I recently stumbled across this gem in a street market. A knock-off of a Saint Laurent. My jaw dropped, I was in awe. It was half the price of what I would have paid for an authentic piece. The quality was actually quite impressive and the way the threads intertwined so perfectly had me shook. I couldn’t believe it. How was it possible?
My branding heart sank at the thought of it. I just had to have it, it was calling out my name. But then the guilt crept in. I began to question how ethical it was. Was I promoting the wrong message? For the sake of a replica should I support ‘fast fashion’?
And then I thought about what the company symbolizes. Luxury, decadence. It means the world to fashionistas, to people who would trade their souls for a designer bag. Saint Laurent carries status, status that I don’t possess. On the other hand, there’s the grasping of social hierarchy, and what it means to live in a world that places value on something that can’t be bought but instead displayed.
The irony of it all. I think on the other side of the spectrum and, if I had the financial resources, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase the authentic item. It’s the lack of accessibility and the feeling of pushing forward in spite of it really touches me. So, I couldn’t help but wonder, what message am I sending to the world?
Then I became filled with mixed emotions. I began to feel what could only be described as conflicting. Am I being irresponsible or just living my life? Are we just slaves to fashion or should we set the trend and define what fashion is? What is the real meaning of luxury and what does it say about us?
I wanted to make a statement, one that will last. I wanted to make a statement that’s bigger than just something physical, something beyond just a Saint Laurent knock-off. Maybe it’s a statement that will inspire someone struggling to find their ambition. He or she should know that if they have the ambition, passion, and willpower, then they can create something remarkable too.
In the end, I decided to keep the knock-off. I took it home, wore it out and embraced that feeling of unity with the world made possible through fashion. The sheer knowledge that I could buy something that wouldn’t break the bank and make myself feel unique was a real game-changer and learning experience. Frankly, it’s a reminder to always strive to reach as high as possible, to discover what sets me apart and dare to be different.
And even if I’m not going to buy an authentic item, I still remember where I come from and I’m proud of it. Fashion isn’t what itself implies in the most superficial sense: following trends. Instead, fashion is the art of creating your own personalized and unique identity, like an elaborately crafted painting.
With that comes a sense of independence. Being able to choose what I wear regardless of the price tag or the label instantly makes me feel liberated.
I give props to the Saint Laurent knock-off. For all I know, it may be the sign of a new era. One era where fashion is about self-expression rather than status symbols. An era in which if you work hard, and you’re driven, then you can become the designer you have always wanted to be. I guess it’s not about the label, but it’s always about the person who is wearing it.
Above all, regardless of whether it’s truly Saint Laurent, it’s what it makes me feel that counts. Even though I wear a knock-off, I can still feel high-end. That’s what matters to me.
It’s not always about buying items from the same label. It’s about appreciating your own sense of style and exuding the confidence to rock it. Nothing better than having people admire your style without knowing where it is from. That’s the beauty of knock-offs.
Knock-offs may be imitations but they are also a representation of the fight for self-expression and individualism; a fight for the right to be different no matter the consequences or the label. They may be the representation of closed doors and financial barriers, but they also might be the key to a whole new world of personal style.
When it comes to fashion, it’s not what we have or can buy, it’s how we use it. The notion of being evaluated upon by what I wear and where I got it, doesn’t matter to me at all. I take pride in the fact that I’m confidently wearing a Saint Laurent knock-off. Why? Because I made it my own. To me, it’s the ultimate embodiment of freedom. The walk of a true fashion lover.