many drop-shipping etsy shops copy indigenous artists beadwork and sell it at a cheaper price. They're absolutely shameless about it too as they don't alter any of the product photos or anything.

@@whodeservestolivetho If I see the same item from Amazon and Shein, I'll just buy from Shein because the price is lower. I myself am in the global trading business and import lighting from Asia. And a lot of items sold by different platform are made by the same factory. I'm always amazed how English-speaking world consider Shein and Temu be the evil antagonist while still buy from Amazon. They are not that different in terms of quality or ethic, except Amazon is a lot richer. Amazon basics are even worse, they steal from smaller brand but almost no one is talking about it.

The two times ive bought on tiktok my account got slapped with fraud and had to get new cards. Not trying for a third😂

I mean perfume is interesting too because the quality actually does matter but you can still make amazing perfume for not too expensive - like realistically no bottle of perfume really needs to cost more than $50-$100 it's the whole diminishing returns thing, really at the point there are no secret ingredients that are magically more expensive beyond that price it's just branding

There's really nothing wrong with fakes and dupes. Copyright laws only protect the already rich.

​@@snailart9214i love this body spray from body shop moringa. IM addicted to it. I dont know what to Compare it to like is this what MORINGA really smells like. I am loving geurlain aqua allegoria flora salvagia mY sister had. few and when I smelled it i was like omg its itz like it smells like real flowers! like sitting next to a field of wildflowers when im picking bluberriez. And that is how they described it when ichecked them out online lol. I bought one from one of those cheaper reselersfor 70 bucks canadian. I ve been reading so much trying to figure out by readin about them.andi think im goNna have tO try them on . Not gonna figure itout by reading. I know i would love a rose perfume thats just pure rose not just one of the notes, all of the rose perfumes ive read about have all kinds of other stuff if i can get a pure rose i can just mix it with my other perfume. I remember one perfume that i loved as much as i love my new ones bennefit called something about sophia but its long been discontinued. I wonder if there is anything like it because i want it

People can't see perfume so being "caught with a dupe" isn't that much of a thing

@@snailart9214 are there ridiculous markups on designer fragrances? yes, especially since their economies of scale are greater therefore driving down the cost per producing one unit. but I wouldn't necessarily apply that logic to much smaller niche fragrance companies

Spend money on things that separate you from the floor - shoes, chairs and beds

which brands exactly? I hear even the $$$ ones fall apart. Like demonias and other platforms, the glue will just come off. Which shoes are you referring to that don’t have these problems? Also i’m vegan not ever buying leather. When people mean “good” shoes they usually just mean leather and for me and a lot of alt people that’s non-negotiable.

yup her designs aren't even that unique. she's so lazy she had to steal art for the prints

I was going to say, it’s so rich hearing her complain about dupes when she’s ripping off the work of other artists through the use of AI. I’ve always wanted a Selkie dress and would have gladly paid more knowing that they were putting out original work, but now I will not ever be buying a Selkie dress, and if I do, it would be secondhand. I’m so disappointed too because it’s hard to find brands that are reminiscent of pink frilly Gunne Sax dresses

@@turtlewurtle4393if this is helpful- this style of dress is generally REALLY easy to construct, so if you live in an area where you can find a seamstress that does custom garments (many do and just don’t advertise it) you can get one custom made to your body for a very competitive to selkie budget. Then you have not only a perfectly fitted well made and ethically made dress, but have basically total creative control over fabric too 🥰 -a seamstress lol

@@E42545 ooh, thanks for the advice! I did manage to find a Gunne Sax dress pattern for a project I’ll be working on my grandma with, but I’m glad to know that it hopefully shouldn’t be too hard

oh this tea is hot... honestly haven't looked too deeply into AI (it scares me) but starting to think i should because it's inevitably intersecting with fashion

Measuring tape was my best investment in online shopping for plus sized clothing. If you know your true measurements,it can take a bit of worry away from the buying process. So many plus size pieces ARE NOT plus size if you look at the size chart itself. And designer brands are the worst at size inclusivity 😢

This is why I feel like the investment pieces that make the most sense are bags and shoes, my weight changed quite a lot over the last couple of years so I would not spend a lot of money of a piece of clothing as I can’t guarantee I can be wearing it for years to come.

Here's what you do when you buy online: If in doubt, go up a size. Then learn to tailor your own clothing. Yes, it takes time to learn, but it also takes time to earn money to keep replacing things. If you bought that dress because it was trendy, that was a waste. If you bought it because you genuinely liked it, then you can keep it as motivation to lose the weight, you can have it remade into something else, you can sell it to put the money toward something else, or you can gift it and bring a smile to someone's face. That wouldn't be a waste.

I've been wanting the strawberry dress for years, but my size fluctuates so much and so often that it wouldn't be worth it. There are times that my size large pants are falling down my hips and times that the xxl fit perfectly. Not even just same sizes in different brands, I mean the exact same pants that have been in my drawers forever. I want so badly to save up for nice pieces and pretty dresses. But anything without adjustable sizing just isn't worth the money. I can't spend hundreds of dollars on a dress I could maybe wear a month or two out of the year before it gets pushed to the back of the closet again.

Online def has more options for plus size ! I can't even count how many shops say to to online for extended sizing

Hmmm well there’s your problem. You’re never going to change all 8 billion of us. Change yourself. Fashion and trends may not be accessible to all but good style is. Good style is based on you and your unique expression of self. No one can tell you how to dress for YOU. And it’s noones responsibility to approve of you. You’re waiting for everyone on the planet to say you can dress this way and that you look good. Stylish ppl do what they want and don’t care because it’s what THEY want to do. Until you figure out who you are and what you want to wear, you’ll continue to dress basic and boring. For me, i don’t care what the trends are. Idc what’s happening in the catwalk. Im a 1:1. A completely unique and special individual and when I get dressed my goal is to look like no one else because I’m the only orignal out of 8 billion rn.

I feel your pain! I have a very bad case of scoliosis and it took me years to figure out how can i make this distorted body look trendy.

@@happynealltdpolly it’s one of those things where I know very little people will see my body shape, but see it and deal with daily. I’m also the only person I know who has scoliosis so I have nobody I can discuss it with 🫠

@@happynealltdpolly one of those things where other people may not be able to see it, but I certainly can.

if it makes you feel better, the people you see in real life are almost never part of these circles / drama. even if a post shaming one style has millions of likes, that is a miniscule fraction of the world. I used to be like you but I said you only live once and I want to be happy so I got into fashion, and I have gotten more compliments than I could imagine (I imagined 0 so lol) pro tip start with some investment pieces in basic items you can style with most of your clothes and slowly build from there

My thoughts exactly!

Her shoulder look is so fun!

i looove the structured shoulder, its so artistic and historic

100%!! Love it!

I want to dupe that shoulder design. (for personal use only)

My dad got like 100 of them on Amazon for like 10$ forever ago and we still have them

queen

Sadly true

Exactly, I agree with you.. and also just because something has a high price doesn't automatically mean that they have good quality or they will last more. I once bought a good quality pair of jeans and they lasted me 4 months before they literally worn out and broke on my thighs 😅 whereas I still have a cheap pair of jeans with a similar composition that I've bought five years ago and I still wear those regularly 😅

My brother brought some levi´s jeans and they didn´t last long as i was surprise since everyone raves about levis jeans and i always had h&m,primark ect clothing🤣

@@weird-guy well my dad swore Levi's is top notch, I don't want to break it to him lol.

That's why people should care about material and craftsmanship rather than a brand name.

Investments have a return, people should treat them as disposable money

@@sideshowmob ?? Investment as in "I'm investing money into this piece so I can make the most out of it". Not like a bank investment

@@sideshowmob If you buy and treat something like an investment, you'll get ahead. I bought a pair of boots in September 2022,, and I've taken care of them. Treated them with proper leather polish, etc, and will be getting them resoled for $20 next week. I paid $120 for those boots up front, and $10 for the polish I'm still using. I bought them two years ago. A good friend of mine bought the same boots a few weeks after I did, and she didn't treat them well. She had your mindset--buy them and waste them. Well, they lasted her not even one winter before she had to replace them. She complained about what crap shoes they were for falling apart so fast. Um...it's 2024 and mine are still good, just getting new soles. The boots she replaced this with, she's already replaced again. Since September 2022, after the cost of the new soles, I'm looking at $150 to keep my feet covered in leather. She's at well over $300. So my INVESTMENT in my boots has put me $150 ahead of her. Your mindset is why you are very obviously poor, but you don't see it, and probably see nice things as an entitlement because you see them as so worthless that they should be treated like shit and thrown away.

@@sapphic.flower You're not making the most of what you don't take care of, and when you take care of and mend things, you get financially ahead.

@@JuicyUTTP can you source? What is the screenshot from?

normaly, high fashion brands lend influencers items for sponsored posts. or some brand, if just a single item and you're a customer, will gift it to you. this way they have full control. tbf idk if sk's teams handle things differently. but this seems more like a knetz gone wild situation, unless there is hard proof eg brands sueing. edit this was just ir sponsored posts showing fake items.

Droppshipping is the worst and it bothers me how many people on IG boast about getting so much wealth from it but never consider the harm it does on people laboring, artists, and climate. It's not talked enough about.

Art is devalued thanks to how many people think that everyone is entitled to the labor of artists for free.

She was a girls girl, didn’t shame women for emulating her fashion on a budget ❤

There's also just less of a world of potential in makeup. There's billions of possibilities in making a skirt: color, patterns, cut, fabric choice, etc. If you're duping something like a lipstick it usually just means the dupe as the same color and consistency. It would be silly to say someone "owns" a particular shade of red, versus "owning" a particular colored pattern and texture in a skirt.

I've bought high-end makeup as well as dupes, and have found that the dupes wear off a lot faster than the higher end ones. I tend to keep my higher-end palettes for when I need a look to last all day of through heavy wear (dance and makeup aren't friends), and use dupes when I need it to last a few hours. The initial look may be the same, but they don't wear the same.

@@noelletakesthesky3977 it can super depend! No dupe has ever matched a Pat McGrath palette for me, the quality is unimaginably good, but back in the liquid matte lipstick days colourpop was blowing every other more expensive brand out of the water. I feel like it's less reliably guaranteed to be worse than with clothing/fashion

that's def it for some of these. some items of clothing are truly just overpriced beyond reason, regardless of superior quality. there's no way a basic one-tone pair of leggings should be $100

@@idontneedaname318at least, not without explicit reassurance and proof that the garment workers are making a living wage. From what I know lulu lemon isn’t an ethical brand, there’s no reason they should be pricing their products that high

I have to disagree with you there, my target leggings do not have the same quality as my lululemon ones, the fabric is not nearly as soft yet supportive and the seam shape is unique to lululemon (besides the dupes) but I do typically prefer to buy second hand on Facebook or from consignment shops, and even used, the quality is still great! But I know not everyone cares about stuff like that and wears leggings to lounge vs working out or running, I have different pairs for different activities haha 😊

​@@hannahsage8707i think you misunderstood the original comment. they aren't saying that there's no quality difference between Lululemon and Target, but there's barely any design difference in such basic piece of clothing, so there's no point in buying it just because it's marked as "Lululemon dupe" if you're not buying original ones in the first place. because while og Lululemon might have a better quality, their dupe definitely doesn't, so in the end what's the difference between that dupe and Target? calling a pair of basic straight blue jeans with no identifiable designs a "*insert brand name* dupe" would be insane, because it is and it's just a marketing tactic.

I had a very similar recent experience. I decided to shop in a department store for high quality t-shirts. I was looking for something that had a nice logo, or design on the front. All they had was just plain t-shirts, and when I checked the price tags ($80+). I thought it's not even worth spending $80 on a literal plain tshirt when I can get this from somewhere else. Especially when the materials are the same!!

DaVinvi and his apprentices made less detailed copies of their own designs.

she claimed videos that used entirely different designs and products. there were some legit infringers but they weren't the only ones effected by the claims

I'm pretty sure that just got out of control, mass reporting or something as DA said, by the copyright company they hired@@senecagordon5472

have you looked much into ouji fashion? it's a masculine counterpart to lolita fashion and often has a gothic slant. the youtuber lou graves has some videos out there about creating ouji outfits on a budget, and even has stuff about finding clothes for the style without plastic in them because of his plastic allergy.

Here's what you do: See the hunt as a game. I've been on the hunt for a specific jacket in two colors when I moved to this house in early 2017, in cream and black.. I found a black one for $300, which I could pay, but I know it's out there for less. A few months ago, I found the cream one for $45. Do you have any idea how thrilled I was to finally win the hunt?! And still am! I'll have that coat probably until I die. The thrill wasn't just in getting it, but in finding it used for a price I could justify. My wardrobe is much, much smaller than most people's, and I'm far from poor these days. Every piece has one of two stories--either I decided to buy from a company that pays its workers properly, or, if it's a mass produced item I like, then it took time and effort to find on the secondary market for a good price I could justify. I don't do dupes, but have moral issues with the working conditions of a lot of factories. My Tori Burch and Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade purses were all secondary market, and have all taken incredible beatings and still look good because good leather looks netter with beatings and being polished. None cost me over $50, despite all being real. It's so thrilling to find an auction that ends right at the perfect time for no one to one watching. Auctions ending around noon on Christmas always end low since no one remembers. And be willing to send lowball offers. I've sold some of my things for lowball offers because I didn't pay much and it's nice to make someone else's day, and sometimes my offers are accepted. The process of finding something, even if it takes years, makes every piece matter more. You'll find those glasses. Watch eBay and Mercari and Posh and FB Marketplace. Make a quick look-over of those sites something you do while laying in bed at night. I have a few searches I'll spend 15 minutes on as a wind-down before sleep. It will take a while, but I'm telling you, it'll make your heart sing when the wait and the search pays off.

@@ph5.484 I don't think it's so much a plastic allergy as it is plastic rubbing against skin is irritating. Poly is plastic. It's awful. Poly sensitivity is not uncommon. I wish people would stop buying poly. Ouji fashion is amazing. If I wasn't so stuck on 1940s/1950's fashion (I look like a trad wife, though am a satanist, which is fun), ouji would be my go-to. I think in some ways, there's something more feminine about ouji than lolita, I think because it doesn't look like it's trying so hard and is more comfortable being what it is, and I love that. And there are few things more masculine than men comfortable wearing it. I love it.

@@noelletakesthesky3977no one cares bro

When you do this, it makes you appreciate what you have more. I own significantly fewer pieces of clothing than most people, and I'm happier for it. I don't buy 10 cheap-as-shit pieces, then bitch that they're falling apart but are all I can afford. I'll buy one nicer piece that lasts, and then mend it and make it last, and end up ahead for it. The number of times I've been complimented and asked if I have my clothes custom made because I'll mend and tweak them to be perfect for me...I've lost track. Yeah, it takes a little time to sew a button back on, but it takes more time to earn the money to buy another piece of shit from Shein. The American mindset of quantity over quality is stupid and needs to stop. No trend looks as good on a person as something they've taken care of that's classic and that they've tweaked to fit them perfectly. You chase trends to make up for lacking classic style.

im also very obsessed with fashion, I create crochet pieces and everytime I gift them to someone they also see the time and effort I put into said piece. How can I be a creator and not be aware of the passion that goes into the creation?

Thrifting is also good for the environment 💚 makes me feel better than buying something from what is basically slave labour.

Agreed. For me, fast fashion is a no due to the environment. I care about the earth and so I can’t buy things that will be thrown away and aren’t meant to last. Have I ever shopped FF? A few times, but at Zara I buy the higher quality items I know i will wear for years. Ultimately, I don’t want to ever go outside and see someone who looks like me and I never have. People who shop trends on fast fashion are conformist mainstream clones and it’s just really gross.

@@jazzisbadatnames My favorite local thrift shops donates their profits to community organizations that help women.

Agreed. People dressing according to trends do't give a rat's ass about what they're buying, just how they think others perceived them. They're brainless lemmings who usually feel self-conscious and like shit since they know what they're wearing doesn't look good. If they'd fuck the trends, buy fewer nicer pieces that reflect how they want to display themselves to the world regardless of the trends, then they'd feel better, their clothing would mean more, they'd save money, and they'd do the environment a favor.

What's the name of the drama?

Exactly, this sums it up the best

I'd add that many older clothing pieces were constructed to be as alteration-friendly as possible. Things like extra-wide seam allowances at the back of a pair of pants, or a long tab on a gathered skirt's waistband, so that the garments could grow with their owners.

@@Eloraurora yes! I own a few well made vintage garments and all have at least 2,5 cm / 1 inch seam allowances or more. Even old sewing books recommend reshaping seam allowances instead of clipping as they recommend today for exactly that reason. „to allow for later alterations add xx seam allowance at that seam“ and so on.

But custom clothing did not cost as much back then either. My grandparents used to own a tailoring shop. I remember office ladies used to come and could spend a small fraction of their salary to buy a dress that was tailored to their body. Nowadays it would take a big chunk of your paycheck (at least mine).

goes same for East Asian parents aha

Just sounds like good advice and habits

And honestly? They would be right. Maybe if you want to specifically support influencer who is trying to look wealthy already you can buy if for this price, but if you need a tote bag - nearby shops sound much better (and cheaper, plus it's easier to check quality in person)

This is a good mindset. When it's to do with hygiene, taking care of your health shouldn't be based on affording to not have your hair dry and break. Saving for originals of luxuries...the new times I did that, by the time I have the cash in hand (cash, not debit card), I realized I wanted the cash more. Now, the way I go about it is I'll hunt the secondary market, for years sometimes, for those items for prices I can justify. If I still want it after a year of searching, it becomes a game, and I won't let the market defeat me. I'll search! Been searching for seven years for one coat, but I will find it. I found the cream one a few months ago. My wardrobe is very small compared to most people, but I love every single piece for the effort that has gone into acquiring them.

I have a pair if black leather boots I fucking LOVE, and they'll be getting new soles next week for less than the cost of a new cheap pair of boots.

Oh no an influencer i vented fruits!!!

The problem with fast fashion is very different from dupping. They interject a lot, but they are different issues

If even poor people don't want to dress like poor people, then why to people with more money want to dress like poor people? This constant trend-chasing shames poor people.

I have old navy leggings which are the exact same as my lulus and liek a tenth of the price

@@user-fx2rl9iq6s You think quantity over quality is impressive? It's not. It's ecologically harmful.

@@user-fx2rl9iq6s If that's the case, I'm super happy for you! I never implied (or at least never meant to imply) that no one can or should be very happy with a less expensive pair of leggings, nor that it's impossible to keep a cheaper pair of leggings in good shape for many years. But in general, the leggings people are buying for cheaper prices are going to be made with cheaper materials and cheaper techniques that are more likely to reflect that fact in their feel and longevity (or lack thereof). If your Old Navy leggings are feeling great and lasting you 10 years the same as lulu lemon, then you must take excellent care of your clothing. That's commendable.

Nowadays even branded clothing don´t have any quality, i cant talk about lulu because im not a women or american, but my brother bought levis jeans and they didn´t last long, my mother bought fila sneakers and they lasted 4 month before the glue of the sole unglued, i know is not super high brand but still, at least with fast fashion i know its cheap for a reason.

Lululemon is a racist company. You really should have bought elsewhere

Bro I am the least Massie person who ever lived and I was OBSESSED with those books at 11. Can we get a 40 minute video essay from Mina on the Clique and all those other trashy YA series from the 2000s and why they died out 🥲

Dupes can even the playing field a bit, and really did for me in grad school. I found myself in rooms that I hadn’t known about, with people way above my tax bracket. Blending in helps with networking. The appearance is only half of the deal though, you have to match their etiquette and speech patterns 😅

@@Fyndh3678 code-switching is a valuable skill

Totally. At what point is it a dupe? For me, if the knock off is a 1:1 recreation and uses the same materials… it’s the same thing… I just didn’t buy it from the store.

Oh also I’d like to ask what you think about the TikTok lives with people selling designer handbags? (real and/or fake)