The Rise Of Fake Handbags

Of all the counterfeit items to reach the public market, by far one of the biggest is handbags. As fake handbags continue to skyrocket in popularity, the ability to prevent counterfeit items from entering the country is increasingly tested.

But why are counterfeit handbags such a problem? And does it really matter if you purchase one? We’ll delve deep into the world of counterfeit handbags and discover the dark truth behind the seemingly harmless practice of buying fakes.

Are You Really Bagging A Bargain?

As a cheaper alternative to real designer handbags, counterfeit products are becoming much more popular with modern-day shoppers. With the cost of legitimate items potentially reaching multiple thousands of pounds, many shoppers would rather run the risk of purchasing counterfeits instead of forking over the full price.

The harsh reality is that, aside from exposing more people to poorer quality products, the purchasing of counterfeit goods results in money going directly to gangs, traffickers, and criminal organisations instead of legitimate sellers – a fact which is easily overlooked by many who aren’t in the know. Not only does the sale of counterfeit items fund illegal operations, there is also an impact on the brands they imitate. Customers lose faith in both the brand and product, damaging the reputation of the sellers and undermining their image.

The Rise Of The Super-Fakes

Most of the time, you don’t have to be an expert to spot a counterfeit handbag. The price alone should have you raising your eyebrows, but the majority of fake bags will have telltale signs that will give them away, such as the material quality, stitching, logos and even the weight. That being said, it’s not always so easy. There may be cases where picking out the real handbag from the fake is much harder. Whereas customers buying low to mid-tier counterfeits tend to be aware of their true origins, high-end fakeries can unknowingly scam people out of thousands of pounds.

‘Super-fakes’ are almost identical to the real products they are trying to replicate. Manufactured in foreign countries, they are then smuggled into Europe and the US, putting enormous pressure on customs to correctly identify counterfeit items. Even with the presence of expert counterfeit identifiers, thousands of fake products still make it to customers across the globe, with their new owners none the wiser – in 2023, the US Customs and Border Protection seized over $650,000,000 worth of counterfeit handbags and wallets (CBP).

The Fake Handbag Epidemic

As bad as the counterfeit handbag situation is, the horrifying truth is that it could get even worse, as there is a serious disconnect between awareness and behaviour (EUIPO). Thanks to a combination of factors, including the rising cost of living and the domination of social media, it is now easier than ever to get your hands on a fake handbag through online marketplaces.

Whilst the tech companies behind apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Ebay claim to be clamping down on counterfeits, it is easy for sellers to circumvent these measures and post their fake products online, and a lack of regulation means there are few consequences for people who do break the rules. Accounts like the infamous @dupethat have gained over 1 million followers through the promotion of counterfeit goods, despite Instagram’s terms of use policy stating the practice is not allowed on the platform.

What’s more, the majority of people buying up counterfeit handbags don’t seem to mind taking the risk. Younger shoppers are taking full advantage of the reduced prices to snap up a bargain, unaware of the dangers of counterfeit products. In fact, in 2022, it was estimated that almost 40% of young people have intentionally purchased counterfeit goods (EUIPO), continuing a vicious cycle of normalising a damaging practice.

A World Without Fakes?

It’s fair to say there are some serious challenges ahead of us if we want to eliminate the dangers of fake products. If we want to create a world without counterfeits, we need to target the source of these items. We can do that by implementing more robust solutions to stop fake items making it through customs and preventing the import of illegal handbags into the country.

With our quantum solution, we are changing the game when it comes to anti-counterfeit protection. Our revolutionary protective Q-ID® Optical technology can help prevent fake products from reaching the public, and stop fake handbags from spreading any further – find out more about how Quantum Base is creating a future without fakes today.