I think that knock-off shopping is hilarious, especially for costuming. My friends and I wanted to dress like rappers for a party, and we were in LA, so we headed to Santi alley and got decked out on bling, big pants and Fubu hats for about $30.

Knockoff shopping is sad (did anyone see the Sex and the City when Samantha and Carrie went shopping in someone's trunk. . . it is that feeling), but really, most bags are made to look like some better bag, so they are inevitable and you can get pretty sturdy ones in Paris.

Prada did the ultimate knock off by starting Miu miu. Please!

French police do offer you two alternatives.

We break your goods for you now or you come to court with us today or tomorrow or the next day to argue your case.

Still not to bad in Paris but on the French Italian border they take over the crossing at weekends with a steam roller.

Less likely to bother the Noir with the cheap and tackey products, nmore liekly to go after the good copies. So take care

Designer bag maker prices are criminal.

Oh please! yourself! LeClaier!! You seem to be confused -- MiuMiu is a bridge line, not a knockoff. And I don't get how shopping for big hats and the FUBU line is "hilarious...knockoff shopping?" Wha? And what does shopping in someone's trunk have to do with this topic? Must be a joke.

Designer bag prices are criminal? What a curious thing to assert. Are you saying that beautiful high-quality goods should not exist in the world?

'Knock off' here in Wales means 'stolen'.

Muck

Fidel- the stuff we bought was knock off Fubu (an expensive hip hop brand) and P-Diddy jewelry dupes. I do believe that is knock-off shopping.

Shopping in the trunk: in the episode referred to, there is a guy who has a trunk of Prada and Fendi knock-off purses and Samantha and Carrie go through them, thus shopping knock off in the trunk of a car.

As for Miu-miu: I see that bridge brand much like I see the Porsche Cayenne: a brand branching out where it need not be. I think that a lot of makers are too undefined today and Prada is, well, Prada, and people are so quick to assert that Miu Miu is "Prada."
Over myself,
LeClaier

I don't agree that Miu Miu is a knock-off of Prada. Miu Miu is much more youthful, sassy, street-wise, and urban than Prada.

When I picture Prada in my head, I see clothes that belong in an ivory tower or vitrine they are so precious. I always picture Miu Miu out on the street or in a dance club.

Two different lines for two different lifestyles.

There has also been evidence that some of the knock offs are a source of funds for some terrorist cells. Some of those "starving Ethiopians, or whomever else is selling them, may have some motives are aren't in your best interest.

I have to believe the OP was a troll. This topic always ends up being raw meat in the kennel.

"There has also been evidence that some of the knock offs are a source of funds for some terrorist cells."

Yeah, well, where do you think your PetroDollars go? Neverland?

Hey! I actually agree with Roby on something!

So what if the topic is controversial? Life is controversial. We all can't live in Mayberry.

A friend just called me from Paris (my friend Christina). She said some mec sells fake LV out of a mini-van on the street BEHIND the Russian Embassy. He is usually there between noon and 1PM on Mardis. This street is also known for its "flashers" in raincoats, so beware mon amis.

Why i don't understand is why people don't just print fake money to buy the real thing

If counterfeiting money isn't your thing, you could also simply knock down the owner of any bag you like and run with it. Or break into a parked car and help yourself to whatever you see.

I can't believe this is a serious question, cfrieday. Sure, if you like exploiting small children so that you can con people into thinking you spent a mint, shop away!

I just don't get the point of a buyer's satisfaction with owning a fake anything to hold out as a status symbol. As a practical matter, I don't get the point of paying to own anything as a status symbol.

"...you can con people into thinking you spent a mint..."

Not even remotely likely.

It's FUBU, not Fubu -- For Us By Us, the first wholly-owned African-American clothing company. Thank you for ripping them off homegirl, must have been a hoot. And it's not a "bridge brand" it's a bridge line that is clearly defined by style, price and marketing.

Knockoff purses are a sad thing.

Let's say you have the massive cash needed to buy a nice Louis Vuitton bag in Paris at the actual LV store on the Champs (which was absolutely packed with Japanese tourists - unreal), and come back home to US with a real LV.

Well, since everyone and their mother has a knockoff now in the Phoenix area, people here may think your authentic one is a fake too.

(And the sad thing is, some of the better-looking fakes here cost a lot of money. A coworker spent $85 on a fake LV bag!)

Or another better option is find a lesser-known, unique, more-underground designer and buy that instead. My wife bought a really cool TokiDoki bag by LeSportsac that got a lot of looks in France.

Knockoffs are often overruns,In this way a company can keep production lines running.A company can not stay in buiness long selling $1000.00 Handbags,the market is much to small.They sometimes change the style around to make them look different.I was in Milan year ago and my Daughter liked this Handbag over 600 Euros.I said to the sales girl a 50ish women I bet you can have this bag made in a shop on one of the side streets for 50Euros she Agreed.machines produce most if not all our products Today.