Beyond Babedom

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Going to Hell in a Handbag

Would you walk into a store and steal a dress if you knew you wouldn’t get caught? How about if some sleazy character ran up to you on a side street in NYC and offered you a diamond tennis bracelet dirt cheap (as a burglar alarm sounded around the block)? What about taking money out of your friend’s bag when her back was turned?

I’m assuming most of you would answer “no” to all of the above (with some unfortunate exceptions, perhaps). But, if you’ve answered no, than here is my real question for you: why do you buy counterfeit handbags?

I know lots of you do. You brag about them, you give them as gifts, you invite me to your “handbag parties.” Want to know why I never go? Because they make me feel dirty – because it’s stealing.  Maybe not from the small retailer in your town or your friend, but does that make it any better? Does Kate Spade not deserve to make an honest income? Or is stealing from someone rich okay?

Counterfeiting robs the U.S. alone of more than $200 billion a year. It’s a cash, tax-free business because this isn’t income anyone is reporting. So, instead we get stuck with the tax burden while counterfeiters line their pockets at our expense.

But that’s not the worst of it. Every time you buy one of these knock-offs, you are supporting 1) organized crime, 2) gangs and/or 2) terrorist organizations. Go ahead; laugh at me, but tell me, please, where do you think these criminal elements get their money? Do you think Al Qaidah raises sheep to fund their suicide bombers? No, they use the black market. They look for illegal ways to make easy money that can’t be traced. And what’s easier (and more satisfying) than getting American women to fund their jihad? There is actually evidence that the bombing of the World Trade Center in ’93 was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel.

So, the next time you think about buying one of those WMDs (Ways to Multiply their Dollars), think about what the taxes you have to pay because they don’t. Or about the criminal enterprise you’re financing.

Or about helping to fund another 9/11.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 7:41 PM and is filed under Fashion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  1. Felicia Bryant says:

    I only want to say that buying from high end designers isn’t any better when they usually (It’s been proven time and time again) they get their labor off of children in improvished countries Houndouras, India, Columbia, etc…They also pay ridiculous wages..1.00 a week seriously..Not to mention Blood Diamonds..The people who lose limbs etc have never actually seen what becomes of the diamonds they are mining..Disgusting…So how about stopping the coveting of exceesive mechandise and buying made in USA…(not easy to do)…

    • Lucille says:

      Valid point. And something for me to address in a future blog post. That said, I reiterate my abhorrence of these fake designer goods and will continue to tell everyone who will listen.

  2. Joann says:

    Hey this woman only buys from Kohls. Why would I waste money on a expensive purse to fit in with the snooty bitches. They got the money to spend on that type of thing, maybe they should give that type of money to a family who are struggling to feed their kids. People need to wake up and start caring for each other instead of wasting it on materialistic shit. It does not make you any better cause your purse is a brand name. Sorry but that is my view point

  3. Marie says:

    I totally agree with Joann priorities have gotten out of control when a purse is important. Also Coach should pay their customers for the free advertising.

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