Ahhh, kids fake Gucci bags! It’s one of those topics I just can’t help but get passionate about. Just the thought of innocent little babes walking around with fakes makes me cringe. In some instances, parents are probably well aware of what they’re doing, and that’s even more uncomfortable. Everyone’s gotta stay within their budget, I get it, but it’s just not quite the same, know what I mean?
To start, why are parents doing this? For the most factors, it’s just for aesthetics. They want their kids to look fashionable, but little do they know, ‘high end’ items aren’t a necessity. As kids, they don’t really understand the truth, how could they? And parents completely underestimate the toll this takes on them later in life.
When my niece was five, her mom got her a tiny replica Prada bag. Now, it wasn’t a Gucci bag, but it was close enough. Still, as someone who grew up believing that ‘luxury’ items were totally essential, I was personally taken aback. I was instantly frustrated—how could she do that? …But I guess I wasn’t really in the position to judge, huh?
My friends, meanwhile, thought it was the cutest thing ever. They thought it was hilarious and high-fashion that she was already carrying a designer bag at such a young age. I, on the other hand, just simply couldn’t get past it being a fake. It just wasn’t worth the $40 she’d spent on it.
What I noticed was that, of course, the fabric was nice, but not as luxurious as the real deal. The details weren’t all quite perfect either. I mean the lining, the strap, the handles—it was just all too rushed. It was cute, and it’d last a while, but it’s not worth the price tag for sure!
I suppose the main problem with this is that kids think they need to conform. I think it’s so sad how ‘fitting in’ has twisted the mind of each generation. I mean, kids will go above and beyond to get what they’re supposed to have in order to fit in. I guess parents don’t always understand what this does to their children’s psychology.
For kids, these bags are just symbols of stratification. By separating out who can and cannot own certain objects, it perpetuates the idea of inequality. Instead of having freedom of choice, they are made to fit into a certain mould. This can have a massive and overwhelming impact later on in life.
The importance of authenticity is so underrated. In this generation, so many people are just trying to show off what they have. I mean, accessories are just accessories, why should it matter the worth of it? If getting their child a fake is the only way to make them feel accepted, I don’t think that’s really setting the right example.
Another issue is that these fakes have a way of being said to ‘pass off’ as the real thing. Sure, there probably won’t be much difference between the products on the surface. But when you look closer, they’re instantly recognisable. I mean, the craftsmanship just isn’t the same, it’s plain to see. Although the knockoffs get pretty close, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk.
Kids may be innocently believing that their Gucci bag is the real thing- and that brings me back to my original point. The parents should really take into account the psychological aspect of this. When kids get too consumed by trying to keep up with certain ‘luxury-image’ trends, they can easily lose sight of who they really want to be. Do you agree?