I recently stumbled across an issue that I believe many of us Malaysians have heard of – fake bags Malaysia. Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon to know a person who had bought a knock-off designer handbag, or to overhear people talking about where you could find one. At the time, I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to buy a fake bag since it was clearly not the real thing. However, over time I’ve come to realize that it’s not simply a matter of wanting to imitate someone’s style.
The rampant availability of fake bags in Malaysia has to do with affordability and accessibility. In a coun try where affordable fashion is highly sought after, some individuals are unable to manage the strain on their wallets when it comes to buying that Fendi bag they’ve been dreaming of for years. This often leads them to turn to counterfeit goods, believing that it would be the same as the real thing with a much lower price.
I find that many Malaysians also believe that the quality of these fake bags is much better than that of the real thing. They feel that with a counterfeit bag, they’re able to save a lot of money on fashion and still achieve a stylish, high-quality look. Unfortunately, many people don’t realise that this isn’t the case. Though it may look like the real deal, it often just looks that way on the outside; the materials used in the knock-off are typically of much lower quality, meaning that the bag won’t last nearly as long.
As someone who values the quality of something over the cost, it comes as no surprise that I don’t support the selling or buying of fake bags in Malaysia. Not only does it create unfair competition for legitimate businesses, but it also poses a danger to consumers who don’t take the time to inspect the bag before purchasing. Additionally, I personally feel that buying fake bags is morally wrong. The craftsmanship that goes into making authentic designer items is what makes them special, and replicating them devalues the hard work put into making them.
That said, it’s not all bad. With the popularity of fake bags in our country, legitimate businesses, individuals and charities have been able to gain access to clothing and accessories that they’d otherwise be unable to afford. It has also provided an oppor tunity for budding entrepreneurs to get creative by customising and personalising authentic designer items in order to create custom products that are still of high quality.
But the issue of counterfeit goods continues to rise, as more and more counterfeit products continue to be sold in Malaysia. I believe that it’s only with collective effort that we’ll be able to combat this issue. Things like adhering to copyright laws, supporting only authentic brands and educating the public may seem relatively small, but it could make a huge difference in how this issue is addressed.