With the economy in dire straits, how will the fashion world fare? There are people who would posit that there will be a rise in the demand for fake luxury goods, but I am going to go against the grain and posit that the economy will actually force consumers to look for "recession proof" items. Recession proof items are typically not as logo oriented and focus more on quality materials and craftsmanship. If a consumer can only afford to purchase one luxury item, that consumer will make sure that there is no obvious logo pattern and that the item can stand the test of time. There will also be a tendency to pick "safer" colors such as basic black, camel, or classic red. This is actually how the French approach fashion. The French will purchase a few well made pieces from famous design houses and wear those pieces daily. Since the trend with fakes tends to be towards "trendy" pieces that are logo heavy, it seems that this shift towards the classics will bring about a drop in fakes.
In the meantime, the fashion industry is fearing the complete opposite. Here is a website that is devoted to anti-piracy measures in the fashion industry: http://www.bazaarelite.com/fakes.asp
I appreciate the efforts, but I do believe that the demands for fakes will be going down. We are definitely heading for a fashion industry that is less about excess and more about endurance. While I find Isaac Mizrahi's recession fashion advice to be a little on the ridiculous side (http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/isaac-mizrahis-luxury-guide-to-recession-style/?WT.mc_id=TM-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M065-ROS-1008-L1&WT.mc_ev=click&mkt=TM-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M065-ROS-1008-L1) he does have a point about investing in quality versus quantity. I agree with Diane Von Furstenberg in her efforts to protect designers, but perhaps designers should think about versioning. This is exactly what Mr. Mizrahi does at Target. He makes affordable clothing that reflects the high runway style in his more expensive lines. I recommend that buyers who are interested in fakes to start looking at more affordable luxury lines that are legitimate. When you buy a fake, it does not do anything but make you look bad. The quality of the craftsmanship does not last, the item becomes dated and you are left with something you stick in the back of your closet. Good luck to us all.
In the meantime, the fashion industry is fearing the complete opposite. Here is a website that is devoted to anti-piracy measures in the fashion industry: http://www.bazaarelite.com/fakes.asp
I appreciate the efforts, but I do believe that the demands for fakes will be going down. We are definitely heading for a fashion industry that is less about excess and more about endurance. While I find Isaac Mizrahi's recession fashion advice to be a little on the ridiculous side (http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/isaac-mizrahis-luxury-guide-to-recession-style/?WT.mc_id=TM-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M065-ROS-1008-L1&WT.mc_ev=click&mkt=TM-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M065-ROS-1008-L1) he does have a point about investing in quality versus quantity. I agree with Diane Von Furstenberg in her efforts to protect designers, but perhaps designers should think about versioning. This is exactly what Mr. Mizrahi does at Target. He makes affordable clothing that reflects the high runway style in his more expensive lines. I recommend that buyers who are interested in fakes to start looking at more affordable luxury lines that are legitimate. When you buy a fake, it does not do anything but make you look bad. The quality of the craftsmanship does not last, the item becomes dated and you are left with something you stick in the back of your closet. Good luck to us all.
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